VIAVI Solutions announced a strategic partnership between VIAVI Automated Lab-as-a-Service for Open RAN (VALOR) and the Acceleration of Compatibility and Commercialization for Open RAN Deployments (ACCoRD) project led by AT&T and Verizon. As co-grantees of the U.S.
National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund, VALOR and ACCoRD will collaborate on Open RAN testing initiatives to further the adoption of open and interoperable network components, strengthen global supply chain resiliency and lower barriers to entry for new Open RAN players.
Using the VIAVI Automation Management and Orchestration System (VAMOS), VIAVI will first provide the NITRO Wireless Open RAN Test Suite to ACCoRD labs at Rutgers University and Iowa State University. Additionally, customers referred to the VALOR lab by ACCoRD will have access to the entire array of O-RAN tests offered by VALOR. In 2026, a second lab at the University of Texas in Dallas will also get equipment and services to help with the setup for the sustainability of the ACCoRD test service after the grant period.
Based on VIAVI’s NITRO Wireless test suite, VALOR is a hybrid lab that combines Lab-as-a-Service and Test-as-a-Service capabilities. It is intended to oversee and assist Open RAN and 5G projects that would profit from quick ramp-up times and access to professional personnel and equipment.
NTT DOCOMO and Reliance Jio are founding members of ACCoRD, a consortium headed by AT&T and Verizon. Utilizing the knowledge of academic members of the consortium, such as the University of Texas at Dallas, Virginia Tech, Northeastern University, Iowa State University, and Rutgers University, ACCoRD will be based at an Open RAN Testing, Evaluation, and R&D Center in the Dallas area, with a satellite location in the Washington, D.C. area.
Leadership Comments
“At AT&T, we are dedicated to driving technological innovation and enhancing network performance,” said Robert Soni, Vice President, RAN Technology, AT&T. “Collaborating with VIAVI and Verizon through the ACCoRD project allows us to advance our Open RAN initiatives, ultimately benefiting our stakeholders with improved network capabilities and greater flexibility.”
“Verizon has been driving the adoption of O-RAN for years by being a leading voice in developing and adopting O-RAN standards, paving the way for greater competition, innovation, and cost savings in the telecommunications industry,” said Steven Rice, Vice President, Network Planning, Verizon. “Through collaboration with VIAVI and AT&T in the ACCoRD labs, we expect to accelerate Open RAN networks with improved resilience and network performance that benefit operators and customers.”
“We are delighted to support ACCoRD with testbeds through our VALOR lab and the integration of our end-to-end Open RAN portfolio at the consortium’s laboratories,” said Oleg Khaykin, President and CEO, VIAVI Solutions. “With this collaboration, VALOR is well positioned to contribute to the evolution of Open RAN testing as it becomes more automated, cloud-based and efficient.”
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