How the US plans to use open radio access networks, or Open RAN, to unseat Huawei's lead in telecom tech, including committing $1.5B+ to bolster global adoption
The funding push extends a U.S. effort that began from a recognized shortage of domestic 5G-equipment alternatives, then helped open the cellular-equipment market to new entrants through its campaign against Huawei. Open RAN is being positioned as the technology path for turning that policy objective into deployable alternatives, including in markets where Open RAN vendors were courting operators away from Huawei and ZTE.
First-order effects
More than $1.5 billion in U.S. support is directed toward broader global Open RAN adoption, giving the technology a policy-backed route to challenge Huawei's networking position.
Huawei faces a more explicit U.S.-backed effort to reduce reliance on its telecom equipment, while Open RAN suppliers gain a stronger strategic rationale for operator and government engagement.
Second-order effects
Operators weighing Huawei equipment gain a better-supported alternative pathway, increasing pressure on incumbent telecom vendors to compete on interoperability, deployment support, and cost.
Countries seeking non-Chinese network options may treat Open RAN adoption as part of a broader supplier-diversification decision rather than a purely technical procurement choice.
Third-order effects
If funding translates into durable deployments, telecom infrastructure could shift from dependence on a small set of integrated vendors toward a more modular and geopolitically diversified supply base.
The result remains contingent on whether Open RAN suppliers can convert policy support into networks that operators can deploy and maintain at scale; state backing alone does not establish market leadership.
The trend: Telecom architecture is becoming an instrument of industrial policy, with governments funding alternative supply chains to reduce strategic dependence on dominant foreign vendors.
I've been pushing for more investment in OpenRAN for years now - this is one of the most critical frontiers of global competition. These efforts couldn't be coming at a more important time, and I'm proud to have written & passed laws that brought us here. https://www.washingtonpo…
Congratulations to @ATT and @Verizon on their Wireless Innovation Fund grant award from @NTIAgov. Programs to establish testing, evaluation and R&D for #OpenRAN will ultimately lead to greater innovation, investment and competition in the market. https://www.openranpolicy.org/ ..…
.@Samsung has completed #OpenRAN conformance and interoperability testing for commercial grade #LTE and #5G NR radios for @Verizon's network, supported by @Keysight's O-DU emulator. https://news.samsung.com/... [image]
.@Samsung is continuing its #OpenRAN leadership with participation in @NTIAgov Wireless Innovation Fund and is the only major vendor that has deployed both #greenfield and #brownfield multi-vendor #OpenRAN virtualized networks in the U.S. and globally 🌎. https://news.samsung.com/…
Great morning celebrating a $42 million investment in testing & expanding OpenRAN capabilities. While you may not have heard of it yet, OpenRAN is a defining tool to protect American innovation, national security, and our economy, so I'm looking forward to even more investments! …
Open RAN is suddenly back in vogue among big US wireless network operators. That's in part because the Biden administration is hoping to show some progress on the topic after years of hyping open RAN as a “Huawei killer.” https://www.lightreading.com/ ...
.@ATT is proud to be part of a new grant supporting testing and evaluation of #OpenRAN. We look forward to leading & collaborating within our industry to create a more innovative marketplace for wireless infrastructure. https://go.att.com/...