The Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology joined the O-RAN Alliance, a nonprofit organization striving to make radio access network technologies more open, intelligent and interoperable.
The O-Ran Alliance consists of network operators, vendors and other institutions, according to a Jan. 24 NIST news release.
“NIST has unique capabilities for measuring the performance, security and interoperability of Open RAN systems. By participating in this alliance, NIST will help the community bring these standards to market more quickly,” Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology Laurie Locascio said in the release.
The Commerce Department said NIST seeks to advance innovation and market competitiveness by enhancing existing industrial things such as measurements, standards and technology, according to the release. NIST works closely with many stakeholders as well as people from various academic and personal backgrounds to advance its goals.
“By joining the O-RAN Alliance, NIST will enhance U.S. leadership in wireless technologies and promote stable and diverse supply chains, which are a priority for this administration,” Locascio said in the release. “NIST will also promote open and transparent standards for 5G and other next-generation wireless technologies to help ensure data privacy and protect against cyber threats.”
