NTIA AI NOFO Funding Round: AI-Native RAN Transformation & Ecosystem Readiness

OBJECTIVE:

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) is preparing an upcoming Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) under the Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund, marking a strategic pivot from traditional Open RAN deployment toward AI-native Radio Access Network (AI-RAN) architectures. This forthcoming funding round—anticipated to allocate remaining Innovation Fund resources—will prioritize U.S.-led innovation in intelligent, software-defined wireless infrastructure aligned with national objectives for secure, exportable 5G and 6G technology stacks. The proposed NOFO is expected to emphasize AI integration across the full telecom lifecycle, including RAN optimization, orchestration, spectrum efficiency, energy management, and automated network operations. Unlike prior funding cycles focused primarily on hardware diversification and Open RAN interoperability, this initiative will elevate machine learning-driven network intelligence, edge compute integration, and autonomous network control systems as central evaluation criteria. Attendees will gain insight into how NTIA’s continued funding strategy is catalyzing collaboration across industry, research institutions, and technology providers to advance AI-RAN innovation, open interfaces, and scalable deployment models. The discussion will highlight how next-generation antenna systems, distributed radio architectures, and AI-enabled network intelligence can support more resilient, flexible, and energy-efficient wireless networks for both public and private sector use cases.

SPEAKERS:

• Amanda Toman - Director, Innovation Fund, NTIA

• Darla Braun - SVP, Indoor Cellular Networks, Andrew

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