ASIATODAY.ID, ARLINGTON – The United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) on February 23 2024 announced the award of a grant to the Indonesian Ministry of Communication and Information (Kominfo) for a feasibility study to support the implementation of open radio access network (Open RAN) technology in providing connectivity services cellular wireless to a number of 1,621 unserved villages in Indonesia.
Kominfo Indonesia has chosen the Open RAN Telecom Infra Project, Inc. industry association. (TIP) to conduct this research.
“Our partnership with Kominfo will help advance the goal of universal access and Indonesia’s leadership in implementing next generation network technology,” said USTDA Director Enoh T. Ebong, quoted from a press release from the US Embassy in Jakarta, Tuesday, February 27 2024.
“This project will further encourage private sector financing models to meet Indonesia’s digital infrastructure needs and create new opportunities for US companies and trusted technology partners to offer solutions in one of the largest telecommunications markets in the world,” continued Enoh.
Several US technology providers participated in the study by contributing equipment and technical expertise, including access equipment manufacturers Mavenir (Richardson, TX) and Parallel Wireless (Nashua, NH), and systems integrators IBM (Armonk, NY) and KCCTech (Walnut Creek, CA ).
With funding from the Digital Connectivity and Cybersecurity Partnership, this study will assess the commercial and technical feasibility of implementing Open RAN technology to provide mobile wireless connectivity to underserved villages in Indonesia.
This study will include field trials of Open RAN technologies that will provide the data necessary to inform business models and investment decisions for their implementation. This activity will also include capacity building and training workshop sessions to educate public and private sector stakeholders on the technical aspects of implementing Open RAN.
“I welcome the collaboration between Kominfo, USTDA, and TIP in conducting a feasibility study regarding the development of Open RAN infrastructure to improve connectivity in remote villages throughout Indonesia,” said the Director General of Postal and Information Resources and Equipment, Kominfo Indonesia, Dr. Ir. Ismail MT.
“This collaboration is a significant step in bridging the digital divide and achieving the national goal of universal access. By leveraging the flexibility and cost efficiency of Open RAN, we can connect communities in remote areas and unlock their economic potential. “I hope that the implementation of Open RAN in Indonesia can also bring opportunities for local industry to participate in the development of Open RAN and for cellular operators to build more efficient networks,” he added.
“The TIP community is very pleased to be able to partner with USTDA and the Indonesian government to determine the feasibility of implementing macro 4G Open RAN in rural Indonesia,” said TIP Executive Director Kristian Toivo.
“This study is a milestone in the multi-year TIP program in Indonesia, and the results will help unlock investment for commercial deployment of United States and other trusted technologies in more than 1,600 locations in remote areas of the country. TIP and the US and Indonesian governments are taking innovative, collaborative steps that will advance Indonesia’s national digital inclusion goals and serve as an example for other countries.”
Open RAN offers several advantages for island nations and rural areas where traditional communications infrastructure may be lacking or limited. These benefits could include lower implementation and operational costs, greater scalability and automation, greater diversification and competition among technology suppliers, increased energy efficiency and reduced environmental impact of telecommunications infrastructure, as well as momentum toward 5G deployment.
USTDA’s support for this project advances the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII) and the Indo Pacific-Economic Framework (IPEF), with the goal of developing, expanding, and implementing secure digital infrastructure to drive economic growth and facilitate an open digital society. (AT Network)
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