John mezzalingua associates LLC (JMA) proposes further development of the american, ruggedized, modular, o-ran, radio (armor) platform, an existing JMA open radio unit (o-RU) variant, currently at…

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) awarded a $73,184,563.61 project grant to John Mezzalingua Associates LLC (JMA Wireless) under the Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund Grant Program (CFDA 11.038). The grant's purpose is to further develop JMA's American, Ruggedized, Modular, O-RAN, Radio (ARMOR) platform, an existing open radio unit (O-RU) variant currently at Technology Readiness Level 5 and Manufacturing Readiness Level 4. Over an 18-month period, JMA plans to advance four O-RU variants from TRL 5 to 7 and MRL 4 to 8 to support major mobile network operators. Key activities include integrating and validating the O-RU into open RAN end-to-end systems, conducting design verification testing, and performing compliance and certification testing. JMA will also manufacture the first units for use in mobile network operator labs and conduct limited field testing. JMA has sub-awards with Booz Allen Hamilton and Virginia Tech to provide specialized testing and evaluation services, including U-plane fuzzing, zero trust architecture, and open RU conformance and interoperability testing.

Activities

JMA will focus on integration and validation of the o-RU into open ran end-to-end (E2E) systems, with high fidelity prototypes undergoing robust design verification testing (DVT). ORU units will have beta level software and type certification (e.g. FCC) readiness and will be used for integration testing in complex lab or controlled field testing. Other principal activities will include robust E2E testing, validating the o-RUS from an o-ran 3RD generation partnership project (3GPP) and security system point of view; compliance testing and emissions certification (e.g., FCC); creating final product documentation; manufacturing the first units for use in MNO labs; and limited field testing aligned with MNO commercial objectives.

Expected outcomes

The primary outcome is the development of the armor platform to support multiple o-RU variants that are energy efficient, have streamlined various RU components to deliver a cost-effective high-power macro and in-building/small cell product line for the targeted mnos.

Intended beneficiaries

The platform will deliver multiple SKU radio units serving major mobile network providers.

Subrecipient activities

The recipient proposes subawards to booz allen hamilton to support JMA in specialized testing and evaluation services specifically for u-plane fuzzing and zero trust architecture (ZTA). Virginia tech will support JMA by performing specialized testing and evaluation services, specifically in the areas of open RU conformance tests, open RU fronthaul interoperability tests, and open RU security.