Through this project, solid gear will develop multi-operator radio access network (MORAN)-capable O-ran radio which is embedded in distributed antenna system (DAS) and provides multiple direct digital…

This federal Project Grant award from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) under the Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund Grant Program (CFDA 11.038) provides $30,806,929.82 to Solid Gear Inc. to develop a multi-operator radio access network (MORAN)-capable Open Radio Access Network (O-RAN) radio embedded in a distributed antenna system (DAS). The project aims to create a MORAN-capable O-RAN radio unit that can directly interface with multiple mobile network operator distributed units, eliminating the need for external signal sources. This innovative O-RAN solution is expected to lower the total cost of ownership for mobile network operators by reducing equipment space and power consumption requirements. Solid Gear will subaward portions of the work to VIAVI and AMD for testing, cybersecurity, patent development, and remote testing support. The award period runs from January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2026.

Activities

Solid will embed O-ran RU into DAS allowing for the direct interfacing with O-DUS through digital O-ran fronthaul. The applicant will develop moran-capable O-ran RU interface by supporting multi-MNO O-do connections, as well as single MNO O-DU connection.

Expected outcomes

The world-first moran-capable O-ran based digital interface embedded in DAS will remove any external signal source for DAS. This new product will implement one of the moran scenarios in which one radio is shared among multiple mnos. This will be an innovative O-ran solution to provide MNO with further great total cost of ownership reduction and business opportunities.

Intended beneficiaries

This will reduce mnos burdens for equipment space and power consumption, which will result in lowering the total cost of ownership.

Subrecipient activities

Solid gear will subaward to viavi and AMD for the purposes of testing, cyber security, patent development and remote testing. The subrecipients will be providing a product and associated technical expertise during integration of their fpga into their overall solution that solid gear develops.