More than 90 Applications Requesting Nearly $3 Billion Submitted for the Wireless Innovation Fund’s Third Round

The Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) received 94 applications requesting nearly $3 billion in federal funding and proposing more than $1.3 billion in private investment to support innovation in wireless equipment. The third Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) in the Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund makes up to $450 million available to invest in industry-specific use cases and integration of automated solutions for open and interoperable radio access network (Open RAN) equipment, aimed at accelerating the adoption of Open RAN technology. The radio access network refers to the physical and digital infrastructure underlying mobile wireless networks and represents the largest share of capital expenditure for mobile network operators. Funded by the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, the $1.5 billion Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund invests in American technology leadership in mobile telecommunications networks, aiming to drive wireless innovation, foster competition, and strengthen supply chain resilience. NTIA has awarded over $550 million across 35 projects through the first two funding rounds.