WASHINGTON – Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai today announced that the Forum on 5G Open Radio Access Networks will take place on September 14, 2020. The forum, previously scheduled for March but postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, will take place by videoconference and stream online.

Chairman Pai will host experts at the forefront of the development and deployment of open, interoperable, standards-based, virtualized radio access networks to discuss this innovative new approach to 5G network architecture. Open Radio Access Networks offer an alternative to traditional cellular network architecture and could enable a diversity in suppliers, better network security, and lower costs.

"Open and virtualized radio access networks may help operators deploy more secure, cost-effective 5G networks," said Chairman Pai. "As part of the FCC's 5G FAST Plan, the agency has taken many actions to promote American leadership in next generation wireless services. To that end, we want the United States to lead the way in researching and developing innovative approaches to mobile network deployment. I am pleased the FCC will convene these experts for a productive discussion about the current state of ORAN-related technologies and the path ahead."

Among the speakers on the agenda for the forum are:

10:30AM-10:45AM: Welcome Remarks

10:50AM-11:30AM: Introduction to Open, Interoperable, and Virtualized Networks

11:45AM-12:45PM: Benefits of Deployment/Driving Innovation

1:40PM-2:50PM: Lessons from the Field: Where Do We Go from Here?

3:00PM-5:00PM: Technical Deep Dive

The Forum on 5G Open Radio Access Networks is scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m. EST on Monday, September 14, 2020 and webcast on www.fcc.gov/live and on the event's webpage.

FCC