Arlington, VA – Today, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency announced its award of a grant to Indonesia’s Ministry of Communication and Informatics (MCI) for a feasibility study to support the deployment of open radio access network (Open RAN) technology to provide cellular wireless connectivity to 1,621 unserved rural villages in Indonesia. MCI has selected the Open RAN industry association Telecom Infra Project, Inc. (TIP) to conduct the study.
“Our partnership with MCI will help to advance Indonesia’s universal access goals and leadership in the deployment of next generation network technologies,” said Enoh T. Ebong, USTDA’s Director. “This project will further leverage private sector financing to meet Indonesia’s digital infrastructure needs and create new opportunities for U.S. companies and trusted technology partners to offer solutions in one of the world’s largest telecom markets.”
Multiple U.S. technology providers are participating 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, the study will assess the commercial and technical viability of deploying Open RAN technology to provide cellular wireless connectivity for unserved villages in Indonesia. The study will include field trials of Open RAN technology that will provide necessary data to inform the business model and investment decisions for implementation. The activity will also deliver capacity building workshops and training sessions to educate public and private sector stakeholders on technical aspects of Open RAN deployment.
“I welcome the partnership between MCI, USTDA and TIP in conducting a feasibility study related to the development of open RAN infrastructure to enhance connectivity in rural villages across Indonesia,” said Dr. Ir. Ismail MT, Director General of Postal and Information Resources and Equipment at MCI. “This collaboration represents a significant step forward in bridging the digital divide and achieving our national goals for universal access. By leveraging Open RAN’s flexibility and cost-effectiveness, we can connect remote communities and unlock their economic potential. I hope the implementation of Open RAN in Indonesia can also bring opportunities to local industries to participate in developing Open RAN and MNO to build networks more efficiently.”
“The TIP community is delighted to partner with USTDA and the Indonesian government to determine the feasibility of rolling out macro 4G Open RAN into deep rural Indonesia,” said Kristian Toivo, Executive Director of TIP. “This study is a landmark milestone in TIP’s multi-year Indonesia program, and its results will help unlock investment for the commercial deployment of U.S. and other trusted technology in more than 1,600 sites across remote parts of the country. TIP and the U.S. and Indonesian governments are taking a pioneering collaborative step that will drive Indonesia’s national digital inclusion objectives and serve as an example for other countries.”
Open RAN offers several advantages for island countries and rural areas where traditional communications infrastructure may be lacking or limited. These benefits can include lower deployment and operational costs, greater scalability and automation, more diversification and competition among technology suppliers, improved energy efficiency and reduced environmental impact of telecom infrastructure, and momentum towards 5G rollout.
USTDA’s support for this project advances the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment and the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity, with the goal of developing, expanding, and deploying secure digital infrastructure to power economic growth and facilitate open digital societies.
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The U.S. Trade and Development Agency helps companies create U.S. jobs through the export of U.S. goods and services for priority infrastructure projects in emerging economies. USTDA links U.S. businesses to export opportunities by funding project preparation and partnership building activities that develop sustainable infrastructure and foster economic growth in partner countries.
MEDIA INQUIRIES: Paul Marin | (703) 875-4357 | press@ustda.gov