Opening Keynotes

Wednesday Oct 18th

Rajesh Pankaj Mike Nawrocki Tommaso Melodia Anne Neuberger Ray Dolan
InterDigital Next G Alliance Northeastern The White House Cohere & NSTAC
6G: What’s Ahead?
Rajesh Pankaj
EVP, Chief Technology Officer, InterDigital
 InterDigital combines five decades
of wireless and video research and
InterDigital’s innovation
leadership in with one of the strongest
wireless and technology portfolios in wireless,
video enables video, and AI
the devices and to develop and share core
connected technology through standards
industries of and licensing,
tomorrow resulting in more than 7 billion
devices under license in the last
decade alone.

©2023 InterDigital, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 11/2/2023 3

 New •
•
Vertical Markets
Devices

5G is not
done yet…
• Spectrum
More •
•
Intelligence
Energy Savings

But we need to start

thinking about 6G
Fix • Issues in 5G

©2023 InterDigital, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 11/2/2023 4

What Are Some of the Next G Use Cases?
Connecting People Better

Immersive Experiences Holographic Media Extreme Coverage

New Markets & Sustainability

Industry Automation Autonomous Vehicles/Swarms Low-Power & Battery-less Sensing

©2023 InterDigital, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 11/2/2023 5

 Key Wireless Technology Trends
Integration of Technologies Extending The Foundations

AI/ML Integrated with Advanced Antenna

Communications Arrays with MIMO

Distributed Computing New Waveforms

Integrated with 6G & Spectrum
Communications (7-24GHz, >100Ghz)

Sensing Integrated
Open Architectures
with Communications

©2023 InterDigital, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 11/2/2023 6

 Key Video Technology Trends
New data for new use cases New Technologies

Volumetric data Sustainable video

for immersive chain and responsible
communications distribution

Avatars for interactive New immersive and AI

and virtual 6G codecs, AI split models,
communications Edge architecture

Ultra low latency,

Scene representation multimodal QoE,
for XR, and XR enhanced protocols for
framework XR and metaverse

©2023 InterDigital, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 11/2/2023 7

 Why Standards Matter in the Wireless Supply Chain
There Needs to be Additional Focus on the
Front End that Markets are Built Upon
Pinch-Point: CHIPS Act Primary Focus on
Foundries & Manufacturing
Increasing Foundational Technologies

Increasing Market Value

Foundry

Production Hardware Network Digital

Innovation Standardization
Manufacturing Production Infrastructure Services

©2023 InterDigital, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 11/2/2023 8

Timeline Just as 3G, 4G and 5G will coexist for some time,
6G will exist simultaneously with 4G and 5G
to 6G
2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028

New IMT Technical Technical

Vision for IMT Performance Proposals for
2030 (6G) Requirements IMT 2030

Rel 20 6G
Requirements

Rel 20
Rel 19 (Pre Rel 21
(5G + 6G Use
6G- Channel (6G Work
Cases and Study
Modeling) Items)
Items)

©2023 InterDigital, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 11/2/2023 9

Emerging IMT-2030
What is 6G
View of Shaping
Up to Be 6G?
Improve the 5G triangle
• eMBB
• mMTC
• URLLC
Enable new capabilities
• Integrated Sensing and
Communication
• Integrated AI and
Communication
• Ubiquitous Connectivity
Source: ITU-R, DRAFT NEW RECOMMENDATION,
"Framework and overall objectives of the future
development of IMT for 2030 and beyond," June 2023.

©2023 InterDigital, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 11/2/2023 10

The Path to 6G Around the World

Governments,
industry, and
academia are
collaborating
worldwide to
make 6G a reality

©2023 InterDigital, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 11

We invent the
technologies that
make life boundless.

©2023 InterDigital, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

 Opening Keynotes

Wednesday Oct 18th

Rajesh Pankaj Mike Nawrocki Tommaso Melodia Anne Neuberger Ray Dolan
InterDigital Next G Alliance Northeastern The White House Cohere & NSTAC
 6G Symposium – Fall 2023
Creating a 6G Vision for the Future

Mike Nawrocki, ATIS, VP - Technology & Solutions

October 18 , 2023
Washington DC
“Beyond the Hype”

hype - to promote or publicize extravagantly

(Merriam Webster)

vision – charting the future with imagination and wisdom

what is promised Roadmap to 2030

and beyond
what is delivered

Combining the revolutionary and evolutionary

15
Change How We Live
Home-based patient care
improvement and awareness
Remote surgery and scanning
AI-enabled patient digital twin
Ambient assisted living
V2V and V2P safety Leveraging EGE innovation for
education
Autonomous, coordinated and Metaverse experiences
remote driving
Immersive knowledge and
Real-time 360° situational learning
awareness
Hologram receivers
Next Gen mission critical
communications
AR headsets and glasses
Networked robots and
UAVs
Connected ambulances
16
Change How We Work
Factories of the future Movement between farming
and road infrastructure
AI-managed automatic guided
vehicles High precision irrigation and
fertilizer treatments
Massive sensors to manage
environment and resources Massive sensing and remote
actuation
Communications across
mobile and NTN
Extreme connectivity
Tele-operation for
hazardous environments
Use of digital twin replicas
High precision accuracy
and tracking
Urbanization density and
access to resources
Zero energy IoT devices
AI-driven data decision-
making
Government-provided
playing fields for 6G
innovation
17
6G Roadmap for Vertical Industries
May 2023

Agriculture Automotive Education, Gaming eHealth

and Entertainment

Industrial Mining Public Safety Smart Cities

✓ Translate North American needs to technology outcomes

✓ Target shared investments in 6G PoCs and testbeds
✓ Connect North American 6G needs to marketplace

18
6G Spectrum Considerations
> Published in August 2023 (living document)
> First comprehensive survey of spectrum bands that
have the potential to support 6G in North America
> Serves as early engagement point for the challenges
and promise of future 6G spectrum bands
> Companion document to follow covering drivers for
6G spectrum needs and characteristics
> Will include target performance requirements
Bandwidth

Coverage

19
6G Societal and Economic Needs

> Recently published report looks

beyond 6G technologies
> Identifies key societal NextG
Outcomes
> Societal/economic compass for
future 6G research priorities
> Principles that will influence vision,
use cases and applications

Solutions that are affordable, ubiquitous, broadly

available and responsive to societal needs

20
Creating the Foundation

NGA’s publications have established

a collective view, serving as a future
6G compass for North America
NGA’s Top Ten Research Areas
Security, Trust and Resilience Radio Access Technologies

New Radio Components and Joint Communications and

Antennas Sensing

Network Convergence and Architecture and Control of Open,

Integration Disaggregated Systems

Sustainability / Reduced Energy

AI/ML Consumption and Cost

Spectrum Sharing and Enhanced Cloud Native Networks and

Spectrum Access Distributed Cloud

22
NGA Global Collaboration

23
North American Voice for 6G

Develop North Create 6G Public/Private

American 6G vision https://www.nextgalliance.org/research-priorities/
Partnerships for Next Frontier
and key foundational Align on a collective set of Innovation and Investment
documents of 6G Research Priorities

24
Building the foundation
for North American
leadership in 6G and beyond
 Opening Keynotes

Wednesday Oct 18th

Rajesh Pankaj Mike Nawrocki Tommaso Melodia Anne Neuberger Ray Dolan
InterDigital Next G Alliance Northeastern The White House Cohere & NSTAC
”Open6G: Toward Open, Programmable,
and AI-Driven Wireless Systems"

Prof. Tommaso Melodia

William Lincoln Smith Professor
melodia@northeastern.edu
WIoT Institute Mission

Research: Be a leading institution for research and

1 development in smart and connected systems

Education: Train the next generation of researchers and

2 professionals in interdisciplinary and hands-on skills

Think Tank: Shape and influence the global conversation on

3 the future of connectivity

Technology Incubator: Generate IP, software, commercialize

4 through spinoffs and industry
Institute for the Wireless Internet of Things

Air Force Office of

Research Naval Department of
Laboratory Research Transportation

National NASA
Science
Foundation

+
Industry
OUSD (R&E)
12 NTIA
Consortium
Sponsoring AFOSR
Agencies

DARPA

Department of Army IARPA

Homeland Research
Security Office
WIoT’s Industry Partners

Strategic
Partners

Industry
Partners

Small
Businesses
 Applications enabled by core research
IoT Core Areas • Multiple current and emerging verticals
and Verticals • Interconnected and reliant on common foundations
• Joint work on multiple core areas necessary to enable a seamless vertical application

Wireless Internet Connected Internet of The Space

Networked Smart
of the Future Warfigher Oceans
Vehicles
Drones
Medical
Things
Internet

Core Foundational Areas

Sensors and Energy

Harvesting

Wireless
Networking

Data Analytics Machine

Learning

Security and Blockchains

Policy and Business

WIoT by the numbers

Over $100M cumulative funding

152
109 Ph.D. Students
25 faculty members
13 Research Scientists
WIoT Institute Members 5 Staff Members

25+ Industry Partners

5 Spinoffs
Strategic Roadmap Toward 6G

Open,
Programmable, Flexible Spectrum
Virtualized Exploitation

1 2 3 4 5
Conquering the AI-Native Connecting the
Spectrum Processing and Metaverse
Control
Open RAN

Traditional “black-box” Open, programmable and virtualized

L. Bonati, M. Polese, S. D'Oro, S. Basagni, and T. Melodia, "Open, Programmable, and Virtualized
RRC SDAP PDCP 5G Networks: State-of-the-Art and the Road Ahead," Computer Networks, vol. 182, Dec 2020.

RLC MAC RF PHY

Open RAN is an Enabler for Artificial Intelligence
Currently supported by O-RAN
Control and learning objective Scale Input data Timescale Architecture

> 1000 Non real-time Service Management and Orchestration (SMO)

Policies, models, slicing Infrastructure-level
>1s non real-time RIC
devices KPIs
O1
CU-level KPIs A1
User Session Management > 100 Near real-time gNB
e.g., number of
e.g., load balancing, handover devices sessions, PDCP traffic 10-1000 ms
Near real-time CU
E2
MAC-level KPIs RIC
Medium Access Management > 100 Near real-time F1
e.g., scheduling policy, RAN e.g., PRB utilization,
devices buffering
10-1000 ms
slicing

Radio Management DU
MAC/PHY-level KPIs
~10 Real-time
e.g., resource scheduling, e.g., PRB utilization, Open FH
beamforming devices channel estimation < 10 ms Mobile devices
RU
Device DL/UL Management
Real-time
e.g., modulation, interference, 1 device I/Q samples
blockage detection < 1 ms

For further study or not supported

Northeastern Open6G
Open, programmable, virtualized, and intelligent 5G and 6G
networks in an Industry-University-Government R&D center

Architecture Software Stacks

Testbeds AI/ML Control

Spectrum Sharing

Automation

Security Energy Efficiency

Colosseum as the Open RAN Digital Twin
25 racks with
• 256 radio for users and
emulation
• MCHEM FPGAs
• NVIDIA DGXs and GPUs
• Dell compute
• SDN infrastructure with SONIC

Colosseum Infrastructure
Traffic Generator (TGEN) Management
Infrastructure
Traffic Network Fabric
Colosseum Quadrant

SRN (x 32) SRN (x 32) SRN (x 32) SRN (x 32) GPU Nodes

Container Container Container Container Container

Container Container Container Container Container
Container
USRP X310 Container
USRP X310 Container
USRP X310 Container
USRP X310 NVIDIA A100
USRP X310 USRP X310 USRP X310 USRP X310 NVIDIA A100 Experiment Website
USRP X310 USRP X310 USRP X310 USRP X310

Container
Resource Manager
Gateways
FPGA Fabric NVIDIA V100

RF Scenario Server Network services

Massive Channel Emulator (MCHEM)
NAS (Storage)

Management Network
Colosseum as the Open RAN Digital Twin
5G SA Core Network E2 interface:
RIC Subscription
UE Virtual RF Scenario Cell 1 RIC Indication

O-RAN Digital Twin

(with OAI) Base station RIC Control messages
SRN O-RAN E2 termination
6 UEs O-RAN near real-time RIC

….
dApps OAI CU/DU
3 slices PDCP
SRN with

RRC
RLC
MAC RIC Database
UE AI/ML PHY

(with OAI)
SRN O-RAN E2 O-RAN
xApps with AI/ML

xApp deployment
termination E2 manager
6 UEs
UE Base station Cell 2
3 slices
….

….
Mobility, path loss, fading, O-RAN SMO and non real-time RIC

6 UEs
UE
inter-cell interference Base station Cell 7
rApps with AI/ML AI/ML training and catalog
3 slices
O1 interface

Colosseum Infrastructure
Traffic Generator (TGEN) Management
Infrastructure
Traffic Network Fabric
Colosseum Quadrant

SRN (x 32) SRN (x 32) SRN (x 32) SRN (x 32) GPU Nodes

Container Container Container Container Container

Container Container Container Container Container
Container
USRP X310 Container
USRP X310 Container
USRP X310 Container
USRP X310 NVIDIA A100
USRP X310 USRP X310 USRP X310 USRP X310 NVIDIA A100 Experiment Website
USRP X310 USRP X310 USRP X310 USRP X310

Container
Resource Manager
Gateways
FPGA Fabric NVIDIA V100

RF Scenario Server Network services

Massive Channel Emulator (MCHEM)
NAS (Storage)

Management Network
CAST: A Toolchain to Create Colosseum Scenarios

-50

-60

-70

Path Gain [dB]

Real World Environment -80

-90

OBU#1 -100
Original link 1-4
-110 Received link 1-4
RSU Original link 3-4
Received link 3-4
-120
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 175
Time (s)

-40 20

Received Path Gain [dB]

Received waveform

Original Path Gain [dB]

Original CIR
0
OBU#3 -60

OBU#2 -80 -20

-100 -40

-120 -60

0 1 2 3 4 5
ToA [ s]
39

Digital Twin Replica

Outdoor Digital Twin, a V2X scenario in Tampa FL Indoor Digital Twin, Arena & Colosseum
 Open6G Technical Architecture
Open RAN + MEC Core network EPC and 5G Core on a micro-service-based architecture

… …

Open interfaces and data pipelines

5G Core UPF AMF SMF 4G EPC S/PGW MME

SMO + data collection platform

ML Training Nodes RAN-in-a-box LTE eNB
2x NVIDIA DGX A100 - SuperMicro server w RLC
NVIDIA V100 Softwarized, open-source 4G/5G RRC
MAC
and beyond RAN PDCP
PHY
xApp Catalogue
Colosseum Data
Storage Non-RT RIC

Disaggregated NR gNB
ColO-RAN Near-RT RIC O-CU-CP
O-CU-CP
RRC
E2 Routing Manager

xApp SDK O-DU

PDCP
E2 Termination
Redis Database

O-CU-UP
E2 Manager

O-DU O-RU
O-RU
xApp

xApp

xApp

O-CU-UP RLC Scrambling

PHY-low Precoding
Modulation iFFT/CP
SDAP MAC Layer mapping RF Beamforming
PDCP Precoding DAC/ADC
PHY-high RE mapping
Micro-services Cluster

Colosseum Arena and X-Mili PAWR Platforms

5 ft
8 64
16 48 56
7 24 32 40 63
15 55
23 31 39 47
6 62
14 54
5 22 30 38 46 61
13 53
21 29 37 45
4 60
12 52
3 20 28 36 44 59
11 51
19 27 35 43
2 58
10 50
1 18 26 34 42 57
9 49
17 25 33 41

Server Rack
Radio Rack

Experimental platforms and testbeds USRP N210 USRP X310

The OpenRAN Gym vision
Enable native O-RAN-driven experiments in
large-scale experimental testbeds and networks

Collect data at scale on Design, train, and package AI/ML Test and refine on experimental
virtual RF scenarios components as xApps wireless platforms

Entropy regularization loss

Database − 0.22 1
1 OT, beginning
queries Autoencoder Online TF Agent 0.8 Better
Shared Data Online OT, mid
training training

Average rew ard

0.8

CDF
Encoder (uniform 0.6
Layer APIs (uniform OT, end
− 0.24 traffic) traffic)
0.6 0.4 TR, sched- sl i ci ng
Data

…
0.2
0.4
ASN.1 − 0.26 0
0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8

…
Encoding Training on Training on

A rena

A rena
offline dataset 0.2 offline dataset
Decoding (slice-based traffic) (slice-based traffic)
Per-user throughput [Mbit/ s]
− 0.28 Action 0
Control 2260 25000Actor
29820 2260 25000 29820
10000 17460 Value 10000 17460
Fig. 10: CDF of the throughput for the eMBB slice during the online
RIC interface DRL Agent
Training steps network network Training steps
xApp training (OT) and with the trained agent (TR) with the uniform traffic
(a) Entropy regularization loss. (b) Reward. profile.

Fig. 8: Metrics for the training on the offline dataset and the online

Throughput [M bit/ s]
training on Colosseum and Arena. The Arena configuration uses LTE
Trained model During training
band 7. Notice that the Arena deployment considers 3 users per base 4
station, contrary to the 6 users per base station of Colosseum, thus the
Website: openrangym.com absolute average reward decreases. 3

0 50 100 150 200 250

L. Bonati, M. Polese, S. D'Oro, S. Basagni, T. Melodia, "OpenRAN Gym: AI/ML Development, Data Collection, and Time [s]
41
Testing for O-RAN on PAWR Platforms," Computer Networks, vol. 220, pp. 1-11, January 2023 Fig. 11: eMBB slice throughput during training and with the trained
model.
Intelligent Use Cases

Network slicing and

scheduling Traffic steering

MTC PRBs + URLLC PRBs KPM xApp

State
Agent xApp RC xApp
eMBB PRBs +
scheduling + scheduling Query Action
scheduling policy Telemetry Control
policy policy RAN (E2 nodes)

Spectrum sharing Energy efficiency

Network functions
Compute Scaling
gNB RICs Edge
Core AI/ML

Tenant 1 Tenant 2 Tenant 3 Near RT-

RIC
Shared infrastructure, spectrum, compute 42 42
 Open RAN and Security Implications
Securing the Non-RT RIC
Securing the
Intelligence Orchestration/rApps Open Interfaces
Challenges: Opportunities: A1
Challenge: robust encryption and
• Data poisoning • Autoencoders
Near-RT RIC reliable authentication with
• Backdoors • DNNs
xApp 1 xApp N • Low overhead in cost and
• Adversarial ML • Explainable AI
E2 performance
• Latency guarantees for F1 and
Securing the CU Open Fronthaul
Infrastructure SDAP/PDCP/RRC • Interoperability
Challenges: F1
• Virtualization and disaggregation Opportunities:
• Multiple vendors in shared environment
DU • Adopt best practices for
• Multi-side deployments, including edge
RLC/MAC/PHY-High encryption/authentication
and cell sites • Hardware acceleration
O-FH
Opportunities: • Embed security profiles in testing
• CI/CD and automation RU requirements
PHY-Low/RF
• Neutral host/platform as a service
43
J. Groen, S. D'Oro, U. Demir, L. Bonati, M. Polese, T. Melodia, K. Chowdhury, "Implementing and Evaluating Security in O-RAN: Interfaces, Intelligence, and Platforms," arXiv:2304.11125 [cs.CR], pp. 1-7, April 2023
 Protecting the Network Intelligence

Compare attack effect with

Attack: inject random noise in and without autoencoder
the telemetry
xApp Agent

E2 telemetry Autoencoder

E2 control
DRL

44
J. Groen, S. D'Oro, U. Demir, L. Bonati, M. Polese, T. Melodia, K. Chowdhury, "Implementing and Evaluating Security in O-RAN: Interfaces, Intelligence, and Platforms," arXiv:2304.11125 [cs.CR], pp. 1-7, April 2023
 TENORAN – Open RAN Energy Efficiency

STV Descriptor
Thrust 1
Standardized Testing Vector
TENORAN Thrust 3

Integration &
Consists of: (STV) Database
Objective: ▪
▪
RF scenario
Traffic profile
demonstration

• Fine-grained energy ▪
▪
Intent
CU/DU/RU
STV Descriptor Tools
efficiency testing for Open configuration Thrust 4
STV Descriptor
RAN STVs Generator
GUI/APIs Dissemination &
Broader Impact
to execute
A B C
Relevance:
Devices Under Per-STV Energy
• Open RAN needs to Test (DUTs)
Thrust 2
Profiles
demonstrate energy
Testing
efficiency CU RU Integration Engine CU DU RU
Engine
A B C
• We will provide the tools Integrated multi-
to make it happen vendor CU/DU/RU
STV C Energy profile
• Energy consumption
Structure: OTIC/in-house multi- DU
• CU/DU/RU
• Interfaces
vendor pool
• 3 technical thrusts Thrust 3
Fetch necessary components
• Energy/bit
• Resource utilization
• 1 dissemination thrust CU
CU CU
CU CU
CU
to
CU DU RU match STV CU/DU/RU
configuration

45
CI/CD/CT and Automation for Secure O-RAN Software
CI/CD/CT: no human interaction required
Download
latest code
Apply patch 5G gNB Build container Automated Over-the-air +
image Security Testing

UE

UE
Packaged as
Result Analysis
patch

Test passed! UE gNB

Update
History of results Test failed
O-RAN
Software
Private 5G ORAN Multi-Vendor Testbed
X-Mili rack X-Mili RUs FoxConn RU X-Mili rack

Near-RT RIC Indoor

5G SA Core server Dell switch S5248F-ON
RU 1 RU 4
CU + DU
(AERIAL + OAI) Dell R750 PowerEdge
CU + DU RU 2 RU 5
CU + DU
CU + DU
CU + DU RU 3 RU 6 • Band n78 (3.7-3.8 GHz)
CU + DU • Up to 4x4 MIMO
CU + DU • O-RAN 7.2 fronthaul
CU + DU Outdoor
Fronthaul switch Gigabyte edge servers
RU 7 RU 8 NVIDIA A100
GM clock GPS Qulsar QG2 Mellanox ConnectX-6 DX

Fiber
• PTP time and phase
• SyncE over Ethernet
• ITU G.8275.1 47
 Explainable AI – the EXPLORA framework
• DRL is effective at controlling and optimizing O-
Network slicing and scheduling
RAN systems
MTC PRBs + URLLC PRBs + • Inherently hard to explain and interpret
eMBB PRBs +
scheduling scheduling
scheduling policy
policy policy • Operator trust?
• Expected/anomalous behavior?

EXPLORA: network-oriented explanations that link DRL action to network state

C. Fiandrino, L. Bonati, S. D'Oro, M. Polese, J. Widmer, T. Melodia, EXPLORA: AI/ML EXPLainability for the Open RAN, ACM CoNEXT'23

XAI:
xApp(s) for • create attributed graph to connect actions
network control (nodes) to effects on RAN (attributes)
• distill knowledge by analyzing transitions
between actions (edges)

Explanation-Driven Behavior Refiner (EBDR):

• identify inefficiencies/anomalies
O-RAN deployment
• adjust agent behavior with action steering
48
 Putting it all together: zTouch OS

Network operator’s intent

I need to stream 4K video to
100 users in Times Square, NY
from 8pm to 9pm
zTouch.OS Control
Data actions
• Automated orchestration
• Intent recognition
• Adapt to network state and
traffic demand
• Optimal performance
• Zero-touch reconfiguration
 Intent
Support ultra-low latency UAV
traffic and 4K video streaming Intent Machine-understandable
for asset tracking Auto AI
processor intent

Customer
(factory owner)

Orchestrator

AI & Service
Catalog

(seconds later)

Actionable Services
AI
Factory Automation

zTouch Networks Inc., Confidential and Proprietary

Open6G ORAN Testing and Integration Center
Open6G OTIC

• Testing and Integration center for next-

generation wireless networks
• Leverage WIoT testbeds
• interoperability and AI research toward 6G

6G Innovation Ecosystem in MA
• Hub for economic development around
Open RAN/6G
• Tech incubator for next-generation wireless
startups
• WIoT consortium

6G Workforce Development in MA
• Unique hands-on training programs
• Outreach activities
• Open RAN 5G and 6G expert certification
program
 Opening Keynotes

Wednesday Oct 18th

Rajesh Pankaj Mike Nawrocki Tommaso Melodia Anne Neuberger Ray Dolan
InterDigital Next G Alliance Northeastern The White House Cohere & NSTAC
 CHIPS & Science Act Funding
& Its Impact Shaping 6G
Wednesday Oct 18th

Jack Gold Amanda Ayodele Erwin Jaydee Griffith Mike O’Rielly Chris Greer
J Gold Toman Okeowo Gianchandani NIST MPO’Rielly NIST
Associates NTIA NIST NSF
 The Public Wireless
Supply Chain Innovation
Fund
6G Symposium
October 18th, 2023
 The Innovation Fund’s Goals

The Innovation Fund was authorized by the FY2021

National Defense Authorization Act and funded by the
2022 CHIPS and Science Act.
Per the NDAA, the Innovation Fund is charged with:
• Promoting and deploying technology that will enhance competitiveness in 5G and successor
technologies.
• Accelerating commercial deployments of open / interoperable equipment.
• Promoting and deploying compatibility of new 5G equipment with future equipment.
• Managing integration of multi-vendor network environments.
• Identifying criteria to define equipment as compliant with open standards for multi-vendor
network interoperability.
• Promoting and deploying security features.
• Promoting and deploying network function virtualization.

55 Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund DRAFT | PRE-DECISIONAL

 Innovation Fund Vision and Mission

Vision
• Develop a competitive global ecosystem of trusted

telecommunications vendors that are fielding open

interoperable network equipment domestically and overseas.​

Mission
• Develop and implement a grant program that accelerates the

adoption and deployment of open radio access networks

through investments in interoperability, hardware maturity,
security, and supply chain diversity.

56 Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund DRAFT | PRE-DECISIONAL

 Program Objectives
Near-Term Objectives (Years 1-3)
• Support continued refinement and expansion of
“Open RAN” specifications.
• Increase 5G Open RAN adoption by carriers and
private networks.
• Develop third-party testing/certification in the U.S.
• Accelerate developments in 5G Open RAN
performance, security, and interoperability.
• Advance 5G Open RAN trials and pilots.
• Develop 5G Open RAN best practices and training.
57 Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund DRAFT | PRE-DECISIONAL
Long-Term Objectives (Years 3-10)
• Support advances in “Open RAN” specifications.
• Open RAN deployed by carriers and private
networks.
• The U.S. is a competitive global player in
telecommunications and Open RAN development
and deployment.
• 6G specifications are inherently open and
interoperable.
• Open RAN architecture boasts additional security,
power consumption, cost, and product features.
 The Innovation Fund is Meeting Industry Needs

The Innovation Fund's request for comment received 89

responses, from carriers, cloud/network edge providers,
wireless equipment suppliers, academia, industry groups,
and more. The responses highlighted the following themes:
Interoperability Testing Network Security Open RAN Specifications

Nearly half of RFC

76% of RFC respondents
cited the need to prioritize
testing through the
Innovation Fund.
Nearly 70% of RFC
respondents suggested that
the Innovation Fund to invest
in security.
respondents emphasized
the importance of
specifications that could
assist with Open RAN
integration.

58 Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund DRAFT | PRE-DECISIONAL

 Program Timeline

The Innovation Fund is moving rapidly to

deliver critical investment into the wireless
ecosystem.

RFC & NOFO 1 NOFO 1 NOFO 1

CHIPS Act Signed NOFO 2
Development Applications Awards

August 2022 January – April April – June Summer & Fall Spring
2023 2023 2023 2024**

59 Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund DRAFT | PRE-DECISIONAL

 Deep Dive into NOFO #1
Background on NOFO #1
• Focus: Investing in the testing & evaluation
ecosystem for Open RAN and further
research & development for testing
methods.
• By the Numbers: $140.5M in total funding;
grants have a five-year period of
performance.
• Why T&E + R&D: Aligns with industry's
need for advanced testing and our short-
term objective to improve
the infrastructure around Open RAN.
60 Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund
Our First Grantees
• Northeastern University: Investing in an
energy-efficient testing platform that'll help
make wireless networks more sustainable.
• New York University: Supporting T&E for
NextGen ran components with a focus on
shared and adversarial spectrum scenarios.
• DeepSig: Aiding with its air-interface
performance testing that leverages AI to
improve accuracy.
DRAFT | PRE-DECISIONAL
 Setting up 6G+ Success via 5G
• 5G is a Case Study for Proactive Solutions: USG has made reactive investments
to address security and trust challenges associated with already-deployed
telecommunications equipment. We should also proactively address the market
dynamics that first allowed untrusted equipment to be deployed.

• The 6G Horizon is Shorter Than We Think: Even if a network refresh is several

years away, the R&D and testing that precede a network refresh take several years.
We have a 2-3-year timescale to make a major impact, not a decade.

• 5G is the Best Time to Pilot Best Practices for 6G+: Advancing open,
interoperable, and standards-based networks is a team effort that will require new
industry-wide communications and organizational mechanisms. We can’t wait till
6G to pilot those best practices. We need to develop and refine them now.

61 Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund DRAFT | PRE-DECISIONAL

 THANK YOU

Amanda Toman
Director, Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund
Innovationfund@ntia.gov
 CHIPS & Science Act Funding
& Its Impact Shaping 6G
Wednesday Oct 18th

Jack Gold Amanda Ayodele Erwin Jaydee Griffith Mike O’Rielly Chris Greer
J Gold Toman Okeowo Gianchandani NIST MPO’Rielly NIST
Associates NTIA NIST NSF
 CHIPS for America Briefing
6GSymposium Fall 2023
Ayodele Okeowo – Director of Intergovernmental Affairs, CPO

October 18, 2023

 The CHIPS and
Science Act
of 2022

National Institute of Standards and Technology | U.S. Department of Commerce 65

CHIPS for America Programs
$39 billion for manufacturing
Components:
1. Attract large-
scale investments in
advanced technologies
such as leading-edge logic
and memory
2. Incentivize expansion
of manufacturing capacity
for mature and other types
of semiconductors
Workforce development
$11 billion for R&D
• National Semiconductor
Technology Center
• National Advanced Together with
Packaging Manufacturing CHIPS
Program initiatives from
• Manufacturing USA other agencies,
institute(s) including DOD,
State, NSF,
• National Institute of and Treasury
Standards and Technology
measurement science
National I nstitute of Standards and Technology | U. S. Department of Commerce 66
CHIPS for America Vision

Economic National Future

Security Security Innovation
The CHIPS Act will The CHIPS Act will The CHIPS Act will spur
strengthen supply chain ensure that the U.S. innovation, increase
security and increase can manufacture competitiveness, and
economic resilience in advanced ensure long-term U.S.
critical sectors. technologies, including leadership in the sector.
secure chips for the
U.S. military.
National I nstitute of Standards and Technology | U. S. Department of Commerce 4
 We are moving quickly to progress
against program goals

Incentives Request for IAC 1st public IAC 2nd public Proposed Rule Large Supply Rule on National
Information meeting meeting on National Chain Projects Security
CHIPS & Science Act of 2022
Security Funding Guardrails
passed into law and signed by Manufacturing USA Request Guardrails Opportunity published
President Biden for Information released

Aug ‘22 Sep ‘22 Oct ‘22 Nov ‘22 Dec ‘22 Jan ‘23 Feb ‘23 Mar ‘23 Apr ‘23 May ‘23 Jun ‘23 Jul ‘23 Aug ‘23 Sep ‘23

CHIPS for America First Notice of

National Semiconductor
launched Funding IAC 3rd public
Technology Center MOA
A Strategy for the Update to the Community Opportunity meeting with DOD
CHIPS for America released
Fund released Launch of Smaller
CHIPS Program and R&D Vision and Strategy for the
offices founded National Semiconductor Supply Chain
First meeting of Industrial Technology Center released Projects Funding
Advisory Committee (IAC) Opportunity

CHIPS Webinars and Briefings

Funding Opportunities

February 28, 2023 June 23, 2023 September 29, 2023

Funding Opportunity Funding Opportunity Funding Funding Opportunity

(Released) (Released) Opportunity
(Released)
For commercial For large For smaller To support the
leading- edge, current, semiconductor semiconductor construction of
and mature node materials and materials and semiconductor R&D
fabrication facilities equipment facility facilities
equipment facility
projects $300M+
projects under $300M
Focus of today’s webinar

The CHIPS Program Office has received over 500 statements of interest
and 100 pre-applications and full applications​
National I nstitute of Standards and Technology | U. S. Department of Commerce 69
1. Overview of the CHIPS program

Vision for Success

Leading-Edge Logic Advanced Packaging

✓ The U.S. will have at least two new large-scale ✓ The U.S. will be home to multiple high-volume
clusters of leading-edge logic fabs advanced packaging facilities

✓ U.S.-based engineers will develop the process ✓ The U.S. will be a global leader in commercial-
technologies underlying the next gen of logic By the scale advanced packaging technology
chips
end of
the
decade
Memory … Current-Generation and
Mature
✓ U.S.-based fabs will produce high-volume ✓ The U.S. will have strategically increased its
memory chips on economically competitive production capacity for current-gen and mature
terms chips

✓ R&D for next-generation memory technologies ✓ Chipmakers will also be able to respond more
critical to supercomputing and other advanced nimbly to supply and demand shocks
computing applications will be conducted in the
U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology | U.S. Department of Commerce 70
Vision for Success
Strengthen Supply Chain Resilience Advance U.S. Technology Leadership

✓ The U.S. and its allies will reduce chokepoint
risks flowing from geographic concentration
✓ Supply chain participants will improve the
transparency of demand and supply to reduce
the risks of production disruptions
By the
end of the
decade…
✓ The U.S. will have incentivized major U.S.
equipment and materials suppliers to increase
their footprints in the U.S.
✓ Non-U.S. suppliers of the world's most advanced
equipment, materials, and subsystems will also
establish large-scale footprints in the U.S.

Support Vibrant U.S. Fab Clusters

✓ Each CHIPS-funded fab cluster in the U.S. will be

supported by dozens of suppliers, including
many investing in the U.S. for the first time

✓ State and local entities encouraged to help

facilitate the expansion of these ecosystems
National I nstitute of Standards and Technology | U. S. Department of Commerce 71
Research and Development

National Institute of Standards and Technology | U.S. Department of Commerce 72

CHIPS for America R&D
• To strengthen and advance U.S. National
leadership in R&D Semiconductor
• An integrated ecosystem that Technology Center
drives innovation
• In partnership with industry, National Advanced
academia, government, and Metrology R&D Packaging
allies (NIST) Manufacturing
Program
• A strategic view of R&D
infrastructure, participant value-
proposition, and technology Manufacturing USA
focus areas institutes
• Informed by the Industrial (up to three)
Advisory Committee

National Institute of Standards and Technology | U.S. Department of Commerce 73

Program Development Timeline
SPRING 2023 SUMMER 2023 FALL 2023 WINTER 2023

National
Semiconductor Vision/Strategy Selection Committee
Technology Establish NSTC
Center
Paper Published identifies Board of Trustees

National Advanced
Packaging NAPMP vision and
Manufacturing strategy paper
Program

Manufacturing
RFI
USA institute(s) Summary Select topic(s); begin proposal process
Published

Metrology Program Metrology Gaps

(NIST) Report Published Select programs to begin
N a t i o n a l I n st i t u t e o f S t a n d a r d s a n d T e ch n o l o g y | U . S . D e p a r t m e n t o f C o m m e r ce 74

National Institute of Standards and Technology | U.S. Department of Commerce 74

Resources

National Institute of Standards and Technology | U.S. Department of Commerce 75

Next Steps
• Visit CHIPS.gov for resources, including:
• Notice of Funding Opportunity
• Vision for Success paper
• Applicant guides and templates
• FAQs and fact sheet
• Webinar schedule (and recordings of prior webinars)
• Teaming Partner List
• Join our mailing list
• Contact us
• askchips@chips.gov – general inquiries
• apply@chips.gov – application-related inquiries

National I nstitute of Standards and Technology | U. S. Department of Commerce 76

Thank You
 CHIPS & Science Act Funding
& Its Impact Shaping 6G
Wednesday Oct 18th

Jack Gold Amanda Ayodele Erwin Jaydee Griffith Mike O’Rielly Chris Greer
J Gold Toman Okeowo Gianchandani NIST MPO’Rielly NIST
Associates NTIA NIST NSF