In a significant move to bolster digital infrastructure, Japan has committed approximately PHP168 million to fund the Open Radio Access Network (Open RAN) laboratory at the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman. The agreement was sealed during a ceremony at the new Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) office in Pasay City, where Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo and Japanese Ambassador Endo Kazuya formalized the grant aid.
The funding will facilitate the provision of essential Open RAN equipment to the laboratory, established through a 2024 memorandum of understanding between UP Diliman and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Ambassador Kazuya emphasized the importance of efficient communication technologies in today’s digital age, highlighting Open RAN’s potential to diversify vendor options and reduce costs in critical sectors.
The laboratory aims to create a testing ground for Open RAN systems, enabling telecom companies like Smart and Globe Telecom to integrate hardware and software from various ICT vendors. This diversification is expected to lower the costs of 5G network deployment and spur innovation within the Philippines.
Discussions on deploying Open RAN systems have been ongoing between Japan and the Philippines, including during trilateral meetings with the US. Ambassador Kazuya expressed optimism about the laboratory’s success and its potential to advocate for broader Open RAN adoption across the country.
Secretary Manalo expressed gratitude for Japan’s support, noting it as a significant step in the expanding cooperation between the two nations, particularly in the field of communications technology. He highlighted the importance of this collaboration for Philippine agencies, especially UP, and the broadening scope of cooperation with Japan.
In addition to this grant, Japan and the US have pledged USD8 million for Open RAN field trials in the Philippines. UP Vice President for Digital Transformation Peter Sy welcomed telecom firms to utilize the laboratory for testing, noting the novelty of Open RAN and its potential to drive down costs by opening up the market to more vendors.
The Japanese Embassy underscored this project as a demonstration of Tokyo’s commitment to fostering an open, interoperable, secure, reliable, and trusted ICT ecosystem in the Philippines.