In a two-day workshop, experts from the United States government and private sector entities shared their expertise on 5G and Open Radio Access Network (Open RAN) technologies
Bogota, Colombia – Experts from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Commercial Law Development Program (CLDP) partnered with the Government of Colombia to deliver a workshop on next-generation wireless technology for 5G and issues related to network security and supplier diversity, including Open Radio Access Networks (Open RAN). These topics were discussed within Colombia’s context of closing the digital divide.
During the two-day workshop hosted on September 20 and 21 in Bogota, CLDP provided technical assistance through key U.S. agencies, including the National Telecommunications and Information Administration and the United States Trade and Development Association, as well as private sector entities including the Wireless Infrastructure Association, Tigo Colombia, Rakuten Mobile Inc., and Nokia. The first day of the conference focused on challenges with deploying next-generation wireless equipment for 5G as well as deployment of physical infrastructure. The second day covered specific U.S. government approaches to promoting supplier diversity as well as opportunities for Open RAN deployment in Latin America.
This workshop follows technical engagement with the Colombian government on information and communications technology (ICT) issues at the August 2022 ANDICOM conference, the premier international ICT conference in the region, and builds upon years of U.S.-Colombia partnership on telecommunications and technology.
Collectively, these engagements with the Colombian government aim to assist government officials in their efforts to create an enabling regulatory environment and encourage the private sector to build a more resilient and robust communications network, which is paramount to economic development and public safety. These meetings also laid the groundwork for future collaborations between the two governments on network security and supplier diversity, critical components of deployment of future networks.
Funding for the engagements was made possible by the Digital Connectivity and Cybersecurity Partnership, a U.S. whole of government initiative to help partner countries harness the power of an open, reliable, and secure digital economy; and promote state-of-the art, secure, diverse, and resilient infrastructure improvements; pro-competitive legal and regulatory reforms consistent with democratic and free market values; policy approaches that facilitate innovation and investment from the United States and like-minded countries; and cybersecurity practices in line with international best practices.