USAID’s Closure Casts Doubt on US Open RAN Support in Asia

The sudden closure of USAID last week has raised concerns about the future of US-backed Open RAN initiatives, particularly in Southeast Asia, where the agency played a key role in funding major projects. Among the initiatives affected are the Philippines’ first Open RAN test lab and the Asian Open RAN Academy (AORA), both designed to accelerate Open RAN adoption in the region.

Prior to last week’s shock announcement, Ryan Washburn, USAID’s mission director in the Philippines, had emphasised that the country remained a top priority for American foreign aid under the Trump administration. However, following an announcement that only 294 USAID staff will be retained globally, with just eight positions allocated to Asia, it is now uncertain whether these Open RAN programs can sustain their momentum without continued US support.

The US established Open RAN as a national security strategy after banning Chinese telecom equipment from its networks under the first Trump administration. Since then, Washington has invested heavily in promoting Open RAN both domestically and internationally. USAID played a crucial role in facilitating these efforts, particularly in emerging markets where Open RAN could serve as an alternative to Chinese-supplied telecom infrastructure.

The QUAD, a strategic alliance between the US, Australia, India, and Japan, has been instrumental in advocating for Open RAN adoption as part of broader measures to counter Chinese influence in the Indo Pacific. However, with USAID’s closure, it remains uncertain whether the US will continue pushing Open RAN through other diplomatic channels or if its focus in Asia will shift. The fate of these initiatives may now depend on whether private sector investments and alternative government funding can fill the void left by USAID’s departure.