U.S. and Japan Reaffirm Commitment to Open RAN Amid USAID Closure

U.S. President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru reaffirmed their commitment to Open RAN during the first meeting between the two leaders, which took place last week in Washington, D.C. 

A joint statement issued by both parties emphasised Japan and the US’ shared vision for high-quality infrastructure investments, including the deployment of Open Radio Access Networks in third countries. This commitment comes at a crucial time, following the recent closure of USAID, which had previously played an important role in supporting Open RAN initiatives in Southeast Asia.

The announcement should reassure regional allies concerned about the future of Open RAN projects previously funded by USAID. With its closure, the U.S. government may shift towards a more investment-focused approach to promoting Open RAN, potentially through agencies such as the U.S. Trade and Development Agency, which has a track record of supporting infrastructure projects, including Open RAN, in emerging economies.

Diane Rinaldo, Executive Director of the Open RAN Policy Coalition, welcomed the development, stating, “The U.S. Japan commitment reaffirms Open RAN as a global priority and highlights its strategic importance to the Trump Administration.” She emphasised that Open RAN gained substantial traction during Trump’s first term as a means of ensuring supply chain resilience and reducing reliance on untrusted vendors. “The Coalition and our members look forward to working together with both governments to accelerate the deployment of open and interoperable networks and advance secure, innovative telecommunications solutions,” she added.