Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund Grant Program – Solutions for AI-Native RAN

This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO 4), titled "Solutions for AI-Native RAN," is issued by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) under the Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund. The grant program seeks to accelerate the development, testing, and deployment of secure, open, and interoperable artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities within the Radio Access Network (RAN). By integrating advanced computing capabilities and software, the program aims to promote U.S. technology leadership, enhance supply chain competitiveness, and establish viable business cases for AI-native telecommunications. Eligible applicants must be U.S.-organized entities with their principal place of business in the United States. NTIA plans to award up to $53,000,000 in total funding, with individual project awards capped at $25,000,000 (statutorily limited to $50,000,000). Grantees are required to provide a minimum 50% cost share. The period of performance is up to 18 months, during which projects must progress from any initial technical maturity level to a working hardware prototype and beta-level software. To exit the program, projects must successfully conduct a field demonstration showcasing simultaneous active AI and mobile communications workloads, while gathering data to confirm commercial viability. Applications must contain a comprehensive Project Narrative addressing four core requirements: a detailed AI-native network fabric description, a field demonstration plan, a commercially viable business case, and a security plan integrating "security-by-design" principles. Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov by September 9, 2026.

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) titled "Solutions for AI-Native RAN" (NTIA-PWSCIF-26-01) under the Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund. This program will award up to $53 million in total grants, with individual project awards capped at $25 million, to support the development and field testing of a secure compute environment that enables or leverages native artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities in the Radio Access Network (RAN). To be eligible, applicants must be U.S. entities capable of commercializing these solutions. The program mandates a minimum 50% cost share and limits the period of performance to 18 months. Crucially, projects must exit the period of performance with a working hardware prototype and beta-level software demonstrated in a real-world field environment. Applicants must submit a single project proposal addressing four key requirements: defining the AI-native network fabric, providing a comprehensive Security Plan incorporating "security-by-design" principles, presenting a 5-year commercial business case showing market viability and export potential, and executing a physical field demonstration. Eligible applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov no later than September 9, 2026.

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) titled "Solutions for AI-Native RAN" under the Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund (PWSCIF). The program aims to accelerate the development, testing, and deployment of secure, open, and interoperable artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities in the Radio Access Network (RAN) to enhance U.S. competitiveness and security in next-generation wireless technologies. NTIA plans to award up to $53,000,000 in total funding, with individual grants capped at $25,000,000 per project. Applicants must be U.S. entities and are required to provide a minimum 50% non-federal cost share. The period of performance for projects is up to 18 months, during which all activities must be conducted within the United States. Project proposals must address four core requirements: establishing an AI-native network fabric supporting combined telecommunications and AI workloads; presenting a robust "security-by-design" plan; defining a commercially viable, exportable business case; and executing a real-world field demonstration of the technology. By the end of the grant period, recipients must demonstrate a working hardware prototype and beta-level software. Complete applications must be submitted through Grants.gov no later than September 9, 2026.