Innovation Quarter Headquarters in Richardson [Photo: UT Dallas]
A new R&D lab has opened at IQ headquarters in the heart of Richardson’s Innovation Quarter, part of a national collaboration to pursue research, testing, evaluation and development of next-generation 5G radio access network (RAN) products and services in partnership with the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science at the University of Texas at Dallas.
OpenLab was established under the leadership of AT&T and Verizon, city officials said.
The lab’s main goal is to test the performance, interoperability and security of 5G networks and develop new testing methodologies to accelerate the adoption of “open, interoperable, multi-vendor wireless network infrastructure.”
The Richardson IQ was designed to be a place where innovative minds could convene, and in pursuit of that goal, the new lab will “provide exposure to a vibrant ecosystem of researchers, corporate partners and entrepreneurs,” the city said, adding that it will support UTD’s efforts by providing some rent abatements for the space.
“We are excited to announce the creation of this 5G Interoperability Lab and that AT&T and Verizon have joined the University of Texas at Dallas in planting their flag at Richardson IQ,” Richardson Mayor Don Magner said in a statement. “This collaboration marks another important milestone in our ongoing efforts to advance technology research and commercial applications, and highlights the impact IQ HQ can make by bringing the city, university and private companies together. This is exactly the type of partnership we envisioned for our innovation ecosystem.”
rew Part of the ACCoRD Consortium
The lab is part of the Accelerating Compatibility and Commercialization for Open RAN Deployment (ACCoRD) Consortium, a recently announced entity funded with more than $42 million through the National Telecommunications and Information Administration under the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022.
The aim is to accelerate the development and deployment of Open RAN (short for Open Radio Access Network) for future wireless communications.
Richardson announced it will offer more than 3,600 square feet of space at its Richardson IQ headquarters at 1302 E. Collins Boulevard to UTD under a below-market lease for up to four years.
Other Cosortium Members
The consortium includes AT&T and Verizon, as well as other major network operators such as India-based Reliance Jio and Japanese telecommunications company NTT Docomo. Vendors in the consortium include Keysight, Ericsson, Samsung, Fujitsu and CommScope. Academic members include experts from UTD, Virginia Tech, Northeastern University, Iowa State University, Rutgers University and Idaho National Laboratory.
“UT Dallas is a national leader in basic and applied research, and together with partners in industry, government and academia, our researchers have fostered market-changing innovations,” Dr. Joseph Pancrazio, UT Dallas vice chancellor for research and innovation, said in a statement. “This consortium will undoubtedly play a key role in meeting the growing demand for more resilient and more secure wireless technologies that are so important to citizens and businesses in the United States and around the world.”
Benefits of 5G
The city noted that 5G offers data speeds “nearly 100 times faster than its 4G counterpart” and will be used primarily for enhanced mobile broadband, offering consumers faster speeds and improved streaming. The technology supports industrial applications, from smart factories to autonomous vehicles, and spurs innovation in healthcare, from telemedicine to remote surgery. The city added that businesses are benefiting from the low latency and real-time analytics of private 5G networks and edge computing. In the future, 5G applications could include advanced AI, smart agriculture, and “more immersive consumer experiences.”
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