MANILA – Japan has committed 444-million-yen (approximately PHP168 million) to support the development of an Open Radio Access Network (Open RAN) laboratory at the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman.
The funding was formalized through a grant agreement signed by Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo and Japanese Ambassador Endo Kazuya during a ceremony at the DFA office in Pasay City on Wednesday.
This grant will provide essential Open RAN equipment to the laboratory, which was established through a 2024 memorandum of understanding between UP Diliman and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
Japanese Ambassador Endo emphasized that Open RAN allows for more vendor diversity in telecommunications, resulting in lower costs and increased accessibility, which can drive innovation. The system will help local telecom companies, like Smart and Globe Telecom, by allowing them to integrate hardware and software from various information and communication technology (ICT) vendors, reducing 5G deployment costs.
The initiative forms part of ongoing discussions between Japan, the Philippines, and the United States, with Japan reiterating its commitment to advancing the use of Open RAN in the region. Ambassador Endo expressed his hope that the lab’s success would encourage wider adoption of Open RAN throughout the country.
Secretary Manalo thanked Japan for its support, highlighting the growing bilateral cooperation, particularly in the field of communications technology. The Japanese government’s grant is in addition to the USD8 million pledged by the US and Japan for Open RAN field trials in the Philippines.
UP Vice President for Digital Transformation, Peter Sy, noted that telecom companies are welcome to use the lab for testing, with the Open RAN system expected to lower market costs through increased vendor participation.
The laboratory, which was recently inaugurated, reflects Japan’s dedication to fostering an open, secure, and interoperable ICT ecosystem in the Philippines.
IA/MNM