DoD and NTIA Team Up to Launch 5G Challenge Event with “total prize purse of up to $3 million to contestants”

By B.N. Frank

American opposition to 5G has been ongoing for years due to various significant risks associated with it including aviation safety risks (see 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6), cybersecurity risks (see 1, 2, 3, 4), environmental risks (see 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8), health risks (see 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8), privacy risks (see 1, 2, 3), weather forecasting satellite interference risks, and utility infrastructure interference risks. In 2019, telecom executives gave congressional testimony that they had NO scientific evidence that 5G is safe. Some researchers have also suggested that deployment may be contributing to COVID-19 infections. Of course, others say it’s not. Nevertheless, there are health risks associated with 5G exposure as well as exposure to 4G and other sources of wireless Wi-Fi radiation (see 1, 2) and Electromagnetic Fields (aka “Electrosmog”). In fact, last year, a federal court ruled in favor of organizations and petitioners that sued the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for NOT adequately protecting Americans from wireless radiation exposure (including 5G). Nevertheless, the Biden Administration continues to promote and even fund 5G and WiFi deployment and expansion (see 1, 2).

NTIA, DoD launch 5G challenge to accelerate development of 5G

By Juan Pedro Tomás

NTIA said that the 5G Challenge Preliminary Event will award a total prize purse of up to $3 million to contestants

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s (NTIA) Institute for Telecommunication Sciences (ITS) announced the launch of the 5G Challenge in collaboration with the Department of Defense (DoD).

NTIA said that this prize competition aims to accelerate the adoption of open interfaces, interoperable components and multi-vendor solutions toward the development of an open 5G ecosystem.

“Increasing the resilience and security of our supply chain is at the heart of NTIA’s work to incentivize open and interoperable 5G networks and increase the diversity of suppliers in the 5G ecosystem,” said Alan Davidson, assistant secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator. “NTIA and ITS are excited to collaborate with the Department of Defense on the 5G Challenge because it reinforces our joint understanding that cost-effective, secure 5G networks are key to both national and economic security.”

In the 5G Challenge Preliminary Event, ITS will award a total prize purse of up to $3 million to contestants who submit hardware and/or software solutions for one or more of these 5G network subsystems: Distributed Unit (DU); Centralized Unit (CU); Radio Unit (RU).

ATIS also noted that the rules, location and details of the second-year event will be released in 2023.

The 5G Challenge Preliminary Event: RAN Subsystem Interoperability is open for applications through May 5, 2022.

ITS supports the Department of Defense 5G Initiative through a combination of its subject matter experts in 5G and its research, development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E) laboratory infrastructure in Boulder, Colorado, including the Advanced Communications Test Site at the Table Mountain Radio Quiet Zone.

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), located within the Department of Commerce, is the Executive Branch agency that is principally responsible by law for advising the U.S. President on telecommunications and information policy issues. NTIA’s programs and policymaking focus largely on expanding broadband Internet access and adoption in America, expanding the use of spectrum by all users, and ensuring that the Internet remains an engine for continued innovation and economic growth.

Opposition to 5G is worldwide and this has slowed and/or stopped deployment in some locations. Since 2017 doctors and scientists have asked for moratoriums on Earth and in space (see 1, 2) and the majority of scientists oppose deployment. Since 2018 there have been reports of people and animals experiencing symptoms and illnesses after it was activated (see 1, 2. 3, 4 ). Studies have also revealed that 4G is still better, more reliable, and safer than 5G (see 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7).