The Philippines and Japan have formalized the latter's grant to provide Open Radio Access Network (RAN)-related equipment to the University of the Philippines.

Japanese Ambassador Endo Kazuya signed and exchanged notes with Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Enrique Manalo on Wednesday, Feb. 12,  for an Open RAN System at UP under the Government of Japan’s Economic and Social Development Programme.

According to the Japanese Embassy in the Philippines, the grant of up to JPY 444 million "seeks to strengthen the information and telecommunications infrastructure in the Philippines by providing Open RAN-related equipment to UP."

The initiative, the embassy added, aims to enable an open, interoperable, secure, reliable, and trusted information communications technology ecosystem in the country.

It is expected to establish an environment to deploy Open RAN leading to increased competition in the base station market, which will lead to lower costs in the deployment and operation of 5G networks, as well as stimulate innovation in the country.

The project supports the key priority areas of the Philippine government and aligns with the goals of the Japan-United States-Philippines Leaders’ Meeting held in April 2024, wherein the three nations confirmed to strengthen cooperation in the field of information and communications technology, in part by promoting Open RAN, the Japan embassy said.

During the event, Ambassador Endo stated that this project on Open RAN manifests our commitment to stronger cooperation on information and communications technology.

He also emphasized the significance of prosperity founded on strategic collaboration not only to regional development but also to the vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific.