Grant opportunity
Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund: Solutions for AI-Native RAN
NTIA is funding AI-native Radio Access Network solutions through the Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund to support secure, open and interoperable wireless equipment.
- Funder
- National Telecommunications and Information Administration
- Applications close 9 September 2026
- Applications close 9 September 2026: Sep 9, 2026
- Award
- Up to USD 53,000,000 available across three expected awards; cost sharing required
- Applicant
- Applicants organised under U.S. law with principal place of business in the United States and capacity to develop, sell or deploy secure compute solutions enabling AI-native RAN capabilities.
- Discipline
- Technology, Data and Innovation
- Region
- United States
- Posted
- Jul 14, 2026
Call summary
Overview
This is the fourth NOFO under NTIA's Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund and focuses on secure compute environments for AI-native Radio Access Network services.
Who can apply
Applicants must show capability to develop and commercially sell or deploy a solution that uses secure compute to enable native AI capabilities in the RAN. Applicants must be organised under U.S. law and have their principal place of business in the United States.
What it supports
- Secure compute environments for AI-native RAN capabilities.
- Operator revenue, cost savings and third-party service use cases.
- Commercial deployment and export of open, interoperable and secure equipment.
Funding and duration
- NTIA announced up to USD 53 million for this NOFO.
- Three awards are expected.
- Cost sharing is required.
Applications close 9 September 2026
Applications close 9 September 2026: Sep 9, 2026
How to apply
Use Grants.gov/Simpler.Grants.gov for opportunity NTIA-PWSCIF-26-01 and the official NOFO documents.
Call details
Source-based overview
The NOFO supports the development, testing and commercialisation of secure AI-enabled Radio Access Network architecture and aims to accelerate open, interoperable wireless equipment deployment while demonstrating real business cases for AI-native RAN services.
Eligibility
Applicants must show capability to develop and commercially sell or deploy a solution that uses secure compute to enable native AI capabilities in the RAN. Applicants must be organised under U.S. law and have their principal place of business in the United States.
Funding and benefits
NTIA announced up to USD 53 million for this NOFO.
Three awards are expected.
Cost sharing is required.
Themes and supported activities
Secure compute environments for AI-native RAN capabilities.
Operator revenue, cost savings and third-party service use cases.
Commercial deployment and export of open, interoperable and secure equipment.
Deadline and timeline
Applications close 9 September 2026: Applications close 9 September 2026: Sep 9, 2026.
Applicants should confirm the exact deadline time, time zone, required documents, portal steps and any institutional approvals on the official call page before submitting.
How to apply
Use Grants.gov/Simpler.Grants.gov for opportunity NTIA-PWSCIF-26-01 and the official NOFO documents.
Before applying, check eligibility rules, budgets, attachments, page limits, partner requirements, cost-share conditions and whether the opportunity uses an expression of interest, full proposal, registration or nomination stage.