The city of Richardson announced a partnership with the University of Texas at Dallas (UTD) on Tuesday morning to research and test advanced 5G radio access network (RAN) products.
A new development lab will work toward enhancing infrastructure needed to advance manufacturing, health care and the automotive industry. 5G RAN is the latest cellular technology, physically a base station and an antenna that connects wireless devices over a region.
“We’re hoping what happens here is that there are solutions that are developed for some of the world’s challenges and problems that we face today and that those solutions can be commercialized,” Don Magner, the city’s manager said.
To support the research, the city gave UTD a below-market rate lease for at least four years. The lab is part of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration under the 2022 CHIPS and Science Act, funded by a $42 million federal grant.
It will be critical for the stability of future wireless communication with the federal open radio access network as it expands high-speed Internet service.
Joseph Pancrazio, the vice president of research and innovation at UT Dallas, said the physical space and ease of access will allow for not only collaboration with the university and the city, but also industry partners.
“We’re always thinking about research areas that involve the development of reliable architectures and protocols for all sorts of networks,” Pancrazio said. “And we are looking for ways in which we can work with industry partners that allow our students to grow into the positions that are so necessary for the telecommunications workforce.”
The project is part of a 1,200 acre tech hub in Richardson called the Innovation Quarter, also known as the IQ. The hub strives to attract businesses and innovations across diverse sectors and to support entrepreneurs.
The hub is expected to open in November or December, according to Magner.
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