VIAVI, AT&T and Verizon Announce Collaboration to Accelerate Testing of Open RAN
Rhea-AI Summary
VIAVI Solutions (NASDAQ: VIAV) has announced a strategic partnership between its Automated Lab-as-a-Service for Open RAN (VALOR™) and the ACCoRD project led by AT&T and Verizon. The collaboration, supported by the NTIA Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund, aims to accelerate Open RAN testing initiatives.
VIAVI will provide its NITRO® Wireless Open RAN Test Suite to ACCoRD labs at Iowa State University and Rutgers University, with additional equipment planned for the University of Texas at Dallas in 2026. The partnership focuses on:
- Advancing open and interoperable network components
- Strengthening global supply chain resiliency
- Lowering barriers for new Open RAN players
The ACCoRD consortium, led by AT&T and Verizon, includes NTT DOCOMO and Reliance Jio as founding members, with testing centers planned in Dallas and Washington, D.C. areas.
Positive
- Strategic partnership with major telecom companies AT&T and Verizon
- Government funding support through NTIA grant
- Expansion of VIAVI's testing solutions to multiple university labs
- Potential for long-term service sustainability beyond grant period
Negative
- Additional lab equipment investment required for 2026 expansion
News Market Reaction
On the day this news was published, VIAV declined 1.95%, reflecting a mild negative market reaction.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
VIAVI will initially supply ACCoRD labs at Iowa State University and Rutgers University with the NITRO® Wireless Open RAN Test Suite, supported by the VIAVI Automation Management and Orchestration System (VAMOS). In addition, VALOR's full suite of O-RAN tests will be available to customers referred to the VALOR lab by ACCoRD. Equipment and services will also be provided to an additional lab at the University of
"At AT&T, we are dedicated to driving technological innovation and enhancing network performance," said Robert Soni, Vice President, RAN Technology, AT&T. "Collaborating with VIAVI and Verizon through the ACCoRD project allows us to advance our Open RAN initiatives, ultimately benefiting our stakeholders with improved network capabilities and greater flexibility."
"Verizon has been driving the adoption of O-RAN for years by being a leading voice in developing and adopting O-RAN standards, paving the way for greater competition, innovation, and cost savings in the telecommunications industry," said Steven Rice, Vice President, Network Planning, Verizon. "Through collaboration with VIAVI and AT&T in the ACCoRD labs, we expect to accelerate Open RAN networks with improved resilience and network performance that benefit operators and customers."
"We are delighted to support ACCoRD with testbeds through our VALOR lab and the integration of our end-to-end Open RAN portfolio at the consortium's laboratories," said Oleg Khaykin, President and CEO, VIAVI Solutions. "With this collaboration, VALOR is well positioned to contribute to the evolution of Open RAN testing as it becomes more automated, cloud-based and efficient."
VALOR is a hybrid Lab-as-a-Service and Test-as-a-Service lab based on VIAVI's NITRO® Wireless test portfolio. It is designed to manage and support 5G and Open RAN deployments that would benefit from access to tools and expert staff with a minimal ramp-up time.
ACCoRD is a consortium led by AT&T and Verizon and includes NTT DOCOMO and Reliance Jio as founding members. ACCoRD will be centered at an Open RAN Testing, Evaluation and R&D Center in the
About VIAVI
VIAVI (NASDAQ: VIAV) is a global provider of network test, monitoring and assurance solutions for telecommunications, cloud, enterprises, first responders, military, aerospace and railway. VIAVI is also a leader in light management technologies for 3D sensing, anti-counterfeiting, consumer electronics, industrial, automotive, government and aerospace applications. Learn more about VIAVI at www.viavisolutions.com. Follow us on VIAVI Perspectives, LinkedIn and YouTube.
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SOURCE VIAVI Solutions
FAQ
What is the purpose of VIAVI's partnership with AT&T and Verizon in the ACCoRD project?
Which universities will receive VIAVI's NITRO Wireless Open RAN Test Suite through the ACCoRD project?
Who are the founding members of the ACCoRD consortium?
Where will the ACCoRD Open RAN Testing centers be located?
