Fortress Solutions, a leader in telecom and technology services, announced the completion of a radio under the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund (PWSCIF) NOFO 2 program. This milestone marks a significant step forward in the company’s partnership with Airspan Networks Inc., which was awarded a $42.7 million grant to accelerate the development and commercialization of U.S.-based Open RAN technologies.
In 2024, Airspan was selected as a recipient of the NTIA’s Innovation Fund Round 2, an initiative focused on advancing the development of interoperability standards-based, Open RAN radio units (RUs). The program targets enhanced performance, broader band support, and increased U.S. manufacturing capability through applied research, development, and early-stage commercialization.
As part of this effort, Fortress Solutions is playing an expanded and increasingly strategic role. Originally contracted to support component procurement, radio assembly, and validation testing, Fortress has now broadened its contributions to include:
- Printed Circuit Board (PCB) design and fabrication support
- PCB test plan development and validation testing
- Prototype unit assembly and unit validation testing
The completion of this radio prototype, designed and assembled in the United States, demonstrates the team’s rapid progress and operational agility. This prototype will undergo further evaluation in alignment with NTIA program milestones and serves as the foundation for additional Open RAN radio units planned under the NOFO 2 program.
“Completing the first prototype is a major achievement not just for Fortress Solutions and Airspan, but for the advancement of U.S.-based Open RAN innovation,” said John Shelnutt, CEO of Fortress Solutions. “Our engineering, manufacturing, and integration capabilities are enabling faster development cycles, deeper technical collaboration, and meaningful progress toward a more secure and resilient wireless ecosystem.”
The Fortress / Airspan partnership continues to reinforce national goals around U.S.-led wireless innovation and laying the essential groundwork for the next generation of Open RAN adoption.
To learn more about the NTIA’s Innovation Fund and the NOFO 2 program, visit the NTIA website.
To view Airspan’s announcement and program updates, visit their official site.
About Fortress Solutions
Fortress Solutions is a global leader in telecom and technology services, providing forward and reverse logistics, engineering support, systems integration, and lifecycle management for communications infrastructure. With a nationwide footprint and deep technical expertise, Fortress enables the reliability, efficiency, and sustainability of critical networks across the U.S. and abroad. https://www.fortsol.com/
For media inquiries, please contact:
Morgan Brown
Sr. Marketing Manager, Fortress Solutions
press@fortsol.com
800.431.5614


