Towards a Robust and Sustainable Open-Source Software Ecosystem for Future Wireless Research and Development

September 25, 2024

Logistics

Contents hide

1 Logistics
2 Workshop Sponsor
3 Background
4 Agenda

- - Federal Register Notice: 89 FR 67677
  - Agenda: Opensource-Wireless.pdf
  - Speakers/Panelists : Opensource-Wireless-Speakers.pdf
  - Date/Time: 09/25/2024: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM ET

Workshop Sponsor

Networking and Information Technology Research & Development (NITRD) Program – Large-Scale Networking (LSN) and Wireless Spectrum R&D (WSRD) Interagency Working Groups.

Background

Future wireless network architectures will transform into multi-vendor, highly disaggregated distributed systems with open interfaces operating on virtualized computing and networking environments. Emerging 5G and Open RAN architectures are the first generation of standards to embrace this transformation fully. Growing demands and emerging use cases for future wireless networks will require higher spectral efficiency, exploration of new frequency bands, increased energy efficiency, and support for new spectrum-sharing approaches. The availability of robust open-source software (OSS) will catalyze the evolution toward disaggregated and virtualized network architectures. It will fuel innovation and competition in future wireless technology and spectrum utilization. While many disjointed efforts are developing OSS for future wireless systems and supporting virtualization platforms, there is often significant diversity in the maturity of such implementations regarding alignment to standards, feature support, interoperability of distinct components, security and resilience mechanisms, and system scalability and performance. Moreover, the lack of transparency about these issues poses significant challenges to researchers and network operators in adopting current OSS implementations as the basis for future development.

Agenda

8:40 AM	Keynote – Dr. Tom Rondeau (DoD): USG Future Wireless R&D Vision, Requirements, and the Need for OSS
9:00 to 10:15 AM	Session 1: Customer and sponsor perspectives on OSS requirements for future wireless & spectrum R&D Session objective: To understand and discuss requirements, challenges, and potential of OSS ecosystems from the perspective of customers and sponsors of wireless & spectrum R&D.Topics: – Gaps, unmet requirements, and challenges in application of OSS in wireless & spectrum R&D – OSS requirements to support next-generation spectrum sharing – Current uses of and interactions with wireless OSS ecosystem in R&D programs – Skilled workforce development in OSS and future wireless
10:15 to 10:35 AM	BREAK
10:35 to 11:50 AM	Session 2: The current state of the wireless OSS ecosystem Session Objective: To understand and discuss the capabilities, development plans, collaboration opportunities, and governance processes associated with open-source software initiatives that are relevant to future wireless research. A particular focus of this session will be to examine the current and potential future involvement of Federal R&D in the evolution of OSS platforms.Topics: – Summary of current wireless & spectrum-related OSS program(s) – Roadmap of future OSS development plans – Overview of current OSS governance and licensing models – Examples and perceived barriers to Federal collaboration and coordination
11:50 AM to 12:35 PM	LUNCH
12:35 to 1:40 PM	Session 3: Emerging security and resilience requirements Session Objective: To explore the intersection of open-source software and emerging security and resilience requirements. This session will address the evolving security landscape, highlighting the role of open-source solutions in advancing cybersecurity defenses and the challenges they present.Topics: – Emerging standards for enhanced wireless security & resilience – Existing security Initiatives within wireless OSS communities – Unique security challenges for future wireless systems (e.g., intelligent network control, virtualized and shared infrastructure) – Broad Federal initiatives to secure OSS ecosystems
1:40 to 2:55 PM	Session 4: Researcher and experimenter perspectives on leveraging OSS to support wireless & spectrum R&D Session Objective: To discuss the specific projects and programs where OSS is being applied to wireless & spectrum R&D, highlighting requirements, constraints, and challenges of OSS ecosystems from the perspective of researchers & experimenters in wireless & spectrum fields.Topics: – Gaps, unmet requirements, and challenges in the application of OSS in wireless & spectrum R&D – OSS requirements to support next-generation spectrum sharing – Current uses of and interactions with wireless OSS ecosystem in R&D programs – Skilled workforce development in OSS and future wireless
2:55 to 3:15 PM	BREAK
3:15 to 4:20 PM	Session 5: Increasing transparency and confidence in OSS supply chains Session Objective: To examine how the Federal R&D and open-source communities can collaborate to increase transparency and confidence in OSS supply chains and their ability to meet USG requirements.Topics: – Requirements for conformance, interoperability, security, and performance testing – Federal initiatives to enhance open-source and testing ecosystems – How to leverage industry-driven test and certification programs? – How to incentivize OSS efforts to support federal R&D programs?
4:20 to 4:30 PM	Concluding remarks and next steps