NTIA’s Next Innovation Fund Round Likely to Focus on Software

LAS VEGAS, Oct. 15, 2024 – The third round of the Commerce Department’s Wireless Innovation Fund is set to open up around $400 million in funding for software projects, the head of the Open RAN Policy Coalition said Tuesday.

“They are preparing a third NOFO for early next year that’s going to be dealing with software. They’re still in the process of drafting that, but it should be in the realm of $400 million,” Diane Rinaldo said here at WISPAPALOOZA.

A spokesperson confirmed the new funding announcement is slated for early 2025, but didn’t comment on the amount or nature of the funding.