In partnership with the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Commercial Law Development Program (CLDP) organized a multi-day regional workshop focusing on the benefits of fifth-generation wireless technology standards for broadband cellular networks (5G) and issues related to network security and supplier diversity, including Open Radio Access Networks (OpenRAN). Stakeholders from Albania, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Germany, Georgia, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia attended the conference.

The workshop took place from July 13-15 in Zagreb where Croatia brought together industry and government experts from the U.S., the Czech Republic, the United Kingdom, Croatia, Slovenia, and Japan to discuss their efforts to secure 5G networks. Experts also discussed the benefits of a diverse and competitive marketplace in transition to 5G, and the importance of open and interoperable telecommunications networks. Regional stakeholders presented on the status of their 5G deployments and the challenges they face. Finally, the workshop highlighted countries’ efforts in building resilient network infrastructure in light of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.  

The workshop advanced the conversation around 5G vendor security and supplier diversity. The workshop increased participants’ knowledge of Open RAN and provided opportunities for future engagement between the United States and the governments of partner countries.

The workshop advanced the region’s efforts to reform legal frameworks to encourage the deployment of secure and interoperable 5G networks. CLDP encouraged the need for continued regional and global cooperation in this critical sector and this workshop laid the groundwork for future collaboration among governments and other stakeholders in the region on creating a trustworthy and competitive 5G ecosystem for all.

Funding for this engagement was provided by the Digital Connectivity and Cybersecurity Partnership, a global U.S. government initiative to promote open, interoperable, reliable, and secure  digital economy and opportunities for U.S. companies in countries around the world.