First VALOR Satellite Lab in the Philippines

On August 1, 2025, VIAVI attended the grand opening of the Open RAN Laboratory at the University of the Philippines (UP), the first VALOR satellite lab based in the Philippines. The ORAN Lab at UP is based on the VIAVI Automated Lab-as-a-Service for Open RAN (VALOR™) and is funded by the US government in collaboration with UP Diliman Electronics and Electrical Engineering Institute (EEEI) and Asia Open RAN Academy (AORA). VALOR is funded by the U.S. NTIA Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund.

The lab provides an opportunity to leverage VALOR, an existing engagement with the US government, to act as a force multiplier for US government funding efforts and collaboration with other agencies.

VIAVI also joined the U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson and representatives from UP and the Philippines Department of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) for a roundtable discussion coverings Open RAN and how the lab can foster greater collaboration across the region and globally.

During the grand opening, VIAVI provided an overview of the UP O-RAN Lab capabilities, as well as a live demonstration of end-to-end and O-RU test execution.

By replicating specific elements of VALOR in a local lab environment, the UP O-RAN Lab will allow real-time, hands-on learning and testing of Open RAN components and systems.

The lab aims to further the adoption of Open RAN, lower barriers to entry for new players, and train a highly skilled workforce that can fuel the Open RAN industry in Asia. The lab will be a center of collaboration for Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), ICT vendors, industry organizations, government agencies, educational institutions, and other development partners.