The UK government has been a consistent supporter of the US line on Open RAN – the idea that the platform can be used to lower barriers to entry for challenger vendors, thereby diversifying the 5G supply chain, making it easier for operators to replace Huawei equipment, and potentially allowing the UK to build its own 5G industry. Though not quite matching the $1.5bn set aside by the USA for Open RAN (see separate items), the UK government has earmarked £25m ($30.5m) in R&D funds for vendors and universities, claiming this will “fire up innovation in 5G and 6G” to ensure that “mobile phone networks of the future will have more choice of technologies and suppliers, in the latest government…