The US Department of Defense has awarded a $28 million contract to Cohere Technologies to advance open-source software for sixth-generation mobile networks. Tom Rondeau, who leads the DoD’s FutureG program, announced the selection as part of an initiative called OCUDU, which stands for open central unit and distributed unit. The project aims to replace proprietary radio access network code with open-source alternatives.
Cohere Technologies will utilize a waveform technology known as orthogonal time frequency space, or OTFS. This approach differs from the orthogonal frequency division multiplexing, or OFDM, standard currently used in 4G and 5G systems. Rondeau indicated that the DoD prefers OTFS for integrated sensing and communication, a capability that could allow mobile networks to function as radar systems to track objects such as drones.
The decision presents a challenge for major telecommunications equipment manufacturers Ericsson and Nokia, both of which have invested heavily in OFDM technology. Marie Hogan, Ericsson’s head of 6G portfolio strategy, recently stated that the company does not believe a new waveform is necessary for sensing capabilities. She argued that existing OFDM-based concepts are already performing well in trials.
Rondeau acknowledged the significant resources already dedicated to optimizing OFDM systems but disagreed with the assessment that it is suitable for sensing. He noted that while Ericsson and Nokia have demonstrated drone sensing using OFDM, the waveform is not an optimal fit for that specific function. According to Cohere, OTFS offers approximately four times greater accuracy than OFDM under similar spectrum conditions.
The OCUDU initiative is backed by the Linux Foundation and relies on a reference stack developed by Software Radio Systems and DeepSig. Rondeau believes this structure can overcome the limitations of previous open radio access network efforts by allowing alternative algorithms to be inserted into the system. The DoD oversees a wireless budget of approximately half a billion dollars.
