The Australian government is progressing with the establishment of a test lab, known as the ‘Secure G’ Connectivity Test Lab, which will assess the interoperability and security of 5G equipment and protocols, as well as emerging 6G technology.
The lab was initially announced as part of the Digital Economy Strategy 2030 in 2021, and now the Department of Home Affairs has launched a bid to find an operator for the lab for an initial period of two years.
Home Affairs stated that a scoping study conducted in 2022 and market research activities this year have guided the lab’s direction.
According to tender documents, the government intends for vendors, service providers, and researchers to test equipment and protocols in the lab and, in return, provide key information and findings to the Commonwealth.
One specific area of interest for the government is gathering data on the capabilities of open radio access networks (Open RAN), which is an architectural option that could be favored in future co-funding arrangements for mobile network expansion.
The lab is also expected to contribute to options for supply chain diversification, including the entry of new players into the Australian market.
The government has been focused on the security of 5G networks since 2018 when it banned Huawei and ZTE from participating in domestic 5G networks. The establishment of the test lab further demonstrates the government’s commitment to ensuring the security and resilience of Australia’s telecommunications infrastructure.