Why Open Source Is Entering the 5G Policy Debate

As governments grapple with digital sovereignty, open source and open standards are increasingly part of the conversation. The U.S. National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has been exploring how these approaches might accelerate the open 5G stack ecosystem. The agency issued a request for comments on an innovation challenge, and GitHub responded with a filing detailing how open source practices and metrics could inform the effort.

For governments concerned about self-reliance, open source offers a way to benefit from global collaboration while maintaining local control. Contributions are judged on their technical merits rather than political or commercial interests. The model is also inclusive: if policymakers worry about a project's national origins, they or their allies can simply join the development effort. On the security front, open source enables broader community inspection, letting analysts identify and address vulnerabilities. Interoperability likewise improves as developers apply open standards to produce open source implementations.

Open Source Already at Work in 5G

Given the security and deployment controversies around 5G, it is unsurprising that portions of the stack have moved toward open development. Significant efforts include the Open Network Automation Platform (working with DARPA) and OpenAirInterface (working with NSF). The Open RAN Coalition* has likewise pushed for open standards, and some groups are adopting open source practices for parts of their development.

A Recommendations Framework

GitHub's filing to the NTIA proposed a structure for the challenge, centered on reducing barriers to entry for diverse participants. It emphasized tracking dependencies—particularly via the NTIA's software bill of materials—to build trust and drive adoption. The filing also clarified the definition of open source per the Open Source Initiative, noting that policymakers sometimes misuse the term to mean simply interoperable. Metrics and criteria were offered so the NTIA could evaluate candidate solutions against open source best practices.

* Note: the OAI Public License used for some repositories does not meet the Open Source Initiative definition of open source.