SYRACUSE, N.Y., Jan. 12, 2025 /ennovaterz/ — U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer today announced $43,940,612 in federal funding from his bipartisan CHIPS & Science Law for JMA Wireless to pioneer the domestic manufacturing of 5G Open Radio Access Network (O-RAN)-compliant radio units (RU), and upgrade its state-of-the-art 5G manufacturing facilities in Central NY.
This award will support JMA to further invest $30 million in private capital, creating up to 30 new, good-paying jobs, with the potential for more down the road, to develop and commercialize new technology accelerating America’s wireless and 5G network capabilities. Schumer said this new production will help maintain America’s 5G leadership, which is critical to support advanced high-speed internet and the ability to directly compete with the Chinese Communist Party and companies like Huawei and ZTE, which the senator has long warned threaten U.S. national security.
“We need the future of America’s 5G technology built in Central NY, not China. Now thanks to my bipartisan CHIPS & Science Law, nearly $44 million in federal funding is on the way to make Syracuse’s JMA Wireless an epicenter for American innovation and manufacturing for the next generation of 5G wireless technology,” said Senator Schumer. “I’ve long sounded the alarm on companies backed by the Chinese Communist Party, like Huawei, and the threat their technology possess to our national security and economic primacy by stealing American’s personal data. Investments like this show the federal government is serious about taking back the reigns on critical technology like 5G and making sure the future of broadband and wireless technology is stamped ‘Made in America’ with JMA leading the way.”
Schumer added, “Today’s investment works in tandem with the new Buy America requirements for telecom technology I delivered through the Bipartisan Infrastructure & Jobs Law, boosting opportunities for Syracuse’s JMA to manufacture the equipment needed for building new high-speed internet across the country. Because of these efforts, JMA is bringing back this industry & good-paying jobs from overseas and ensuring the future of America’s high-speed network is secure and developed right here in Central NY.”
“The future of global security and economic leadership hinges on our ability to control and protect the next generation of wireless technology. No one understands this better than Leader Schumer. While this was bipartisan legislation, he was there at the beginning – advocating for secure, American-made 5G solutions that not only strengthen our supply chain but also put a critical check on adversaries like China. With this Wireless Innovation Fund grant, we’re bringing high-tech manufacturing jobs to upstate New York and accelerating the deployment of ORAN technology that will secure the U.S. position as a leader in wireless for years to come,” said John Mezzalingua, CEO of JMA Wireless.
Schumer explained that, currently, 5G wireless network coverage at major carriers like AT&T, Verizon, and Boost are capped by the limitations of commercially available radio technology, and JMA’s ARMOR platform will provide carriers with a next-generation solution to overcome existing limitations, increase their high-speed network capacity, and bring high-quality 5G coverage to communities across Central New York, New York State, and the entire U.S. The senator added that JMA will combine this nearly $44 million in new federal funding with more than $30 million of matching private investment to inject $75 million into growing their CNY manufacturing and workforce.
According to JMA, the investment will create up to 30 new, good-paying jobs initially to develop the technology and ramp to full production – with the potential for significant demand from major wireless carriers to drive the addition of more new manufacturing jobs in the years to come.
In addition to accelerating JMA’s leadership in 5G open radio access network (ORAN) technology, reshoring critical domestic manufacturing, and strengthening our national security, Schumer said this investment will allow JMA to centralize and co-locate their testing capabilities and advanced manufacturing process prototype at their new, state-of-the-art 5G Innovation Campus and Global HQ in CNY where the company projects to produce and sell more than 12,000 state-of-the-art 5G ORAN radios per year.
The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Wireless Innovation Fund, funded by the bipartisan CHIPS & Science Law Schumer led to passage in the Senate, is dedicated to fostering U.S. wireless innovation and developing strong wireless networks across the country. The CHIPS & Science Law invested $1.5 billion for this program to reinforce U.S. leadership in the next generation of high-speed internet, foster competition, and strengthen U.S. supply chains. JMA is currently building a new ARMOR (American, Ruggedized, Modular, O-RAN, Radio) platform to improve operational efficiency and lower costs for 5G infrastructure across the country. This will increase capacity while lowering costs and reducing deployment time for 5G infrastructure, making wireless service more accessible.
JMA Wireless is ensuring the future of wireless networks is being powered in Central NY! I’ve long supported JMA’s effort to reinforce American leadership in 5G wireless, and I’m proud that nearly $44 million in federal funding from my CHIPS & Science Law is going to help JMA boost its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Syracuse.
