Overview
- Washington opened a competitive solicitation offering up to $200 million to accelerate deployment of secure, affordable smartphones across the Indo-Pacific.
- Applications are accepted for 90 days, and any awards depend on available funds and Congressional notification, according to the State Department.
- Mobile network operators and device makers are invited to propose distribution of low-cost, AI‑ready handsets with plans to cut retail prices and demonstrate supply‑chain transparency.
- Eligible devices must run trusted operating systems such as Android or iOS and fully support the U.S. app and AI ecosystem.
- The initiative is explicitly tied to the Pax Silica strategy to strengthen trusted AI and semiconductor supply chains, with reports indicating India is poised to join the coalition this week.