NVIDIA has joined forces with T-Mobile, Ericsson, and Nokia to shape the next generation of mobile networks through AI-driven RAN (AI-RAN) technologies.
This collaboration centers on NVIDIA’s newly introduced AI Aerial platform, a combined hardware and software suite of accelerated computing technologies designed to optimise wireless networks and support the demands of generative AI across mobile devices, robotics, autonomous vehicles, smart factories, and other sectors.
Key elements of the NVIDIA AI Aerial platform include:
- NVIDIA Aerial CUDA-accelerated RAN: Software libraries that enable partners to build and deploy high-performance virtualised RAN workloads on NVIDIA-accelerated compute platforms.
- NVIDIA Aerial AI Radio Frameworks: PyTorch- and TensorFlow-compatible libraries for developing and training models that improve spectral efficiency and add new capabilities to 5G and 6G radio signal processing. This suite includes Sionna, a link-level simulator designed to support development and training of neural network-based 5G and 6G radio algorithms.
- NVIDIA Aerial Omniverse Digital Twin (AODT): A system-level digital twin platform that enables physically accurate simulations of wireless systems, from single base stations to comprehensive networks covering entire cities.
Central to the initiative is the creation of an industry-first AI-RAN Innovation Center in Bellevue, Washington. The center will bring RAN and AI development closer together to accelerate deployments and deliver better network experiences by advancing AI-RAN technology.
Mike Sievert, CEO of T-Mobile, commented: “Just as T-Mobile led in 5G, we intend to lead in the next wave of network technology for the benefit of our customers. AI-RAN at T-Mobile will focus on unlocking the capacity and performance customers increasingly demand from mobile networks.”
NVIDIA’s AI Aerial platform introduces AI-native radio access network technology aimed at making wireless networks smarter and more efficient in the AI era. The platform is positioned as a foundational solution for large-scale network optimisation, with the potential to lower total cost of ownership for carriers and to enable new revenue-generating services for both enterprises and consumers.
Jensen Huang, Founder and CEO of NVIDIA, said: “AI will reinvent wireless communication networks and the industry—beyond voice, data, and video—to support a broad range of applications such as generative AI and robotics. NVIDIA AI Aerial is a platform that converges communications, computing, and AI.”
A defining feature of NVIDIA AI Aerial is its ability to host both generative AI workloads and RAN traffic on the same platform while embedding AI into network optimisation. This multipurpose approach enables software-defined RAN that is high-performance and energy-efficient, improves end-user experience, and opens new opportunities for edge AI services.
Börje Ekholm, President and CEO of Ericsson, added: “Ericsson is excited to contribute to the Joint AI-RAN Innovation Center, which aims to drive standardisation, industry alignment, and accelerate the adoption of AI-RAN technologies. This paves the way for far-reaching improvements in network performance, reliability, and efficiency.”
The collaboration intends to materially improve real-world network performance—delivering higher speeds, lower latency, and greater reliability to support today’s demanding applications, including cloud gaming, high-resolution video, social media, and augmented reality. AI-RAN will leverage vast data streams and advanced algorithms to determine optimal network adjustments and predict capacity needs in real time where customers require it most.
Pekka Lundmark, President and CEO of Nokia, said: “AI is a game-changer for every industry and especially for telecom, where it will transform networks and enable many new applications. We look forward to collaborating on AI-RAN innovations to enhance network security, performance, and efficiency, with the goal of lowering operational costs and increasing monetisation opportunities for operators.”
The AI-RAN Innovation Center will also support the mission of the AI-RAN Alliance, announced in February 2024 at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. The alliance aims to improve mobile network efficiency, reduce power consumption, and retrofit existing infrastructure to unlock new economic value for telecom operators—facilitated by 5G and laying groundwork for leadership in 6G.
This partnership among NVIDIA, T-Mobile, Ericsson, and Nokia could play a pivotal role in the evolution of wireless networks and help unlock a wider range of AI-driven services across industries.
(Photo by Alina Grubnyak)
See also: AI era dawns for data centres with Nokia’s EDA platform
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