AI-RAN
Enabling AI-native 5G-Advanced
and 6G networks
What is AI-RAN?
AI-RAN is the powerful fusion of artificial intelligence and radio access networks (RAN) — the critical infrastructure that powers wireless services.
As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly embedded in the services we consume and the systems enterprises rely on, AI-RAN is emerging as a key enabler in the AI supercycle.
This integration is transforming how we interact with our devices and the digital world, while fundamentally reshaping how radio access networks are built and operated. AI workloads benefit from enhanced RAN capabilities, and RAN itself is dramatically improved through the intelligence of AI.
Driven by the AI supercycle, the deeper and wider use of AI is now stepping alongside openness and cloud technologies to deliver a new level of performance, efficiency, and intelligence to RAN.
What is Nokia’s position in AI-RAN?
Nokia is driving this evolution. We are a founding member with leading roles in the AI-RAN Alliance and work closely with the wide industry ecosystem to research and develop the technologies that enable leveraging AI-RAN’s potential
White paper
The value-creating fusion of AI and RAN
What are the benefits of AI-RAN for telecommunication providers?
AI-RAN enables three major opportunities for telecommunication providers:
Monetize the AI supercycle by hosting generative AI, agentic AI and physical AI workloads at the RAN edge, unlocking new enterprise and industrial revenue streams.
Meet the performance demands of AI-native applications, including guaranteed ultra-low latency and massive uplink capacity, through AI-optimized radio network architectures.
Future-proof the network for 6G, where integrated AI capabilities, sensing, and computing will be native to the network design.
Monetization
Monetizing token throughput by connecting intelligence with ultra-low latency, guaranteed reliability and massive uplink capacity.
Efficiency
Enhancing spectral, operational and energy efficiency through intent-based autonomous capabilities, reaching level 4 of TM Forum’s Autonomous Networks Framework.
Future-proof network
Expanding the multi-purpose cloud for maximum resource utilization, ROI and future-proof network architecture.
What are the three pillars of AI-RAN?
The comprehensive AI-RAN framework, supported by the AI-RAN Alliance, can be structured into three dimensions:
AI optimizes RAN performance, spectral efficiency and energy use, driving intent-based autonomous operations.
RAN hosts real-time AI applications, including generative AI, AI agents and physical AI inferencing at the edge, enabling new monetization opportunities.
AI and RAN workloads share a cloud-native, accelerated computing infrastructure to unlock synergies and maximize resource efficiency.
AI-RAN explained – key questions and answers
AI-RAN is software defined, programmable, GPU accelerated RAN, prepared for 6G.
AI-native vs. intelligent RAN infra: Designed for AI from the outset – compute, connectivity, control aligned – vs. AI layered on top
AI is becoming the structural workload of the network economy, networks are the critical infrastructure for AI.
AI systems are sensitive to latency, jitter and worst-case performance. Traffic patterns become more dynamic and uplink-intensive.
AI workloads demand performance guarantees, automation and integrated cloud connectivity. Network performance becomes strategic.
Telecommunication providers can turn their RAN infrastructure into an AI-Grid for token processing at the edge.
There are more than 1.3 trillion AI interactions every year.
Top AI platforms now generate an estimated 100 trillion tokens per day globally.
That translates to 77 exabytes per month of AI-driven traffic.
More than half of generative AI usage is already mobile.
Important for GenAI and Agentic AI to offload central data centers by using spare capacity at the edge.
Essential for Physical AI for extremely reliable kinetic token exchange with low latency.
Nokia is advancing AI-native network evolution fast, MWC and GTC gave a glimpse on what we are doing together with our customers and ecosystem partners.
There is great momentum with broad customer and ecosystem support and first successful trials, driving the evolution of 5G and paving the way for AI-native 6G.
Fast progress in our partnership with NVIDIA, including new customer integrations and successful functional tests of Nokia anyRAN software on NVIDIA GPU-accelerated AI-RAN platform with T-Mobile, Indosat and SoftBank.
AI-RAN gains traction with BT, Elisa, NTT DOCOMO and Vodafone Group, powered by the NVIDIA AI Aerial platform.
Growing ecosystem of partners supports AI-RAN, including Dell Technologies, Quanta Inc, Red Hat and SuperMicro.
To make AI happen co-creation matters, together with NVDIA and our other partners we are offering a full AI-RAN solution on which a huge ecosystem for app developers can work on.
Accelerated speed of innovation that let’s our customers stay ahead in the AI-supercycle.
What is the AI-RAN alliance?
The AI-RAN Alliance is a global consortium formed in February 2024 to integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI) into Radio Access Network (RAN) technology, aiming to advance mobile networks (5G/6G) through AI-native infrastructure. It focuses on enhancing network performance, energy efficiency, and creating new economic opportunities for telecom operators.
AI-RAN Customer Case studies and use cases
Nokia & du: Delivering lasting impact with AI for RAN
The NVIDIA and Nokia partnership in AI-RAN
In October 2025, Nokia and NVIDIA announced a transformative strategic partnership, including a $1 billion equity investment by NVIDIA in Nokia.
This collaboration accelerates the development and global deployment of commercial AI-native RAN solutions running on NVIDIA’s accelerated computing platforms (MGX, Grace Blackwell, BlueField).
Learn more about AI-RAN
Video
IOH AI RAN Testimonial
Video
Nokia and NVIDIA collaboration accelerates AI-RAN deployment across global operators
Video
The emergence of AI RAN and its commercial viability
Video
Building profitable AI-native networks from 5G-Advanced to 6G
Blog
Blog
Blog
Blog
Latest AI-RAN news
Why should you take action now?
- AI traffic tsunami – By 2028, AI-generated traffic is expected to rival or exceed human-generated mobile data.
- 6G race is on – Standardization trials start 2026–2028. Telecommunication providers who deploy AI-native RAN now will shape 6G and capture first-mover advantage.
- Monetization window – Turn underutilized RAN computing into revenue by hosting enterprise AI workloads. The first movers will own the edge AI market.
AI-RAN is no longer optional. It is critical if you want to lead in the AI supercycle.
Please complete the form below.
The form is loading, please wait...
Thank you. We have received your inquiry. Please continue browsing.