Nokia Accelerates AI-Native 6G Push
Nokia announced new partnerships at MWC26 to accelerate its AI-RAN (Radio Access Network) strategy. The collaborations focus on moving from AI-assisted to fully AI-native network architectures, a key pillar for 6G, with an emphasis on open interfaces to shape future standards.
The strategic partnership with NVIDIA is central to Nokia's AI-RAN initiative, involving a $1 billion equity investment from the chipmaker. This collaboration aims to merge NVIDIA's accelerated computing and AI software with Nokia's RAN portfolio, enabling the development of AI-native 5G-Advanced and 6G networks. The partnership leverages NVIDIA's platforms to create a software-defined path to next-generation wireless. Nokia's collaboration extends to a growing ecosystem of partners, including Dell Technologies, Quanta, SuperMicro, and Red Hat. These partners are crucial for building the server and infrastructure layers for AI-RAN, with Red Hat OpenShift being utilized for orchestration across hybrid cloud environments. This multi-vendor ecosystem is designed to provide telecom operators with a range of COTS-based (Commercial-Off-The-Shelf) choices. The move towards AI-native 6G is a fundamental architectural shift, embedding AI and machine learning directly into the network fabric from the start. Unlike 5G, where AI is often an add-on, 6G is being designed for autonomous service creation, zero-touch management, and continuous learning to optimize everything from the physical layer to spectral efficiency. This will enable the network to function as a sensor, creating a digital "sixth sense." Field trials and early deployments are already underway with major global operators. T-Mobile U.S. is testing GPU-accelerated AI-RAN workloads at its innovation center, with field trials expected to begin in 2026. In Southeast Asia, Nokia and Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison (IOH) conducted the region's first AI-RAN-powered 5G call. Other partners advancing AI-RAN include BT, Elisa, NTT DOCOMO, and Vodafone Group. The timeline for commercialization is aggressive, with Nokia planning its first commercial AI-RAN release in 2027, following initial trials at the end of 2026. This push is driven by the expected surge in AI-generated traffic, which is projected to rival or surpass human-generated mobile data by 2028. Open interfaces are a cornerstone of the strategy, aligning with the principles of Open RAN to foster a multi-vendor ecosystem and avoid vendor lock-in. The use of standardized interfaces and open APIs allows operators to integrate best-of-breed components and third-party AI applications, which is critical for managing the complexity of disaggregated networks. Nokia is a founding member of the AI-RAN Alliance, which now includes 150 members focused on shaping these future standards. This AI-driven evolution aims to transform the network's economic model. By integrating AI compute capacity directly into the RAN, base stations evolve from cost centers into revenue-generating assets. This allows operators to monetize underutilized GPU capacity at the edge by offering AI services to enterprises and industrial clients. The geopolitical landscape of 6G standardization is taking shape with distinct, large-scale research initiatives. The EU's Hexa-X, led by Nokia, the Next G Alliance in North America, and China's government-backed programs are all working to define the future standard. China, in particular, has a high volume of 6G-related patents and has already launched test satellites.
