Nokia and Partners Unveil AI-Powered RAN Innovations at MWC 2025

At MWC 2025, Nokia and key partners—KDDI, SoftBank, T-Mobile US, and NVIDIA—announced progress in AI-powered Radio Access Networks (AI-RAN) development. Nokia’s anyRAN strategy integrates AI into Cloud RAN to enhance telecom efficiency. A new AI-RAN Center in Dallas will support real-world testing. Collaborations include NVIDIA (AI-accelerated computing), KDDI (AI-driven network optimization trials), SoftBank (AI workload integration with Red Hat OpenShift), and T-Mobile US (Layer 1 acceleration and shared cloud infrastructure). Industry leaders see AI-RAN unlocking monetization and efficiency gains. At MWC 2025 (Hall 3, Stand #3B20), Nokia will demo AI-driven AirScale base stations, MantaRay AutoPilot, and extended reality visualization.

Nokia and Partners Unveil AI-Powered RAN Innovations at MWC 2025

At Mobile World Congress 2025, Nokia, in collaboration with key industry players such as KDDI, SoftBank Corp., T-Mobile US, and NVIDIA, announced significant progress in the development of AI-powered Radio Access Networks (AI-RAN). This joint effort aims to refine AI-RAN architecture while enabling cloud-based business models that allow operators to provide scalable computing infrastructure for AI and other digital services. As part of its anyRAN strategy, Nokia is integrating AI computing within shared Cloud RAN infrastructure to enhance resource efficiency for telecom operators. To further accelerate innovation in AI-RAN, the company is establishing an AI-RAN Center in Dallas, U.S., where industry partners can develop and test AI-driven network solutions in real-world environments.

Nokia’s collaboration with NVIDIA focuses on assessing the potential of AI-accelerated computing infrastructure to enhance AI-RAN capabilities. Meanwhile, Nokia and KDDI are exploring practical applications of AI-RAN, evaluating its impact on user experience, network performance, cost efficiency, and power consumption, with plans for a commercial trial using AI-enabled RAN hardware.

SoftBank’s partnership with Nokia has successfully demonstrated the integration of AI-powered workloads using Red Hat OpenShift and Nokia’s MantaRay NM for network management, optimizing resource utilization and improving operational efficiency. Similarly, Nokia and T-Mobile US are working together to assess AI-RAN network architecture, test accelerated computing for Layer 1 (L1) processing, and explore shared infrastructure models using Nokia Cloud RAN and NVIDIA platforms.

Industry leaders have highlighted the transformative potential of AI-RAN. Tommi Uitto, President of Mobile Networks at Nokia, emphasized how collaboration with key partners is driving the shift toward multi-purpose cloud platforms that unlock new revenue opportunities while improving RAN efficiency with AI-powered solutions. Rémy Pascal, Senior Research Manager at Omdia, noted the increasing interest in AI-integrated network technologies, as demonstrated by KDDI’s participation.

Kazuhiro Furuhata, Executive Officer at KDDI, underscored how the collaboration with Nokia will accelerate the commercialization of AI-RAN, optimizing networks and generating new revenue streams. Hideyuki Tsukuda, CTO of SoftBank Corp., highlighted the efficiency gains achieved through AI and RAN workload coexistence, while John Saw, CTO of T-Mobile US, emphasized the role of AI-driven architectures in enhancing network performance and unlocking new monetization opportunities.

At MWC 2025 (Hall 3, Stand #3B20), Nokia will showcase its latest AI-powered solutions, including AI-enhanced AirScale base stations, MantaRay AutoPilot for autonomous RAN operations, and extended reality visualization for AI-powered network management.

These innovations demonstrate Nokia’s commitment to pioneering B2B technology by developing intelligent, AI-driven networks that sense, think, and act. Through cutting-edge research at Nokia Bell Labs, Nokia is shaping the future of telecommunications with advanced AI-RAN solutions, Cloud RAN advancements, and next-generation automation. By integrating AI into radio access networks, Nokia is enhancing network efficiency, reducing operational costs, and unlocking new monetization opportunities. Its partnerships with NVIDIA, KDDI, SoftBank, and T-Mobile US further strengthen its vision for a scalable, AI-powered, and interconnected digital ecosystem.