Finnish telecommunications giant Nokia has officially unveiled the AI-RAN platform, built on Nvidia's accelerated computing technology. This is the industry's first commercial solution where artificial intelligence is embedded directly into the Radio Access Network (RAN) architecture. Pilot deployments will begin in late 2026, with commercial equipment shipments starting in 2027.
The key innovation is that AI-RAN combines radio access network functions and AI computing on a single infrastructure. Unlike traditional approaches where AI algorithms operate as an overlay, here they form the foundation. This allows telecom operators not only to increase the efficiency of their current frequency spectrum and equipment but also to introduce new functions without completely replacing base stations.
Technical Details and Performance Forecasts
The platform is based on Nokia anyRAN software and the specialized Nvidia Aerial AI-RAN platform. The solution supports 4G and 5G standards, with the transition to 6G to be carried out exclusively through software updates, fundamentally changing the economics of network modernization.
Test results are already impressive: spectral efficiency has increased by more than 20%. Nokia predicts that by 2027 this figure will reach 50%, and by 2028 it will exceed 100%. Essentially, we are witnessing a transition from "hardware" RAN to "intelligent" RAN, where every megahertz of frequency resource is used with maximum efficiency.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang noted: "We are embedding Nvidia CUDA and artificial intelligence into base stations, turning RAN into a planetary-scale AI computer." This statement underscores the scale of ambition: the mobile network is becoming a distributed supercomputer.
New Business Model and Strategic Alliances
Nokia is also changing its monetization model, transitioning to a subscription system. Operators will gain access to new AI algorithms, network optimization tools, and performance improvements through regular software updates. This eliminates the need to wait for the next equipment replacement cycle and accelerates the adoption of innovations.
Earlier, Nokia expanded its partnership with Taiwan Mobile to modernize the network in Taiwan using AirScale equipment and AI systems for automation, predictive maintenance, and energy management. And in October 2025, Nvidia announced the purchase of a 2.9% stake in Nokia for $1 billion, cementing the strategic alliance between the two giants.
My expert commentary: This is not just another telecom equipment upgrade. AI-RAN changes the very philosophy of network construction. Previously, AI helped manage the network; now the network itself is an AI infrastructure. For the crypto industry, this means the emergence of cheap and distributed computing power that can be used for mining, transaction validation, or running decentralized applications. The potential for synergy between telecom and Web3 is becoming a reality.