AI-RAN

With AI-RAN, we create a platform for leveraging the computing synergies of RAN and AI, enabling more innovation and unlocking new monetization opportunities. ​

Already in today’s 5G networks, AI optimizes RAN performance and enhances operational and energy efficiency. But the business relevance of AI-RAN is not limited to the total cost of ownership (TCO), it also extends to top-line growth opportunities. ​
Exposing RAN data and APIs can enrich the AI application experience to go beyond today’s dominant connectivity subscription models. Leveraging the opportunities of edge cloud and RAN as a multi-purpose computing platform enables new business models such as Platform-as-a-Service and AI-as-a-Service.

AI on RAN means that RAN enhances the capabilities of AI applications.​

Thanks to the rapid advancements of AI, most of today’s consumer and enterprise applications already have some AI capabilities. They use AI processing either on the device itself or on central cloud servers. All AI-powered applications build on data. By providing APIs to access RAN data and tools for RAN programmability, RAN can provide more value beyond connectivity to the AI application ecosystem.​​

Common AI use cases include computational photography, recommendation systems for tailored user experience, generative AI tools, AI assistants, co-pilots and chatbots. All these applications increase the amount of data processed in RAN, creating more demand for uplink capacity in particular.

AI for RAN means that we apply AI to augment RAN capabilities. We already use AI today to optimize radio network performance and efficiencies. Nokia has embedded AI in products that help analyze data, optimize and automate radio networks and enhance energy efficiency in our customers’ commercial 4G and 5G deployments. We also use AI extensively in network design, deployment and optimization services. In base stations, the share of AI-augmented features will grow. Consequently, AI-computing in the base station will need to scale up – and with our AirScale portfolio, Nokia is ready to support that.

Read our case studies to learn how our customers have enhanced RAN efficiencies and performance with AI for a superior user experience. 

AI and RAN means that we leverage the synergies of AI-optimized computing for RAN workloads and different types of AI workloads. This multi-purpose platform will also leverage cloudified architecture, enabling better resource utilization and unlocking new business opportunities.

Operators can monetize their infrastructure with the Platform-as-a-Service model or offer new types of service packages to enterprises. Some operators choose to offer GPU-as-a-Service.