NVIDIA Launches AI-Driven Radio Access Network Tools

Artificial intelligence tech giant NVIDIA Corp. has launched a new suite of accelerated computing software and hardware products that aim to optimize wireless communications networks through the deployment of AI radio access network (AI-RAN) technology.

In a Sept. 18 statement, NVIDIA said that the new platform – dubbed NVIDIA AI Aerial – will become “a critical foundation to allow network optimization at scale to serve the demands of a host of new services,” and create new revenue opportunities for telecom service providers in both enterprise and consumer services.

“NVIDIA AI Aerial is a suite of accelerated computing platforms, software, and services for designing, simulating, and operating wireless networks,” the company said in a service description targeted to developers.

“NVIDIA AI Aerial contains hardened RAN software libraries for telcos, cloud service providers (CSPs), and enterprises building commercial 5G networks,” the company said. “Academic and industry researchers can access Aerial on cloud or on-premises setups for advanced wireless and AI and machine learning (ML) research for 6G.”

The platform, the company said, “enables telecommunications service providers to support teleoperations for manufacturing robots and autonomous vehicles, computer vision in manufacturing and agriculture, logistics, generative AI-driven co-pilots and personal assistants, emerging spatial computing applications, robotic surgery, 3D collaboration, and 5G and 6G advances.”

On the business side, NVIDIA said it is collaborating with wireless carrier T-Mobile and equipment makers Ericsson and Nokia through those firms’ investments in a new AI-RAN Innovation Center based in Bellevue, Wash., where T-Mobile is headquartered.

The new center, NVIDIA said, is “focused on bringing RAN and AI innovation closer together to deliver transformational network experiences for customers through the development of AI-RAN.”

Other key partners in the NVIDIA AI Aerial ecosystem include Softbank, Fujitsu, Dell Technologies, and Hewlett Packard Enterprise, among a lengthy list of firms.

“AI-RAN is set to revolutionize the telecom industry, and the opening of the AI-RAN Innovation Center will help to take us on this journey by driving industry collaboration,” commented Tommi Uitto, who is president of Mobile Networks at Nokia.

“By bringing together leading companies in the telecom and AI industries, we can unlock the full potential of AI in our networks, improving performance, reducing costs and creating new opportunities for our customers,” he said.

“Ericsson has invested in our AI-RAN solution, allowing communications service providers to deploy portable RAN software running across multiple platforms,” added Fredrik Jejdling, executive vice president and head of Business Area Networks at Ericsson. “We are now evaluating the performance and cost of NVIDIA accelerated computing in this context,” he said.