Nokia and Orange have embarked on a collaboration to transform radio access networks (RAN) using artificial intelligence (AI). This initiative harnesses Nokia’s anyRAN 5G software and NVIDIA’s AI infrastructure, aiming to boost network performance, improve energy efficiency, and offer novel services to Orange customers.
Under a structured co-innovation framework, the two companies will explore and enhance AI-RAN capabilities. They plan to investigate how GPU-based radio processors and AI can enhance radio performance through advanced receivers and integration into RAN. Their goal is to support new services like sensing and increase automation, thereby enhancing both cloud and purpose-built RAN environments.
Laurent Leboucher, Group CTO at Orange, emphasizes their commitment to efficient, adaptable, and sustainable networks: “By collaborating with Nokia and NVIDIA on AI-RAN, we can better understand how the AI-native architecture enabled by AI-RAN can improve the efficiency of key radio algorithms — such as scheduling, beamforming, and power optimization.”
The evolution of mobile networks towards 6G is also on the agenda. Nokia and Orange aim to maximize spectral efficiency for current and future frequencies, including the upper 6 GHz band. This collaboration will aid in a seamless transition to 6G, leveraging software-defined platforms to maximize computing resources across Orange’s operations.
Working with Nokia and NVIDIA, Orange seeks to integrate AI-enabled RAN seamlessly into operational networks. This integration will ensure sustainability and optimize resource utilization across regions such as Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
Pallavi Mahajan, Chief Technology and AI Officer at Nokia, notes the broader implications: “AI is reshaping how networks are designed, introducing new levels of intelligence and flexibility across the radio layer. Through this collaboration with Orange, we are exploring how Nokia’s AI-RAN solution brings advanced AI and RAN functions together in a unified architecture. This will be instrumental in enabling the industry’s transition toward cognitive, AI-native networks.”
This collaboration symbolizes a significant stride towards AI-enhanced telecom networks, indicating a future where cognitive networks become the norm, redefining how services are delivered across the globe.
