VIAVI Solutions and Nvidia are working together to push the boundaries of telecommunications networks using AI-native and software-defined technologies. At the recent Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Sameh Yamany from VIAVI and Kanikia Atri from Nvidia discussed their collaborative efforts, aimed at enhancing network performance and efficiency.
A key objective is to blend VIAVI’s network testing tools with Nvidia’s AI and digital simulation platforms. These will not only optimize existing 6G networks but also pave the way for AI-native autonomous infrastructures. The industry is shifting its focus from simple efficiency inquiries to implementing and commercializing AI-driven systems.
According to Atri, the conversation has evolved. It’s now centered around actual growth use cases and the intrinsic role of AI in maximizing spectral efficiency. The innovation pace in AI for Radio Access Networks (RAN) is notably energetic, emphasizing performance and efficiency.
Progress in energy and spectral efficiency is preparing the stage for the 6G world and Open RAN systems, where agentic AI will significantly enhance operations. The aim is to move toward complete automation, where AI can independently make and validate decisions. Digital twins play a critical role in building this trust, offering a simulated environment where AI recommendations can be tested before real-world application.
Yamany highlights that with tools for innovators to test these use cases, industries can customize their approaches and solve unique challenges. Atri adds that a shift to ‘true autonomy’ is crucial. This level of autonomy would enable networks to understand operator intent intuitively, leading to self-configuring, self-optimizing, and self-healing systems. The goal is for these agent-driven decisions to build trust through transparency and explainability.
As they look to the future, VIAVI and Nvidia are not just focusing on automating predefined processes. They are aiming for networks capable of reasoning and independent decision-making. The two companies are expanding their partnership, focusing on AI-native and autonomous telecommunication networks.
Both Yamany and Atri foresee that as the AI-based agents demonstrate success in simulations, the trust among operators will grow. Atri emphasizes the current build of AI as transparent and explainable, which increases trust incrementally with each successful recommendation validated by digital twins.
The journey ahead is toward a fully software-driven and AI-enhanced telecommunications landscape. Within the next year, many industry players, including Nvidia’s partners, are expected to reach the ‘field trial stage.’ New technological benchmarks will continue to accelerate, with possible surprising new applications emerging. Yamany suggests that software-defined networks are no longer optional but essential to keep pace with the rapid advancements in AI.
