You might be wondering “What exactly is the AI-RAN Innovation Centre?” Based in Bellevue, Washington, this industry-first collaboration brings together tech leaders to focus on the intersection of two critical fields: radio access networks (RAN) and artificial intelligence (AI). By combining these technologies, the group aims to unlock new possibilities that will revolutionise the industry and introduce cutting-edge experiences for customers.
The AI-RAN Innovation Centre will drive forward the standardisation and industry-wide adoption of AI-RAN technologies. By pushing the boundaries of innovation, the centre will focus on new methods for enhancing network performance, reliability and efficiency – setting the stage for near-limitless advancements.
A key part of this collaboration is leveraging NVIDIA’s advanced hardware and AI capabilities. The collaboration is focused on bringing RAN and AI innovation closer together to deliver transformational network experiences for customers through the development of AI-RAN.
“By merging RAN and AI, we’re positioned to create transformational network solutions that will redefine how customers experience connectivity,” Freddie Södergren, vice president and head of technology and strategy for business area networks at Ericsson, wrote in his blog. “Ericsson’s commitment to this partnership reflects our broader goal of driving global advancements in AI-RAN technologies while exploring future innovations in AI-optimised networks that benefit industries and customers worldwide.”
Driving flexibility with Cloud RAN
Cloud RAN is key to providing the flexibility and portability companies are looking for. By separating the baseband software from the hardware, Cloud RAN allows operators to deploy RAN functions across various cloud environments – whether on-site, in data centres or using public cloud platforms. This gives customers the ability to scale resources as needed and optimise performance for different use cases. Customers want the freedom to move workloads between environments and Cloud RAN enables this with cloud-native tools and processes. Additionally, the flexibility of Cloud RAN creates a strong foundation for AI-driven automation through initiatives like AI-RAN. This integration allows operators to use AI to automate RAN operations, enhance network performance and build smarter, more adaptive networks to meet growing demands.
Why is Ericsson involved?
Joining the AI-RAN Innovation Centre is an important part of Ericsson’s strategy to stay at the forefront of technological advancements. “By collaborating within the ecosystem, we’re able to create breakthrough solutions across multiple platforms. We are transforming how we build networks and continue to take the next step in leading the industry to support our customers, regardless of what route they take – our work with AI-RAN is no different.”
This initiative is driven by a desire to explore the full potential of AI in shaping the future of networks. “At Ericsson, we believe in the power of AI to enhance network performance, improve customer experiences and generate new value for innovative use cases. The AI-RAN Innovation Centre offers an ideal environment to experiment with these technologies and gain insights that could reshape the entire telecom industry.
The AI-RAN Alliance
Ericsson, T-Mobile and NVIDIA are among the founding members of the AI-RAN Alliance, which was officially launched in February 2024 at the GSMA World Congress in Barcelona. The AI-RAN Alliance is a new collaborative initiative aimed at integrating AI into cellular technology to further advance RAN technology and mobile networks.
“We play a key role in the AI-RAN Alliance by driving the use of AI to automate radio access networks. We view AI-driven RAN automation as essential for improving network efficiency and reducing operational costs. Through our collaboration with operators, infrastructure vendors and other members of the alliance, we aim to harness shared data to unlock AI-driven insights that will shape the future of telecommunications. We are focused on using AI to build smarter, more efficient networks that will benefit the entire industry,” Södergren wrote.
The path ahead
The benefits of AI-RAN in networks are clear and, through the combined efforts of the AI-RAN Innovation Centre and the AI-RAN Alliance, the group is connecting theory with real-world advancements – together, aiming to refine and standardise AI-driven use cases that will advance AI-powered networks globally. By working closely with customers, partners and industry stakeholders, Ericsson is committed to driving technologies that will power the networks of tomorrow.
