Nokia rolls out AI-RAN solution in 2027, deepening Nvidia partnership with $1B investment
Nvidia is buying $1 billion in Nokia shares to fuel AI-powered telecom infrastructure, targeting a market projected to exceed $200 billion by 2030
Nvidia is putting $1 billion into Nokia, purchasing shares at $6.01 each, to co-develop AI-powered radio access network technology. The commercial-grade AI-RAN products are slated to hit the market in 2027, with field trials kicking off in 2026.
The partnership was announced at the GTC Washington, D.C. conference on October 28, 2025.
What AI-RAN actually means
AI-RAN stands for Artificial Intelligence Radio Access Network. The technical backbone involves integrating Nvidia’s ARC-Pro platform into Nokia’s existing RAN portfolio, specifically its anyRAN software and AirScale baseband architecture.
T-Mobile US is already actively involved in testing, running demonstrations of concurrent AI and RAN capabilities using Nvidia’s platforms. The operator is focusing on integration and field testing for what both companies describe as AI-native 5G-Advanced and eventually 6G networks. Other telecom operators, including Elisa, SoftBank, and Indosat, are also participating in the broader ecosystem, with a series of demonstrations and functional tests planned through 2026.
Dell Technologies rounds out the collaboration, providing infrastructure support for the AI-RAN ecosystem. Validations are expected by Q4 2026, with field demonstrations for 6G scheduled at major industry events like MWC 2026.
The $200 billion question
According to research firm OMDIA, the cumulative AI-RAN market opportunity is projected to exceed $200 billion by 2030.
Some telecom companies have reportedly expressed concerns about the costs and performance implications of moving to AI-driven network architectures.