Nokia Expands AI-RAN Trials with Eight Global Carriers
Nokia shares rose 5% premarket as eight major carriers advanced AI-RAN trials using NVIDIA hardware, while a new UK defense partnership broadened its tactical connectivity portfolio.
Nokia Oyj (NOK) shares climbed 5% in premarket trading on Wednesday following announcements that expand its commercial footprint in artificial intelligence-driven radio access networks and defense systems. The company confirmed that eight operators across Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Middle East are now running live field trials and proofs of concept for its AI-RAN platform. These trials integrate Nokia’s anyRAN software with NVIDIA’s Aerial RAN Computer, marking a shift from early evaluations to operational testing on 5G infrastructure.
The expansion includes A1 Group, Chunghwa Telecom, du, e&, Mobily, stc, TPG Telecom, and Zain Saudi, joining earlier engagements with NTT DOCOMO. Nokia stated that its AI-RAN platform has already achieved a 20% improvement in spectral efficiency. The company attributes this gain to the combination of AI-native software and NVIDIA’s hardware, which optimizes how mobile networks utilize spectrum and computing resources. Additional software-driven performance gains are targeted for delivery through 2027 and 2028, supporting a roadmap that extends toward AI-native 6G.
Eight operators advance live AI-RAN trials
The move to live-field trials signals that AI-RAN is transitioning from a conceptual framework to commercial reality, according to Emma Falck, president of Mobile Infrastructure at Nokia. By leveraging NVIDIA’s Aerial RAN Computer, the platform allows operators to process AI workloads directly at the edge of the network. This architecture reduces latency and improves energy efficiency compared to traditional centralized processing models. The broad adoption across diverse geographic markets indicates that service providers are prioritizing AI integration to manage increasing data demands on existing 5G infrastructure.
Spectral efficiency gains drive network performance
Nokia reported that its AI-RAN platform has delivered more than 20% improvements in spectral efficiency during initial deployments. This metric is critical for operators facing spectrum congestion and rising energy costs. The company plans to enhance these gains further through iterative software updates scheduled for 2027 and 2028. By embedding AI capabilities into the radio access network, Nokia aims to automate network optimization and resource allocation, allowing carriers to extend coverage and capacity without requiring additional physical infrastructure.
UK defense partnership broadens tactical capabilities
Nokia Defense signed a memorandum of understanding with C3IA, a UK systems engineering firm, to co-develop digital transformation solutions for defense operations. The collaboration focuses on tactical and operational communications, private 4G and 5G networks, command and control systems, and edge computing for autonomous systems. This agreement builds on both companies’ participation in the UK Ministry of Defence’s TacSys framework, which provides a pathway for Nokia’s connectivity portfolio to support future tactical requirements. The partnership positions Nokia to capture a larger share of the European defense connectivity market by offering integrated, software-defined network solutions tailored for military use cases.
