The future of mobile networks has been here for a while 🙂 , but now it’s powered by artificial intelligence (AI). A groundbreaking new initiative, the AI-RAN Alliance, has launched with the ambitious goal of integrating AI into cellular technology. This collaboration brings together leading names in tech, industry, and academia, including companies like Amazon, Microsoft, Nokia, and Samsung, alongside universities like Northeastern.
What the Alliance Aims to Achieve:
The alliance focuses on three key areas:
- Boosting Mobile Network Efficiency: By utilizing AI, the alliance aims to significantly improve spectral efficiency, meaning more data can be transmitted using the same amount of radio spectrum. This translates to faster speeds and better network performance for users.
- Reducing Power Consumption: The alliance will explore how AI can optimize mobile network infrastructure, leading to lower energy consumption and a more sustainable operation for telecom companies.
- Unlocking New Revenue Streams: AI has the potential to generate entirely new revenue opportunities for telecom companies. The alliance will explore possibilities like AI-powered services delivered directly at the network edge, closer to users.
How it Works:
The alliance leverages the combined expertise of its members. Network operators like Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (Ericsson) and T-Mobile USA will take the lead in testing and implementing the new AI-powered solutions developed by the other members. This collaborative approach ensures rapid development and real-world testing of these innovative technologies.
The Bigger Picture:
The goal of the AI-RAN alliance is to lead a major shift in mobile network technology. By integrating AI, the alliance seeks to pave the way for the next generation of mobile networks (6G) and unlock significant economic opportunities for telecom companies. This could ultimately lead to a more efficient, sustainable, and feature-rich mobile experience for everyone.
The Press Release
The AI-RAN Alliance, a new collaborative initiative aimed at integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into cellular technology to further advance radio access network (RAN) technology and mobile networks, was launched today at the GSMA Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.
Bringing together technology, industry, and academic institutions, the alliance’s founding members include Amazon Web Services, Inc. (AWS), Arm, DeepSig Inc. (DeepSig), Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (Ericsson), Microsoft Corporation (Microsoft), Nokia, Northeastern University, NVIDIA, Samsung Electronics, SoftBank Corp. (SoftBank) and T-Mobile USA, Inc. (T-Mobile). The group’s mission is to enhance mobile network efficiency, reduce power consumption, and retrofit existing infrastructure, setting the stage for unlocking new economic opportunities for telecommunications companies with AI, facilitated by 5G and 6G.
Alliance members will leverage their technology expertise and collective leadership to focus on three main areas of research and innovation:
- AI for RAN – advancing RAN capabilities through AI to improve spectral efficiency.
- AI and RAN – integrating AI and RAN processes to utilize infrastructure more effectively and generate new AI-driven revenue opportunities.
- AI on RAN – deploying AI services at the network edge through RAN to increase operational efficiency and offer new services to mobile users.
Network operators in the alliance will spearhead the testing and implementation of these advanced technologies developed through the collective research efforts of the member companies and universities.
Reference
[1] https://ai-ran.org/news/industry-leaders-in-ai-and-wireless-form-ai-ran-alliance