NVIDIA and Nokia have announced a strategic collaboration to develop commercial-grade AI radio access network (AI-RAN) products that will support the rollout of AI-native 5G-Advanced and 6G networks. As part of the agreement, NVIDIA will invest $1 billion in Nokia at a share subscription price of $6.01, subject to regulatory approvals and standard closing conditions.
The partnership combines Nokia’s telecommunications expertise with NVIDIA’s computing and AI capabilities to introduce adaptive, software-defined network systems. The companies plan to deliver distributed edge AI inferencing at scale, laying the foundation for future communication services that integrate connectivity and computing across multiple network layers.
NVIDIA will provide its Aerial RAN Computer Pro (ARC-Pro) platform, a 6G-ready system that merges connectivity, computing, and sensing functions. Nokia will embed ARC-Pro into its AirScale baseband portfolio to enable a software-based transition from existing RAN networks to AI-RAN. The approach is designed to improve energy efficiency, network performance, and scalability while extending the lifespan of existing infrastructure.
T-Mobile U.S. will serve as the initial partner to test and validate AI-RAN technologies, with trials scheduled to begin in 2026. Dell Technologies will supply its PowerEdge servers to support Nokia’s AI-RAN deployments, offering modular scalability and simplified upgrade pathways from 5G to 6G.
Industry analysts estimate that the AI-RAN market could exceed a cumulative $200 billion by 2030. NVIDIA and Nokia will also cooperate on AI networking solutions, including integrating Nokia’s SR Linux software with NVIDIA’s Spectrum-X Ethernet platform. The collaboration positions both companies at the center of the telecom industry’s shift toward AI-driven network architectures.
Source: NVIDIA