Nokia is using the partnership to extend its anyRAN concept by embedding AI into its mobile network portfolio
Nokia has announced a partnership with Nvidia to integrate AI and Cloud RAN. The Finnish vendor said the tie-up is part of its anyRAN approach, which seeks to position AI as a core element within the company’s mobile network product portfolio.
Nokia’s collaboration with Nvidia will predominantly focus on Cloud RAN solutions, where the vendor will use Nvidia’s Grace CPU Superchip for Layer 2+ processing, combined with its own energy-efficient In-Line Layer 1 accelerator technology and Cloud RAN software. Nokia will also use Nvidia’s graphics processing units (GPUs) for AI applications, vRAN acceleration which the vendor said paves the way for yet another acronym, AI-RAN.
The partnership is a further sign of Nvidia’s intent to enter the telco-specific semiconductor market and the timing of the announcement comes just ahead of the semiconductor giant’s results. Earlier this month Ericsson emerged as a wireless chip partner that would include the chip designer’s GPU technology. Nvidia wants to build a custom chip unit to design bespoke AI processors for cloud computing firms, data centre operators and service providers.
The Nvidia Grace CPU – which is targeted at the data centre AI market – is based on the “latest and most advanced Arm Neoverse V2 CPU reference architecture”. Nokia said its customers will benefit from diversity and choice in selecting CPUs for Cloud RAN networks – the philosophy behind its anyRAN approach, launched at last year’s MWC.
All part of anyRAN
With anyRAN, operators can choose a hybrid or cloud native RAN and Nokia has enabled its software and In-Line acceleration architecture to run on any partner’s cloud and server infrastructure in addition to Nokia AirScale base stations and Nokia AirFrame servers – the latter is moving to Dell servers as part of a separate agreement. Nokia said it has successfully performed end-to-end 5G data calls (Layer 3 calls) in multi-vendor setups with several partners.
“This is an important collaboration with Nvidia that will explore how artificial intelligence can play a transformative role in the future of our industry,” said Nokia president of mobile networks Tommi Uitto. “It is a further example of our anyRAN approach that is helping to make Cloud RAN a commercial reality. The strength of our industry collaborations means we can drive efficiency, innovation, openness, and scale by delivering competitive advantage to operators and enterprises.”
“Bringing the power of Nvidia’s advanced computing to Nokia’s platform will deliver more performant and energy-efficient Cloud RAN solutions,” said Nvidia SVP of telecom Ronnie Vasishta. “Plus, as AI creates unprecedented transformational opportunities across industries, our collaboration with Nokia deepens AI-enabled innovation in radio access networks for improved operational efficiency in telecommunications.”