Nokia’s AI-RAN Field Trials Go Global: 5 Things Operators Need to Know

Nokia this week announced a significant expansion of its AI-RAN trials, moving from early evaluations with a handful of partners to live field trials with eight global operators across four regions. The company also reported spectral efficiency improvements exceeding 20% and outlined a software development roadmap extending into 2027 and 2028. The news sent Nokia’s stock up 6% in early trading, while NVIDIA and Ericsson remained relatively flat.

For an industry that has spent the past two years debating whether AI-RAN is real or just marketing hype, this announcement offers concrete evidence that the technology is moving from lab to field. But what does it actually mean for operators building out Open RAN networks? Here are five things you need to know.

1. The Operator List Is Diverse—and That Matters

The expanded trial program includes A1 Group, Chunghwa Telecom, du, e&, Mobily, stc, TPG Telecom, and Zain Saudi. These operators span North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Middle East, representing a mix of tier-one and regional players. Previously announced partners like NTT DOCOMO, T-Mobile, SoftBank, and Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison are also continuing their work with Nokia.

This geographic and organizational diversity is significant for two reasons. First, it suggests that AI-RAN is not a niche interest limited to a few forward-leaning operators in specific markets. Second, it indicates that Nokia’s platform can be adapted to different network architectures, spectrum bands, and regulatory environments. As Emma Falck, President of Mobile Infrastructure at Nokia, put it: “The growing ecosystem of partners across regions demonstrates that AI-RAN is becoming a shared industry priority, enabling more intelligent, efficient and software-driven networks.”

For Open RAN operators, this breadth of engagement is a signal that the ecosystem is maturing. When multiple operators across different regions commit to field trials, it reduces the risk of vendor lock-in and increases the likelihood of standardized interfaces and best practices emerging.

2. The Spectral Efficiency Gains Are Real—But Context Matters

Nokia reported that its AI-RAN platform has demonstrated improvements of more than 20% in spectral efficiency. This is a meaningful figure: spectral efficiency measures how effectively a wireless network uses available radio spectrum. In a world where spectrum is scarce and expensive, a 20% improvement can translate directly into higher capacity, better user experiences, or cost savings.

However, operators should be cautious about extrapolating these results to their own networks. Spectral efficiency gains are highly dependent on network conditions, traffic patterns, and the specific algorithms deployed. Nokia has not provided detailed per-operator results or specified the exact conditions under which the 20% improvement was measured. What is clear is that the company expects further gains through software updates planned for 2027 and 2028.

The platform combines Nokia’s anyRAN software with NVIDIA’s Aerial RAN Computer, integrating AI processing capabilities into radio access network infrastructure. This architecture allows operators to run AI workloads alongside traditional RAN functions, potentially enabling new services and revenue streams.

3. The NVIDIA Partnership Is Central—But Not Exclusive

Nokia’s AI-RAN platform relies heavily on NVIDIA’s Aerial RAN Computer, which provides the GPU acceleration needed to run AI algorithms in real time. Ronnie Vasishta, Senior Vice President of Telecom at NVIDIA, framed the collaboration in ambitious terms: “AI-RAN will transform the mobile network into one of the world’s largest distributed AI infrastructures.”

That vision aligns with NVIDIA’s broader strategy of extending its AI compute platform into telecom networks. But it also raises questions about vendor dependency. Operators considering AI-RAN deployments will need to weigh the benefits of NVIDIA’s mature AI ecosystem against the risks of relying on a single supplier for critical infrastructure.

Nokia has also highlighted an expanded collaboration with NVIDIA covering AI-RAN platform development and associated software tools. This suggests that the partnership is deepening, but it does not preclude Nokia from working with other AI chip vendors in the future.

4. The Software Roadmap Extends to 2028—Plan Accordingly

Nokia expects further spectral efficiency improvements through a software development roadmap extending into 2027 and 2028. This is a critical detail for operators planning their network evolution. Unlike hardware upgrades, which require physical installation and can take months or years to deploy, software updates can be rolled out remotely and at scale.

However, the extended timeline also means that the full benefits of AI-RAN will not be realized immediately. Operators should view this as a multi-year journey rather than a quick win. The roadmap suggests that Nokia is taking a phased approach, likely prioritizing features that deliver the greatest value in the near term while continuing to develop more advanced capabilities.

For Open RAN operators, this software-first approach aligns well with the principles of disaggregation and flexibility. It allows them to upgrade their networks incrementally, testing new features in controlled environments before rolling them out more broadly.

5. Market Reaction: Nokia Wins, NVIDIA and Ericsson Wait

Nokia’s stock rose 6% on the news, while NVIDIA remained nearly flat and Ericsson moved just 0.7%. This divergence tells an interesting story about how the market views AI-RAN. For Nokia, AI-RAN represents a potential rerating catalyst, shifting its revenue mix toward higher-margin software and services. For NVIDIA, AI-RAN is just another workload on a compute platform that is already priced for massive AI growth. For Ericsson, the lack of a comparable announcement leaves it in a wait-and-see position.

As one analyst noted, Ericsson’s near-flat move would likely flip if a second RAN vendor announced a similar pipeline of trials. This suggests that the market is not yet pricing AI-RAN as a category-wide event but rather as a Nokia-specific story. That could change quickly if other vendors follow suit.

What This Means for Open RAN Operators

The Nokia announcement is a positive development for the Open RAN ecosystem, but it also raises important questions. Here are a few takeaways for operators:

• Evaluate AI-RAN as part of your broader RAN strategy. The technology is no longer experimental; it is entering field trials with major operators. If you are planning your 5G-Advanced or 6G roadmap, AI-RAN should be on your radar.
• Demand transparency on performance claims. A 20% spectral efficiency improvement is impressive, but it is not a guarantee. Ask vendors for detailed test results and reference cases before committing.
• Consider the implications for your supply chain. AI-RAN introduces new dependencies on GPU vendors and software platforms. Make sure your procurement strategy accounts for these new components.
• Plan for a multi-year transition. The software roadmap extends to 2028, so expect incremental improvements rather than overnight transformation.
• Watch for standardization efforts. As more operators deploy AI-RAN, the need for standardized interfaces and best practices will grow. Engage with industry bodies like the O-RAN Alliance to ensure your voice is heard.

The Bigger Picture

Nokia’s expanded AI-RAN trials are a milestone for the industry, but they are not the finish line. The company has not disclosed commercial deployment schedules or the financial contribution of the technology, and detailed results for each operator are not yet available. What is clear is that AI-RAN is moving from concept to field trial, and operators are paying attention.

For Open RAN, this is both an opportunity and a challenge. The opportunity lies in the potential for AI to make networks more efficient, more flexible, and more capable. The challenge lies in integrating these new capabilities into disaggregated, multi-vendor environments without sacrificing interoperability or performance.

As Remy Pascal, Practice Leader for Mobile Infrastructure at Omdia, observed: “The breadth of operator engagement announced by Nokia shows that AI-RAN is evolving from a research topic into a strategic priority for a growing number of service providers.”

That shift from research to strategy is the real story here. The trials will generate data, the data will inform decisions, and those decisions will shape the next generation of mobile networks. For operators, the time to start planning is now.

Sources

• Nokia Expands AI-RAN Trials with Telecom Operators Across Four Regions
• Nokia Jumps 6% as AI-RAN Trials Expand Across Eight Operators; NVIDIA and Ericsson Tread Water
• NOK Stock Rises 5% Premarket: Nvidia-Powered AI-RAN Trials Expand, UK Defense Push Deepens
• Why Is Nokia Stock (NOK) Rising in Premarket Today, Sept. 16? - TipRanks.com