NVIDIA Invests $1B in Nokia to Build AI-Native 6G Networks
The AI-RAN segment is projected to exceed $200 billion by 2030, according to analyst firm Omdia.
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[Image source: Krishna Prasad/MITSMR Middle East]
NVIDIA and Nokia on Monday announced a strategic partnership to develop AI-powered Radio Access Network (AI-RAN) products, bringing artificial intelligence to the core of mobile network infrastructure. As part of the deal, NVIDIA will invest $1 billion in Nokia at a subscription price of $6.01 per share, pending customary approvals.
The collaboration aims to accelerate the shift toward AI-native 5G-Advanced and 6G networks, with an eye on what analysts call a rapidly growing market. The AI-RAN segment is projected to exceed $200 billion by 2030, according to analyst firm Omdia.
The companies say the partnership will help communication service providers launch AI-driven networks on NVIDIA platforms, boosting performance and efficiency for consumers and enterprises using next-generation AI applications.
Jensen Huang, founder and CEO of NVIDIA, said, “Telecommunications is a critical national infrastructure, the digital nervous system of our economy and security. Built on NVIDIA CUDA and AI, AI-RAN will revolutionize telecommunications, a generational platform shift that empowers the United States to regain global leadership in this vital infrastructure technology.”
Nokia’s president and CEO, Justin Hotard, added: “The next leap in telecom isn’t just from 5G to 6G, it’s a fundamental redesign of the network to deliver AI-powered connectivity, capable of processing intelligence from the data center all the way to the edge. Our partnership with NVIDIA, and their investment in Nokia, will accelerate AI-RAN innovation to put an AI data center into everyone’s pocket.”
T-Mobile US will be among the first to test these technologies, with field trials expected in 2026 to validate real-world performance and energy efficiency.
NVIDIA also unveiled its Aerial RAN Computer Pro (ARC-Pro) platform, a 6G-ready computing system that integrates connectivity, computing, and sensing capabilities to enable telcos to upgrade from 5G-Advanced to 6G via software updates. Nokia will embed this platform into its AirScale baseband architecture to support a smoother transition to AI-RAN networks.
Dell Technologies will contribute with its PowerEdge servers, optimized for scalability and low-touch upgrades, while also working with Nokia and NVIDIA on AI networking solutions that integrate Nokia’s SR Linux software with NVIDIA’s Spectrum-X Ethernet platform.
