October
2026
06:00 AM
Europe/Amsterdam
Press Release
Summary bullets
- Companies will conduct an AI-RAN field trial in Japan in 2027 in a commercial network environment under commercial traffic conditions
Companies will conduct an AI-RAN field trial in Japan in 2027 in a commercial network environment under commercial traffic conditions
- Planned deployment will validate key AI-RAN capabilities using Nokia anyRAN software with the SoftBank AITRAS platform including the Orchestrator
Planned deployment will validate key AI-RAN capabilities using Nokia anyRAN software with the SoftBank AITRAS platform including the Orchestrator
Our agreement with SoftBank marks an important step toward the future of AI-native networks. By bringing AI and RAN workloads onto common, programmable infrastructure, AI-RAN has the potential to unlock new levels of spectral efficiency while providing the distributed intelligence needed to support physical AI. As the boundaries between network and compute continue to blur, this distributed infrastructure can become a powerful platform for both connectivity and AI. Together with SoftBank and its AITRAS platform, we are laying the foundation for networks that go beyond connectivity to enable real-time AI services and accelerate the evolution toward AI-native 6G.
Our agreement with SoftBank marks an important step toward the future of AI-native networks. By bringing AI and RAN workloads onto common, programmable infrastructure, AI-RAN has the potential to unlock new levels of spectral efficiency while providing the distributed intelligence needed to support physical AI. As the boundaries between network and compute continue to blur, this distributed infrastructure can become a powerful platform for both connectivity and AI. Together with SoftBank and its AITRAS platform, we are laying the foundation for networks that go beyond connectivity to enable real-time AI services and accelerate the evolution toward AI-native 6G.
Pallavi Mahajan, Chief Technology and AI Officer, Nokia
Our planned field trial with Nokia will mark a significant milestone in AI-RAN’s transition from concept to execution. We will integrate Nokia’s AI-native anyRAN into our AITRAS platform as its RAN component, with the AITRAS Orchestrator working in coordination with Nokia’s RAN and MantaRay. We are excited to begin this next phase of validation with Nokia, paving the way for a new era of networks that deliver both connectivity and AI services.
Our planned field trial with Nokia will mark a significant milestone in AI-RAN’s transition from concept to execution. We will integrate Nokia’s AI-native anyRAN into our AITRAS platform as its RAN component, with the AITRAS Orchestrator working in coordination with Nokia’s RAN and MantaRay. We are excited to begin this next phase of validation with Nokia, paving the way for a new era of networks that deliver both connectivity and AI services.
Ryuji Wakikawa, Senior Vice President and CTO, SoftBank Corp.
About Nokia
Nokia is a global leader in connectivity infrastructure, enabling the AI supercycle. We build networks that connect intelligence and deliver a comprehensive connectivity solution across fixed, mobile, IP, optical, core, and data center networks. With security by design, AI-driven innovation, and AI-optimized architecture, Nokia delivers trusted infrastructure that enables AI to scale and advances connectivity to secure a brighter world.
