The expansion of artificial intelligence (AI) services and the advent of AI devices are driving a significant transformation in communication networks. Global telecommunications equipment companies are leading this shift by integrating AI into base stations.
According to industry sources, Ericsson recently introduced its "AI in RAN" solution, which applies AI models directly to baseband and radio components of base stations. The company aims to enhance network performance and energy efficiency while transitioning to an AI-native network. Ericsson claims that this technology can improve download throughput by up to 20% and frequency efficiency by up to 10%.
Nokia is also entering the AI-RAN competition. The company is leveraging cloud-based AI-RAN technology powered by NVIDIA graphics processing units (GPUs) to build AI-native networks. Next month, Nokia will hold an event titled "Network Innovation Towards the AI Supercycle," where it will unveil its AI-RAN technology strategy and vision for future networks.
The telecommunications industry is integrating AI into networks due to the surging demand for data. Technologies such as AI glasses, humanoid robots, and autonomous vehicles require real-time transmission of camera and sensor data, generating significantly more traffic than traditional mobile services.
A surge in uplink traffic is also anticipated. According to Shinhan Investment Corp., the proliferation of on-demand AI agents is expected to increase uplink usage by 4.4 times compared to current levels. In an "always-on AI" environment, uplink usage could rise by as much as 7.5 times.
The three major telecommunications companies in South Korea—SK Telecom, KT, and LG Uplus—are actively pursuing related technologies. SK Telecom has collaborated with Nokia and HFR to develop and validate various equipment structures for AI-RAN using NVIDIA GPU-based general-purpose servers.
KT also conducted the country’s first commercial validation of AI-RAN last year. LG Uplus is enhancing its AI-based platform, AION, with the goal of establishing a "fully autonomous network" by 2028, where AI will operate and analyze the network independently.
The three telecom companies are also working with the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) to secure key AI-RAN technologies. The Ministry of Science and ICT has designated ETRI as a national research institute for the AI-RAN global leading project and plans to support research and development worth 47 billion won by 2030.
Kim Aram, a researcher at Shinhan Investment Corp., noted, "While traditional mobile traffic has been download-centric, the importance of uploads will increase in an AI environment. In the long term, investments related to upgrading telecommunications networks will be essential for service providers."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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