Future Nokia base stations will adopt Nvidia ARC, integrating Grace CPUs with Blackwell GPUs, as part of a long-term collaboration between the two companies on 5G and 6G base station chips. The AI-RAN platform can leverage idle RAN assets to support edge AI services, allowing base stations to perform AI inference computations while providing communication services.
In an August 2025 interview, Chairman and General Manager of Nokia Communications Taiwan Jason Liu stated that the concept of AI-RAN has become a key focus in the industry since the 2024 Barcelona MWC conference. The industry wants AI integrated into RAN for network optimization and to provide better applications. According to Liu, future base stations may even provide GPU computing power, creating additional revenue models.
The AI-RAN platform enables large-scale deployment of distributed edge AI, realizing the additional revenue models described by Nokia executives. Press releases from both companies have confirmed that Nokia base stations will adopt Nvidia's AI chips and software to advance next-generation communications technologies such as AI Radio Access Network (AI-RAN).
The collaboration also strengthens Nokia's 6G roadmap. Nigel Chen, Technical Director of Nokia's Mobile Networks division, emphasized that 6G is an AI-native technology. In 6G networks, every network element will have AI integration capabilities, making AI a central focus for future 6G technology research.
Harri Holma, a Nokia Bell Labs Fellow, added that Bell Labs is already testing a proof-of-concept (PoC) system aimed at completely replacing traditional radio connections with AI, not merely optimizing individual modules with AI. Nokia has long been actively deploying AI at the algorithm and architecture levels, and Nvidia's involvement completes the most critical piece of this grand vision: the hardware GPU computing power.
Nvidia announced the US$1 billion investment in Nokia at GTC DC, formalizing the collaboration.
Article edited by Jerry Chen
