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The upcoming week will witness the AI RAN Alliance catching many off guard.
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While Nvidia and SoftBank serve as the cornerstone entities, certain executives in the AI and ML domains are notably absent.
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Mavenir, initially not part of the core consortium, is actively promoting its open RAN Intelligent Controller (RIC) integrated with AI and ML capabilities.
The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in the radio access network (RAN) significantly impacts wireless operators’ customer experience. At the forthcoming Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Nvidia, SoftBank, and several other firms unveiled the AI-RAN Alliance.
Despite Nvidia’s prominent position as a leading chip manufacturer, the absence of key players like CommScope, Intel, NEC, Fujitsu, Mavenir, Qualcomm, among others, raises eyebrows.
The AI-RAN Alliance aims to leverage AI in 5G and 6G to reduce energy consumption, enhance cellular network efficiency, and unlock new revenue streams for telecom companies. Founding members include Amazon Web Services (AWS), Arm, DeepSig, Ericsson, Microsoft, Nokia, Northeastern University, Nvidia, Samsung Electronics, SoftBank, and T-Mobile USA.
According to Daryl Schoolar, a researcher at Recon Analytics, the notable absence of more cellular network operators is a significant gap, with SoftBank and T-Mobile being the sole partners onboard currently.
SoftBank’s Research Institute of Advanced Technology head, Ryuji Wakikawa, expressed openness for other major players like AT&T and Verizon to join the alliance, emphasizing inclusivity and ecosystem growth.
However, Qualcomm’s immediate involvement seems uncertain, given the aggressive AI integration in mobile devices.
Moving on to Intel and Mavenir, Mavenir’s exclusion from the alliance, attributed in part to Nvidia’s 2020 investment in Mavenir, was disclosed by CEO Pardeep Kohli at the Mobile World Congress.
Mavenir’s stance on the AI-RAN Alliance was revealed in a video showcased at the Shoulder booth during the event.
Furthermore, Mavenir found itself strategically positioned opposite the AI-RAN Alliance’s demonstration at the Shoulder booth, indicating a subtle competitive dynamic.
Kohli, acknowledging Mavenir’s initial lack of awareness about the alliance, expressed optimism about the sector’s evolution through their participation.
Mavenir emphasizes the utilization of AI in RAN operations, particularly for business software and micro implementation testing.
Brandon Larson, Mavenir’s General Manager, highlights the unique capabilities of AI and ML in extracting insights from telco data to enhance network performance and operational efficiency.
In parallel, Intel showcased new AI solutions for RAN at the MWC, focusing on system and edge AI applications, despite not being part of the alliance.
Looking ahead, the direct integration of AI into RAN equipment may still be years away, with ongoing discussions on the authenticity and impact of AI in the telecom landscape.
Schoolar anticipates AI’s pervasive presence across the mobile ecosystem, revolutionizing user management, customer experience, network operations, and device functionalities.
