Nvidia bid to 'open source' 6G may rattle Ericsson and Nokia

Nvidia is pushing an "open" and "AI-native" approach to future 6G mobile networks, a move that could unsettle established radio access network vendors like Ericsson and Nokia. The company has outlined plans to apply open source principles to key parts of the 6G stack, arguing that shared software and AI-driven design can cut costs and speed development.

The U.S. Department of Defense is backing work that points open source tools and architectures directly at 6G, adding political and financial weight to the shift. If this approach gains ground, traditional telecom suppliers that rely on tightly controlled, proprietary systems could face new competition from cloud, chip, and software players working in a more open ecosystem.