T-Mobile eager to test Nokia's AI RAN this year

T-Mobile plans to start testing Nokia’s new AI-driven radio access network (RAN) technology as soon as this year, even though the full platform is years away from commercial use. Nokia says its Nvidia-based AI RAN will be ready for field trials in the fourth quarter of 2026, with commercial deployment expected by the end of 2027.

The system uses Nvidia hardware to run radio network functions and AI workloads on the same platform, aiming to make mobile networks more efficient and easier to manage. T-Mobile’s early interest signals that major operators want to understand how AI-heavy RAN designs will work in practice well before they hit the market.