AT&T tests AI-generated Open RAN application on Ericsson platform

AT&T tests AI-generated Open RAN application on Ericsson platform is profiled by BTW Media because published evidence links it to internet infrastructure, governance, operational dependencies, or market visibility.

• AT&T trials Aira’s AI-built traffic control application on Ericsson’s IAP in a virtual Open RAN environment.
• The trial explores automation and vendor flexibility in future 5G network designs.

What happened: AT&T tests AI-based traffic control in lab Open RAN setup

AT&T worked with Aira Technologies to test an AI-generated traffic steering application in a controlled Open RAN simulation. This RAN application, or rApp, was created using AI models trained on AT&T’s own network data. It aimed to control and direct signal traffic across different RAN units automatically.

Aira’s software made the rApp. AT&T ran it on Ericsson’s Intelligent Automation Platform (IAP). The simulation used orchestration tools from Ericsson. These tools work in the cloud and follow rules from the O-RAN Alliance. The rules help telecom operators combine hardware and software from different vendors.

The test took place in a lab. It was not done on a live network. It did not involve any services used by customers. AT&T used its own RAN Intelligent Controller (RIC) framework for the trial. The goal was to see how AI can automate RAN operations and reduce manual tasks. Ericsson’s IAP helped integrate Aira’s software using open APIs. This trial adds to AT&T’s broader work with Open RAN and network automation projects, which include exploring more modular and programmable network systems.

Also Read: AT&T’s ORAN shift: A game-changer for telecom giants
Also Read: Ericsson and Google Cloud launch AI-driven 5G core as a service

Why this is important

This test shows that telecom companies are trying to find ways to reduce costs and simplify network management by using AI in Open RAN systems. By using rApps like the one from Aira, network traffic can be adjusted automatically instead of relying on fixed rules or manual control. This could lead to faster updates and more efficient use of network capacity. It may also help network operators rely less on a single vendor and use different tools that work together more easily. AT&T’s move supports its larger goal of making its networks more flexible and easier to control.

Open RAN is being tested and supported by many operators, such as Vodafone, NTT Docomo, and Deutsche Telekom. These companies also want to see if AI can help manage their networks better. Aira is a small company from California that builds software for this kind of use. It is now working with big companies like AT&T. Ericsson’s platform is being used as the base for many of these projects, and it offers tools that allow quick connection of third-party applications. This could make Open RAN systems more useful in the future if more operators follow the same direction.