- SoftBank announces five new AI RAN developments
- Focus on energy efficiency and network performance
What happened: AI RAN enhancements unveiled
SoftBank has introduced five new AI RAN developments at MWC, highlighting advancements in network performance and energy efficiency. These announcements follow the company’s previous AI-on-RAN and AI-and-RAN initiatives, which aim to optimise telecom networks using artificial intelligence.
One key collaboration is with Red Hat’s Project Kepler. SoftBank has integrated its AITRAS orchestrator with Red Hat’s technology to allocate AI workloads based on available green energy. During a demonstration, this system achieved 98% utilisation of renewable energy sources.
SoftBank emphasised AI RAN’s ability to enhance network orchestration and integrate AI workloads efficiently. The technology is designed to optimise factors such as latency, throughput, and energy consumption. SoftBank positions AI RAN as an evolution of Open RAN, enabling new AI applications and enhancing network capabilities through collaboration.
Also read: SoftBank invests $1.5B in OpenAI, enabling share sale to employees
Also read: Nvidia and SoftBank pilot AI and 5G telecom network
Why it’s important
SoftBank’s AI RAN advancements reflect the telecom industry’s shift towards AI-driven network optimisation. By integrating AI with RAN, operators can improve network efficiency, enhance energy management, and support emerging AI applications.
AI RAN builds upon Open RAN principles, expanding the possibilities for intelligent network orchestration. Its ability to optimise workloads based on energy availability highlights the role of sustainability in telecom innovation. The industry’s response to AI RAN will shape future developments in network automation and efficiency.
