SoftBank releases edge AI-RAN solution to transform telecom by 2026
SoftBank has announced the development of “AITRAS,” a converged AI-RAN solution that integrates AI and Radio Access Network workloads on a single NVIDIA-accelerated platform.
AITRAS aims to provide high capacity, performance, and quality for telecom operators, with global deployment planned from 2026 onwards. The solution utilizes NVIDIA’s AI Aerial platform and includes newly developed L1 software for enhanced stability and performance in carrier-grade RAN.
AITRAS features an orchestrator for efficient resource allocation, improving cost-effectiveness and reducing power consumption.
Telecom operators can maintain their traditional RAN infrastructure while building AI capabilities for network optimization through AITRAS and will be implemented with NVIDIA AI Enterprise, allowing enterprise customers to develop and deploy their own AI applications.
A reference kit for AITRAS will be offered to telecom operators starting in 2025, enabling them to test and verify the solution’s functionality and performance. The kit includes essential components such as an orchestrator, edge AI applications, RAN software, and the NVIDIA GH200 Grace Hopper Superchip.
Junichi Miyakawa, President & CEO of SoftBank Corp., said, “We are pleased to announce AITRAS, which brings the AI-RAN concept to life. As every industry is redefined through AI and transformed by AI in ways that go beyond DX (Digital Transformation), AITRAS will become an essential element in realizing next-generation social infrastructure. We anticipate it will play a crucial role in supporting ‘a society that coexists with AI’ where robots, autonomous vehicles and drones are widespread, ultimately contributing to the realization of a sustainable society.”
SoftBank aims to drive the adoption of AITRAS in the telecom industry, contributing to the integration of AI in telecommunications.
The initiative is part of SoftBank’s broader strategy to enhance its telecom business and expand into non-telecom fields, leveraging advancements in AI and 5G/6G technologies.
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Article Topics
AI-RAN | edge AI | Nvidia | RAN | SoftBank | telecom | wireless
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