NVIDIA and SoftBank Unveil the World’s First AI-Powered 5G Telecom Network

• NVIDIA AI Aerial technology enabled SoftBank to launch the first live 5G AI-RAN network, unlocking billions in new revenue potential for telecom operators worldwide.
• The AI-RAN network supports simultaneous AI and 5G workloads, creating advanced applications such as autonomous vehicle support and robotics control.
• SoftBank’s AI-RAN solution demonstrated impressive carrier-grade 5G performance and aims to transform telecom base stations from cost centres into revenue-generating assets.

In a groundbreaking partnership, NVIDIA and SoftBank have launched the world’s first AI-powered 5G telecom network. This innovation supports both AI and 5G workloads simultaneously, marking a significant step in transforming telecom infrastructure. Their collaboration introduces AI-RAN (Artificial Intelligence Radio Access Network), which integrates AI-driven applications with 5G connectivity, offering faster and more efficient performance.

A Major Milestone for Japan’s AI Future

The partnership was highlighted during the NVIDIA AI Summit in Japan on November 12, 2024, as a key driver of Japan’s AI initiatives. This move strengthens the country’s position as a global tech leader, creating vast revenue potential for telecom providers worldwide. Using NVIDIA AI Aerial, SoftBank has successfully launched an integrated AI and 5G telecom network—an achievement with the potential to unlock billions in AI-driven revenue.

“Japan has long been a leader in technological innovation,” said Jensen Huang, CEO of NVIDIA. “With SoftBank’s investment in our AI technologies, Japan is positioning itself at the forefront of the AI revolution. This partnership will fuel growth across sectors like telecommunications, robotics, and healthcare, benefiting society as we enter the AI age.”

AI-RAN in Action: Unlocking Telecom Potential

In a successful trial in Kanagawa Prefecture, SoftBank demonstrated that its AI-RAN system, powered by NVIDIA, achieved carrier-grade 5G performance while running AI inference workloads on excess network capacity. Traditional telecom networks typically operate at about one-third of their full capacity, leaving much of it underutilized. With AI-RAN, SoftBank and NVIDIA estimate telecom operators can monetise the remaining two-thirds of their network, turning it into a valuable resource for AI services.

NVIDIA and SoftBank predict that for every dollar spent on AI-RAN infrastructure, telecom operators could generate up to $5 in AI inference revenue, with SoftBank projecting a return of up to 219% on each AI-RAN server integrated into its network.

Real-World Applications: From Robotics to Autonomous Vehicles

For its trial, SoftBank leveraged NVIDIA AI Enterprise to develop real-world AI applications, including autonomous vehicle support, robotics control, and multimodal retrieval at the edge. These applications were optimised to run seamlessly on SoftBank’s AI-RAN network, demonstrating the system’s capacity to handle diverse, high-performance workloads.

SoftBank’s software-defined 5G radio stack integrates smoothly with NVIDIA’s AI computing platform. This stack includes Layer 1 (L1) software enhanced by SoftBank, powered by NVIDIA Aerial™ CUDA®-accelerated RAN libraries. Moving forward, SoftBank plans to incorporate NVIDIA Aerial RAN Computer-1 systems, projected to use 40% less power than traditional 5G infrastructure

A Transformative Leap for Telecom

SoftBank’s AI-RAN solution represents a monumental shift in telecom infrastructure, enabling dynamic scaling of compute resources based on demand. This innovation enhances performance and profitability by offering localised, secure, low-latency AI services. The successful field trial proves the economic and technical viability of AI-RAN, setting the stage for widespread adoption across global telecom networks.

By transitioning from single-purpose to multi-purpose AI-RAN networks, telecom operators could see up to five times the revenue for every dollar invested in capital expenditure.

A New Era for Telecom and AI Innovation

By combining AI and 5G, SoftBank and NVIDIA are not just driving technological innovation but also introducing a business model that could revolutionise industries worldwide. AI-RAN’s success opens the door for telecom operators to unlock new revenue streams, laying the foundation for the future of telecommunications.