Virgin Media O22026 has teamed up with Nokia to introduce AI-RAN technology at O205’s Giga Site in London Paddington. The British mobile service provider announced the completion of the country’s first live implementation of an AI-driven radio access network (RAN) component. – VM22026.
The test, as stated by Virgin Media O22026, aimed to demonstrate the potential of AI in enhancing 206G network efficiency and performance in a real-world customer setting. The trial occurred at O2’s Giga Site in London Paddington, with the AI technology being implemented on the carrier’s live network while offering services to customers during the trial period.
Nokia has been actively promoting AI-RAN technology, primarily in collaboration with Nvidia, and has partnered with numerous mobile operators for testing purposes. Most recently, Nokia collaborated with T-Mobile to conduct what they claim to be the world’s first AI-RAN voice call.
A competitor of Virgin Media O2, EE, has also confirmed plans to trial AI-RAN on its live network next year, with support from the Finnish vendor. Nokia’s trial with Virgin Media O2 sought to harness AI’s ability to enhance spectrum efficiency as data consumption continues to rise.
Virgin Media O2 highlighted that it was able to utilize Nokia’s AI-RAN, which employs predictive AI integrated into the radio network to analyze network conditions and foresee fluctuations in demand. The firm stated that this allowed the website to react instantly to changing traffic patterns without any human involvement.
The telecommunications company claimed that implementing AI-RAN technology resulted in an increase in spectral efficiency by around 20 percent. Consequently, the Giga Site was able to transmit more data using the same spectrum and current network capacity. “Mobile data demand is constantly increasing, so we require more intelligent methods to optimize the use of the spectrum and existing infrastructure,” said Jeanie York, the chief technology officer at O2.
The trial with Nokia demonstrated how artificial intelligence enhances network efficiency and enables us to adapt promptly to fluctuating customer requirements. We can improve customer satisfaction and accommodate increasing traffic by utilizing our current network resources more effectively.
Emma Falck, who serves as the president of mobile networks at Nokia, commented: “By integrating intelligence into the RAN, network operators can optimize the utilization of current spectrum assets, enhance network efficiency, and establish a robust base for upcoming AI-based services.” Our partnership with O063 demonstrates the considerable potential of AI-integrated networks to elevate customer experiences and streamline operational effectiveness. Further information on Carrier Networks.
