The path to AI-RAN and the first 6G network is marked by many milestones—some that are still out of reach. But we predict it won’t be long. Like 5G Advanced, and 5G Standalone before it, T-Mobile is leading the way, laying the foundation, and running miles ahead of the competition. Together with our partners NVIDIA, Ericsson, and Nokia we’re developing and testing equipment and technologies that will empower our existing networks and systems with more intelligence, efficiency, and reliability today—and eventually unlock a 6G wireless network with AI at its heart.

AI-RAN integrates AI into mobile networks to optimize radio signal processing. Alex Jinsung Choi, chair of the AI-RAN Alliance, might have said it best: the goal is to “weave AI right into the fabric of the radio access network.” Once that’s accomplished, AI-RAN will use billions of data points to create algorithms that predict real-time capacity and automatically make the adjustments needed for maximum network performance.   
  
At T-Mobile, we’re actively working to integrate AI into our network using AI-RAN to improve performance for our customers now. AI-RAN allows for the real-time optimization of network performance and spectral efficiency. AI will also anticipate future demands and proactively allocate resources to prevent congestion and deliver ultra-reliable network experiences for both consumers and business. 

AI will not only power RAN performance and automate operations but empower the wireless network infrastructure to run third-party AI application workloads at the network edge, creating new avenues for growth, innovation, and revenue. 

Transforming networks into AI computing infrastructure.

T-Mobile has partnered with NVIDIA to develop AI-RAN solutions using NVIDIA AI Aerial to support not only voice and video data, but high compute power at the edge of the network for AI applications:

• Large language and vision language models 
• Spatial computing 
• Industrial digital twin simulation 
• Robot fleet orchestration 
• Interactive digital avatars

AI-RAN is also designed to work seamlessly with Open RAN and cloud-native architectures to ensure it has the flexibility and scalability to support whatever comes next—including 6G. 

As founding members of the global AI-RAN Alliance, T-Mobile, NVIDIA, Ericsson, and Nokia have made it their mission to make AI-RAN a reality for wireless networks. In September 2024, we made it official with the inauguration of the AI-RAN Innovation Center.     
  
Between T-Mobile 5G leadership, the NVIDIA AI Aerial platform, and Ericsson’s and Nokia’s groundbreaking telecommunications solutions, our super group of innovators are bridging the divide between RAN technology and AI innovation to revolutionize wireless experiences with a network powered by AI-RAN. 

Open RAN and Cloud RAN are closely related, but they represent different aspects of the evolution of Radio Access Networks (RANs). Open RAN allows for a more flexible and open architecture, while Cloud RAN virtualizes network functions in the cloud.  
  
AI-RAN concepts will be built in an open and containerized manner like Open RAN, with virtualized RAN and Core components managed from a central cloud. Only, AI-RAN will make the promises of Open RAN more viable with the accelerated computing power it can help deliver to network processing workloads.   
  
There’s a lot to do before we get to AI-RAN. Both Open RAN and Cloud RAN are in the interim stages now, and we’re aggressively validating both technologies in our lab today.   

Our 5G Advanced network is an evolution of 5G Standalone (SA), enhancing its capabilities and paving the way for more AI automation, groundbreaking AR and XR, and countless use cases. We’re excited to share our growing lists of 5G Advanced “firsts” and “onlys” with the world not only for the bragging rights, but as milestone markers on the road to 6G.  

5G NR-DC. 

5G New Radio Dual Connectivity (5G NR-DC) makes it possible to combine the power of 2.5 GHz spectrum with mmWave spectrum, which allows for dramatically higher data speeds.  During a test on our 5G SA production network, T-Mobile used 5G NR-DC to reach a record-breaking peak uplink speed of 2.2 Gbps.  

Partner technologies used: Ericsson’s 5G NR-DC solution | Qualcomm Technologies’ Snapdragon® X80 5G Modem-RF System  

 

UL Tx Switching.  

Uplink transmit switching (UL Tx Switching) boosts data upload speeds by seamlessly switching between different radio frequencies. T-Mobile led a test on the 5G SA network to set a new uplink speed record of 550 Mbps in sub-6 GHz spectrum using UL Tx Switching.   

Partner technologies used: MediaTek test device with integrated M90 modem | Nokia 

 

6-carrier aggregation. 

Carrier aggregation allows T-Mobile to combine multiple 5G channels (or carriers) to deliver greater speed and performance. In one test, T-Mobile merged six 5G channels of mid-band spectrum to create an effective 245 MHz of aggregated 5G channels. 

Partner technologies used: Ericsson | Qualcomm Technologies 

 

New spectrum. 

The current midband range for 5G ranges around 1GHz to 6GHz. The midband range for 6G will be between 7GHz to 15GHz. To help prepare for 6G, FCC granted T-Mobile a testing permit to explore the development of frequency bands in the upper midband 7GHz range. 

Partner technologies used: Nokia's 6G experimental equipment 

While much of AI-RAN and 6G remain in the experiment-and-test phase, the 5G network never rests. Many of the enhancements currently taking place in our 5G Advanced network, like carrier aggregation and 5G NR-DC, are also preparing the network for the transition to 6G.   
  
The 6G network will happen. And while consumers are enjoying the immersive experiences, smart cities and homes, and advances in health and safety that future 6G networks deliver—T-Mobile will be focused on defining and reaching the milestones for whatever’s next.