Nokia puts new open RAN tech in 5G revival bid as Ericsson demurs

Key Points:

• Nokia is betting on Nvidia GPUs as a key component of future radio access networks (RAN), partnering with Marvell Technology for its last custom silicon product and promoting AI-driven RAN solutions to operators.
• The company has embraced openness by allowing third-party startups like Pulsone, DeepSig, and ZaiNar to develop RAN software on Nokia networks, leveraging Nvidia's Aerial software platform based on CUDA.
• Nokia supports emerging network apps called dApps, which operate with a new E3 interface for real-time RAN control, aiming to improve spectral efficiency and network performance, unlike competitors Ericsson and Samsung who remain cautious.
• Despite Nokia's push for GPU-based RAN and dApps, industry challenges persist including the complexity of dApps, limited vendor support, and the ongoing dominance of a few major suppliers, which restricts competition and slows open RAN adoption.
• Market spending on traditional RAN infrastructure remains far higher than on network apps, indicating that while apps may enhance network value, they are unlikely to diversify the supplier landscape or fully realize open RAN's original goals.