Author: Alan Weissberger
Amazon Leo (formerly Project Kuiper) unveils satellite broadband for enterprises; Competitive analysis with Starlink
Amazon Leo (formerly Project Kuiper) has now disclosed its enterprise-focused hardware, services, and capabilities, and launching a new preview program for select enterprise customers to begin testing Amazon Leo services ahead of a wider commercial rollout in 2026. With more than 150 satellites in orbit and initial network testing underway, Amazon Leo aims to provide high-speed internet service to those beyond the reach of existing networks, including the millions of businesses, government entities, and organizations operating in places without reliable connectivity.
Amazon revealed the final production design of Amazon Leo Ultra, an advanced, enterprise-grade terminal that delivers best-in-class performance for demanding private and public sector applications. The full-duplex phased array antenna (see photo below) provides download speeds of up to 1 Gbps and upload speeds up to 400 Mbps, making it the fastest commercial phased array antenna in production.
- The standard customer terminal for most users is the Leo Pro, offering downlink speeds of up to 400 Mbps in an 11”x11” package, and the Leo Nano is a 7×7” model that delivers downlink speeds up to 100 Mbps.
- For the Leo Pro and Leo Nano customer terminals, Amazon overlaid transmit and receive phased array antennas to deliver high performance while reducing size—the first time that had been done in the Ka-band.
- Leo Ultra is the most powerful antenna in their lineup, specifically designed for demanding enterprise applications. It features advanced networking capabilities, including simultaneous upload and download capabilities and seamless integration with existing enterprise network infrastructure. The transmit and receive antennas are side by side to maximize performance and allow for full duplex operation, which means the antenna can simultaneously transmit and receive data at high speeds. Leo Ultra is engineered for the elements with a durable, weather-resistant design that can withstand high-and low temperatures, precipitation, and strong winds. Its sleek and integrated design eliminates moving parts while enabling rapid installation and reliable operation across a wide range of locations.
Amazon Leo will offer enterprise-grade features including easy-to-use network management tools, advanced encryption across the network, and 24/7 priority customer support. The service is designed to support critical business applications including real-time data processing, remote operations management, and secure communications for teams working in field locations. It also connects directly to Amazon Web Services (AWS), as well as other cloud and on-premise networks, allowing customers to securely move data from remote assets to private networks without touching the public internet. Amazon Leo will offer two primary private networking solutions:
- Direct to AWS: With Direct to AWS (D2A), AWS customers can connect directly to their cloud workloads using an AWS Transit Gateway or AWS Direct Connect Gateway through a point-and-click interface on the Amazon Leo web console, simplifying network management and lowering latency.
- Private Network Interconnect: Enterprises and telecommunications providers can also establish private network interconnects (PNI) at major colocation facilities to connect remote locations directly to their data center or core network, enabling Private Networking in days rather than the weeks or months typically required to deploy traditional private circuits.
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Quotes:
“Amazon Leo represents a massive opportunity for businesses operating in challenging environments,” said Chris Weber, vice president of consumer and enterprise business for Amazon Leo. “From our satellite and network design to our portfolio of high-performance phased array antennas, we’ve designed Amazon Leo to meet the needs of some of the most complex business and government customers out there, and we’re excited to provide them with the tools they need to transform their operations, no matter where they are in the world.”
An anonymous Amazon Leo spokesperson told Fierce Network, “We have a broad mix of customers, some of whom are also customers of AWS. We’ll expand service to more customers, including residential users, as we add coverage and capacity to the network in 2026. We’ll share details as we get closer to general availability.”
“We’ve made a ton of progress already this year with six successful missions sending more than 150 satellites to orbit; our next mission is coming up on December 15 to deploy another 27 satellites; and we’re processing satellites for the next missions after that. We need more satellites up before we can offer 24-hour coverage, and we expect to accelerate deployment in the coming months as we begin launching on new heavy-lift rockets like Vulcan, New Glenn and Ariane 6 that can carry more satellites per launch,” said the spokesperson.
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| Feature | Starlink (SpaceX) | Amazon Leo (Amazon) |
|---|---|---|
| Current Status | Fully operational, with a large, established customer base. | In an “enterprise preview” phase with select businesses; commercial rollout expected in 2026. |
| Satellites in Orbit | Over 9,000 satellites currently deployed. | Over 150 satellites currently deployed, with a goal of over 3,000. |
| Target Audience | Broad focus on consumers, rural users, businesses, aviation, and maritime. | Initial focus on enterprise, government, and telecom providers, with consumer service planned for later. |
| Max Speeds | Current median speeds around 200 Mbps for residential, higher for business plans (up to 400 Mbps+ with certain hardware). | Promises up to 1 Gbps download speeds with its enterprise-grade Leo Ultra antenna. |
| Differentiation | Known for its broad availability and relatively low-cost consumer hardware. | Emphasizes seamless integration with Amazon Web Services (AWS) and enhanced private networking features for business customers. |
- Technological Rivalry: The competition is fueled by a high-profile rivalry between founders Elon Musk (SpaceX) and Jeff Bezos (Amazon), whose separate space ventures also compete.
- Market Growth: The entry of Amazon Leo is expected to drive innovation and provide customers with more options, potentially driving down prices and improving services across the industry.
References:
https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/amazon-leo/amazon-leo-satellite-internet-ultra-pro
https://www.fierce-network.com/broadband/amazon-leo-previews-its-satellite-broadband-enterprises
NBN selects Amazon Project Kuiper over Starlink for LEO satellite internet service in Australia
Amazon launches first Project Kuiper satellites in direct competition with SpaceX/Starlink
Vodafone and Amazon’s Project Kuiper to extend 4G/5G in Africa and Europe
Amazon to Spend Billions on 38 Space Launches for Project Kuiper
Verizon partners with Amazon Project Kuiper to offer FWA in unconnected and underserved areas
FCC grants Amazon’s Kuiper license for NGSO satellite constellation for internet services
GEO satellite internet from HughesNet and Viasat can’t compete with LEO Starlink in speed or latency
Elon Musk: Starlink could become a global mobile carrier; 2 year timeframe for new smartphones
FCC: More competition for Starlink; freeing up spectrum for satellite broadband service
GSMA, ETSI, IEEE, ITU & TM Forum: AI Telco Troubleshooting Challenge + TelecomGPT: a dedicated LLM for telecom applications
The GSMA — along with ETSI, IEEE GenAINet, the ITU, and TM Forum — today opened an innovation challenge calling on telco operators, AI researchers, and startups to build large-language models (LLMs) capable of root-cause analysis (RCA) for telecom network faults. The AI Telco Troubleshooting Challenge is supported by Huawei, InterDigital, NextGCloud, RelationalAI, xFlowResearch and technical advisors from AT&T.
The new competition invites teams to submit AI models in three categories: Generalization to New Faults will assess the best performing LLMs for RCA; Small Models at the Edge will evaluate lightweight edge-deployable models; and Explainability/Reasoning will focus on the AI systems that clearly explain their reasoning. Additional categories will include securing edge-cloud deployments and enabling AI services for application developers.
The goal is to deliver AI tools that help operators automatically identify, diagnose, and (eventually) remediate network problems — potentially reducing both downtime and operational costs. This marks a concrete step toward turning “telco-AI” from pilot projects into operational infrastructure.
As telecom networks scale (5G, 5G-Advanced, edge, IoT), faults and failures become costlier. Automating fault detection and troubleshooting with AI could significantly boost network resilience, reduce manual labor, and enable faster recovery from outages.
“Large Language Models have become instrumental in the pursuit of autonomous, resilient and adaptive networks,” said Prof. Merouane Debbah, General Chair of IEEE GenAINet ETI. “Through this challenge, we are tackling core research and engineering challenges, such as generalisation to unseen network faults, interpretability and edge-efficient AI, that are vital for making AI-native telecom infrastructures a reality. IEEE GenAINet ETI is proud to support this initiative, which serves as a testbed for future-ready innovations across the global telco ecosystem.”
“ITU’s global AI challenges connect innovators with computing resources, datasets, and expert mentors to nurture AI innovation ecosystems worldwide,” said Seizo Onoe, Director of the ITU Telecommunication Standardization Bureau. “Crowdsourcing new solutions and creating conditions for them to scale, our challenges boost business by helping innovations achieve meaningful impact.”
“The future of telecoms depends on the autonomation of network resiliency – shifting from static infrastructure to AI-driven, context-aware, self-optimising networks. TM Forum’s AI-Native Blueprint provides the architectural foundation to make this reality, and the AI Telco Troubleshooting Challenge aligns perfectly to support the industry in moving beyond isolated pilots to production-grade resilient autonomation,” said Guy Lupo, AI and Data Mission lead at TM Forum.
The initiative builds on recent breakthroughs in applying AI to network operations, leveraging curated datasets such as TeleLogs and benchmarking frameworks developed by GSMA and its partners under the GSMA Open-Telco LLM Benchmarks community, which includes a leaderboard that highlights how various LLMs perform on telco-specific use cases.
“Network faults cost operators millions annually and root cause analysis is a critical pain point for operators,” said Louis Powell, Director of AI Technologies at GSMA. “By harnessing AI models capable of reasoning and diagnosing unseen faults, the industry can dramatically improve reliability and reduce operational costs. Through this challenge, we aim to accelerate the development of LLMs that combine reasoning, efficiency and scalability.”
“We are encouraged by the upside of this challenge after our team at AT&T fine-tuned a 4-billion-parameter small language model that topped all other evaluated models on the GSMA Open-Telco LLM Benchmarks (TeleLogs RCA task), including frontier models such as GPT-5, Claude Sonnet 4.5 and Grok-4,” said Andy Markus, Chief Data Officer at AT&T. “This challenge has the right mix of an important business problem and a technical opportunity, and we welcome the industry’s collaboration to take it to the next level.”
The AI Telco Troubleshooting Challenge is open for submissions on the 28th November and it closes on 1st February 2026, with the winners announced at a dedicated prize-giving session at MWC26 Barcelona.
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Separately, the GSMA Foundry and Khalifa University announced a strategic collaboration to develop “TelecomGPT,” a dedicated LLM for telecom applications, plus an Open-Telco Knowledge Graph based on 3GPP specifications.
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These assets are intended to help the industry overcome limitations of general-purpose LLMs, which often struggle with telecom-specific technical contexts. PR Newswire+2Mobile World Live+2
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The plan: make TelecomGPT and related knowledge tools available for operators, vendors and researchers to accelerate AI-driven telco innovations. PR Newswire+1
Why it matters: A specialized “telco-native” LLM could improve automation, operations, R&D and standardization efforts — for example, helping operators configure networks, analyze logs, or build AI-powered services. It represents a shift toward embedding AI more deeply into core telecom infrastructure and operations.
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About GSMA
The GSMA is a global organization unifying the mobile ecosystem to discover, develop and deliver innovation foundational to positive business environments and societal change. Our vision is to unlock the full power of connectivity so that people, industry, and society thrive. Representing mobile operators and organizations across the mobile ecosystem and adjacent industries, the GSMA delivers for its members across three broad pillars: Connectivity for Good, Industry Services and Solutions, and Outreach. This activity includes advancing policy, tackling today’s biggest societal challenges, underpinning the technology and interoperability that make mobile work, and providing the world’s largest platform to convene the mobile ecosystem at the MWC and M360 series of events.
We invite you to find out more at gsma.com
About ETSI
ETSI is one of only three bodies officially recognized by the European Union as a European Standards Organization (ESO). It is an independent, not-for-profit body dedicated to ICT standardisation. With over 900 member organizations from more than 60 countries across five continents, ETSI offers an open and inclusive environment for members representing large and small private companies, research institutions, academia, governments, and public organizations. ETSI supports the timely development, ratification, and testing of globally applicable standards for ICT‑enabled systems, applications, and services across all sectors of industry and society. More on: etsi.org
About IEEE GenAINet
The aim of the IEEE Large Generative AI Models in Telecom Emerging Technology Initiative (GenAINet ETI) is to create a dynamic platform of research and innovation for academics, researchers, and industry leaders to advance the research on large generative AI in Telecom, through collaborative efforts across various disciplines, including mathematics, information theory, wireless communications, signal processing, networking, artificial intelligence, and more. More on: https://genainet.committees.comsoc.org
About ITU
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is the United Nations agency for digital technologies, driving innovation for people and the planet with 194 Member States and a membership of over 1,000 companies, universities, civil society, and international and regional organizations. Established in 1865, ITU coordinates the global use of the radio spectrum and satellite orbits, establishes international technology standards, drives universal connectivity and digital services, and is helping to make sure everyone benefits from sustainable digital transformation, including the most remote communities. From artificial intelligence (AI) to quantum, from satellites and submarine cables to advanced mobile and wireless broadband networks, ITU is committed to connecting the world and beyond. Learn more: www.itu.int
About TM Forum
TM Forum is an alliance of over 800 organizations spanning the global connectivity ecosystem, including the world’s top ten Communication Service Providers (CSPs), top three hyperscalers and Network Equipment Providers (NEPs), vendors, consultancies and system integrators, large and small. We provide a place for our Members to collaborate, innovate, and deliver lasting change. Together, we are building a sustainable future for the industry in connectivity and beyond. To find out more, visit: www.tmforum.org
References:
The AI Telco Troubleshooting Challenge Launches to Transform Network Reliability
AI Telco Troubleshooting Challenge global launch webinar
GSMA Vision 2040 study identifies spectrum needs during the peak 6G era of 2035–2040
Gartner: Gen AI nearing trough of disillusionment; GSMA survey of network operator use of AI
Google Cloud announces TalayLink subsea cable and new connectivity hubs in Thailand and Australia
In yet another example of hyperscaler all inclusive infrastructure design and development, Google Cloud has announced plans for a new subsea system, TalayLink, which will connect Australia to Thailand. It’s part of the company’s wider Australia Connect initiative to expand infrastructure across the Indo-Pacific. While Google has not provided a firm completion date, the company confirmed that TalayLink, alongside planned connectivity hubs in the Maldives and Christmas Island, will form a critical, resilient network backbone connecting Australia, Southeast Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.
- Mandurah, Western Australia: This facility provides essential network diversity, acting as a resilient alternative to existing landing points near Perth.
- South Thailand: Strategically located at a major subsea cable crossroads, this hub will be developed in partnership with AIS, with International Gateway Company (IGC), a subsidiary of ALT Telecom, managing the cable landing specifics.
In addition to the TalayLink subsea cable system, Google announced plans for new connectivity hubs in Western Australia (Mandurah) and South Thailand. These strategic investments are designed to future-proof regional connectivity and accelerate the delivery of advanced digital and AI services through cable switching, content caching, and colocation capabilities. The Mandurah connectivity hub will establish a diverse landing point from Perth, where the majority of existing subsea cables currently land in Western Australia. In South Thailand, an established crossroads for subsea cables, we are partnering with colocation provider AIS to accelerate our deployment and benefit from existing local infrastructure investments.
“The TalayLink cable will serve as a pivotal piece of digital infrastructure, enhancing Thailand’s connectivity and resilience. Together with Google’s upcoming Google Cloud region and data center in Thailand, these forward‑looking investments will significantly expand regional network and computing capacity, while firmly positioning Thailand as a critical digital gateway for next‑generation cloud and AI innovation in Southeast Asia. The Thailand Board of Investment (BOI) is fully committed to supporting Google’s investment in Thailand, fostering the growth of the nation’s digital economy, and advancing digital skills to ensure inclusive and sustainable development.” – Narit Therdsteerasukdi, Secretary General, Thailand Board of Investment (BOI).
“AIS is excited to be extending our relationship with Google as a strategic partner by supporting the connectivity hub in Southern Thailand. The combination of Google’s new, diverse submarine cable path and AIS’s high-reliability colocation capabilities will ensure the digital infrastructure in the region is capable of supporting the country’s AI strategy.” – Pratthana Leelapanang Chief Executive Officer, AIS
“International Gateway Company (IGC), a subsidiary of ALT Telecom PLC, is delighted to be a key Google partner in landing a new submarine cable in Thailand. IGC brings to the project its extensive experience operating a nationwide network and international cable gateway. This cable is an important new piece of digital infrastructure that will accelerate Thailand’s ambitious digital economy development strategy.” – Preeyaporn Tangpaosak, President, ALT Telecom
When they’re complete, TalayLink and the connectivity hubs will support network resilience across Australia, Africa and Southeast Asia. When combined with our previously announced connectivity hubs in the Maldives and Christmas Island, these investments will provide onward connectivity across the Indian Ocean and beyond to the Middle East.
This new cable and our regional connectivity hubs will directly support Western Australia’s roadmap to secure a safe, inclusive digital future, as well as the Royal Thai Government’s objective of economic transformation through AI and digital inclusion. We are excited to contribute to the economic and social growth across Australia, Thailand and Southeast Asia through resilient, reliable internet infrastructure.
Google’s Bosun subsea cable to link Darwin, Australia to Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean
Google’s Equiano subsea cable lands in Namibia en route to Cape Town, South Africa
NTT Data and Google Cloud partner to offer industry-specific cloud and AI solutions
Google Cloud targets telco network functions, while AWS and Azure are in holding patterns
Deutsche Telekom and Google Cloud partner on “RAN Guardian” AI agent
Ericsson and Google Cloud expand partnership with Cloud RAN solution
TechCrunch: Meta to build $10 billion Subsea Cable to manage its global data traffic
Orange Deploys Infinera’s GX Series to Power AMITIE Subsea Cable
GSMA Vision 2040 study identifies spectrum needs during the peak 6G era of 2035–2040
According to a recent GSMA Vision 2040 study, many cities worldwide could face capacity limitations by 2030 if mid-band spectrum availability does not increase, impacting over half of the global urban population. Strategic long-term planning for future wireless generations like 6G is necessary, as device and equipment development can take over a decade, with 6G expected to account for roughly 5 billion connections by 2040 while 4G and 5G remain prevalent. The GSMA’s modeling forecasts a significant rise in traffic, potentially reaching 4,000 EB/month by 2040 in a high-growth scenario driven by AI-enabled applications. The report’s analysis shows that countries must act now to secure enough spectrum for 6G, or risk slower speeds, rising congestion and lost economic opportunity in the 2030s.The GSMA cautions that without early government planning, consumers could face poorer connectivity, businesses may struggle to adopt new technologies, and national digital economies could lose competitiveness in the global transition to 6G.
“Next-generation 6G networks will require up to three times more mid-band spectrum than is typically available today to keep pace with surging demand for data, AI-powered services and advanced digital applications, according to new analysis published today by the GSMA, which represents the mobile ecosystem worldwide.”
John Giusti, Chief Regulatory Officer, GSMA:
“This study shows that the 6G era will require three times more mid-band spectrum than is available today. Satisfying these spectrum requirements will support robust and sustainable connectivity, deliver digital ambitions and help economies grow. I hope this report provides useful insights to governments as they strive to meet the connectivity needs of their citizens in the coming decade.”
Long-Term Spectrum Planning Underpins Enterprise Strategy:
Planning for 6G requires a substantial lead time; the report highlights that device ecosystem readiness and equipment development cycles often span a decade or more. Telecom operators must finalize decisions regarding fiber backhaul, Radio Access Network (RAN) upgrades, and site acquisitions years before new services go live. Enterprises developing AI-driven products or advanced mobility services rely heavily on this network predictability.
The report’s modeling suggests 6G will account for roughly 5 billion connections by 2040—approximately half of all global mobile connections. However, 4G and 5G will remain heavily utilized, particularly in emerging markets, making immediate spectrum re-farming impractical. Operators will increasingly rely on multi-RAT spectrum sharing (MRSS) to manage parallel generations of mobile technology. While MRSS offers improved efficiency over current dynamic spectrum sharing methods, coexistence introduces inherent operational complexity.
AI, Sensing, and the Power User Dynamic:
Demand is shifting toward intelligence-driven workloads, resulting in projected traffic growth across all GSMA scenarios. Even the most conservative projection forecasts 10% annual growth between 2030 and 2040, reaching 1,700 EB/month. The high-growth scenario predicts 4,000 EB/month, driven largely by AI-enabled applications.
The report identifies four primary channels through which Artificial Intelligence will impact traffic:
- New applications: including multimodal assistants.
- Performance demands: higher requirements for existing experiences like personalized video.
- Increased time online.
- Efficiency gains: some optimization through compression.
Enterprises implementing AI assistants, high-definition video, or hybrid cloud-edge processing will contribute significantly to this shift, requiring a focus on increased uplink demand.
A key behavioral finding is that 10% of users currently generate 60-70% of mobile traffic. As digitally-native generations mature, these usage patterns will become mainstream. Enterprise solutions for mobility, frontline workers, and customer engagement must be architected to handle these higher sustained uplink and downlink loads.
Geospatial analysis shows that 83% of traffic is concentrated in 5% of geographic areas. Dense-urban traffic can be nearly 700x higher per square kilometer than in rural areas. For enterprises operating in high-demand zones (e.g., logistics hubs, retail corridors, public venues), the localized performance of RAN deployments will determine service reliability and efficacy.
Mid-Band Spectrum as 6G’s Anchor Capability:
The GSMA study asserts that dense-urban areas will require 2-3 GHz of mid-band spectrum globally by 2035-2040, increasing to 2.5-4 GHz in higher-demand markets. Many regions currently provide only around 1 GHz, necessitating an additional 1-3 GHz allocation. The report stresses that at least 2 GHz must be operational by 2030 to prevent early 6G rollouts from facing immediate congestion.
This additional spectrum capacity enables several critical 6G capabilities:
- Low latency: Wide channels required for sub-10 ms latency supporting digital twins and real-time sensors.
- Balanced performance: Symmetrical uplink/downlink performance for real-time bi-directionality.
- Efficiency: Efficient reuse of existing bands via MRSS.
- Optimized deployment: Reduced reliance on mmWave, which is not economical for wide-area traffic coverage.
Operational Constraints to Manage:
- Densification Limits: Most urban networks operate optimally within inter-site distances of 200-800m. Further densification introduces rapidly escalating costs, making spectrum acquisition a more scalable solution.
- mmWave Role: Millimeter wave (mmWave) remains a supplementary technology, suitable for localized capacity but limited to carrying 5-10% of dense-urban traffic; it does not replace mid-band for wide-area coverage.
- Wi-Fi Offload: Due to its unmanaged nature, Wi-Fi offload cannot deliver the predictable performance guarantees required for mission-critical 6G-era applications.
- Gradual Re-farming: With 4G and 5G still prevalent through 2040, MRSS is essential for balancing capacity across generations of radio technology.
Recommendations for Telecoms Companies:
Telecom operators should develop a long-term spectrum roadmap informed by these findings, prioritizing 2-3 GHz globally, with targets up to 4 GHz in high-demand markets. Key actions include:
- Prioritize 6 GHz: Focus on the upper 6 GHz band, which offers approximately 700 MHz of new capacity between 6.425-7.125 GHz.
- Integrate MRSS: Build multi-RAT spectrum sharing into core network design to balance 4G, 5G, and 6G operations.
- Model Uplink Demands: Plan for greater asymmetric demands driven by future uplink-heavy workloads (e.g., enterprise AI, sensing).
- Address Vertical Needs: Prepare specific service level agreements (SLAs) for verticals such as manufacturing, transport, and retail that require guaranteed latency and reliability.
- Evaluate Densification: Utilize densification strategically in high-value, targeted areas rather than as a broad replacement for acquiring additional spectrum.
Conclusions:
Spectrum policy directly translates to concrete operational outcomes. A city or nation’s ability to deliver reliable 6G performance will be a key determinant of future economic growth and service innovation. For both telecom operators and enterprise technology leaders, aligning current investment strategies with critical spectrum decisions is essential for defining next-generation connectivity infrastructure. The full study is available on the GSMA Intelligence website.
Editor’s Note:
ITU-R is the SDO (Standards Development Organization) that defines the framework, requirements, and evaluation criteria for IMT-2030 (6G) systems, which includes identifying the necessary spectrum. The WRC-23 identified key frequency ranges (e.g., 4400-4800 MHz, 7125-8400 MHz, and 14.8-15.35 GHz) for further study for IMT-2030 under a WRC-27 agenda item.
After WRC determines the IMT 2030 frequencies, ITU-R WP 5D will develop a recommendation for IMT 2030 Frequency Arrangements, just as it did for IMT 2020, but it was delayed due to bickering and only was finalized after the ITU-R M.2150 recommendation (IMT 2020 RIT/SRITs) was approved. Specifically, ITU-R M.1036-7 provides harmonized frequency bands to facilitate global roaming and economies of scale, while acknowledging that specific national band plans may vary due to existing services.
References:
https://www.telecomstechnews.com/news/the-spectrum-decisions-shaping-gsma-6g-era-report/
Big 5G Conference: 6G spectrum sharing should learn from CBRS experiences
India’s TRAI releases Recommendations on use of Tera Hertz Spectrum for 6G
WRC-23 concludes with decisions on low-band/mid-band spectrum and 6G (?)
https://www.itu.int/en/ITU-R/study-groups/rsg5/rwp5d/imt-2030/pages/default.aspx
Do ITU Radio Regulations Matter? China allocates 6 GHz spectrum for 5G and 6G services prior to WRC 23; CTIA objects!
Gartner: Gen AI nearing trough of disillusionment; GSMA survey of network operator use of AI
GSMA: China’s 5G market set to top 1 billion this year
Highlights of GSMA study: Mobile Net Zero 2024, State of the Industry on Climate Action
GSMA- ESA to collaborate on on new satellite and terrestrial network technologies
GSMA: Closing the digital divide in Central Asia and the South Caucasus
Dell’Oro: RAN market stable, Mobile Core Network market +14% Y/Y with 72 5G SA core networks deployed
A recently published report from Dell’Oro Group notes that after two years of steep declines, initial estimates show that total Radio Access Network (RAN) revenue—including baseband, radio hardware, and software, excluding services—was flat outside of China and up when excluding North America.
“The nearly stable results for the 1Q25-3Q25 period bolster the flat growth thesis we have communicated for some time, reflecting the current state of the 5G network,” said Stefan Pongratz, Vice President of RAN market research at the Dell’Oro Group. “While near-term RAN expectations remain muted, some of the leading RAN suppliers are still cautiously optimistic that more investments are needed over the long-term to ensure the networks evolve from a connectivity pipe into an intelligence grid,” Pongratz added.
Additional highlights from the 3Q 2025 RAN report:
- In the quarter, growth in EMEA was nearly enough to offset declining revenue in North America and the Asia Pacific regions.
- The top 5 RAN suppliers, based on worldwide revenues for the 1Q25-3Q25 period, are Huawei, Ericsson, Nokia, ZTE, and Samsung.
- Market is becoming more concentrated—the top five suppliers accounted for 96 percent of the 1Q25-3Q25 RAN market, up from 95 percent in 2024.
- Huawei and Ericsson’s worldwide RAN revenue share improved for the 1Q25-3Q25 period relative to 2024.
- Huawei and Nokia’s RAN revenue share outside of North America improved for the 1Q25-3Q25 period relative to 2024.
- The short-term outlook remains unchanged, with total RAN expected to remain mostly stable in 2026.
Dell’Oro Group’s RAN Quarterly Report offers a complete overview of the RAN industry, with tables covering manufacturers’ and market revenue for multiple RAN segments including 5G NR Sub-7 GHz, 5G NR mmWave, LTE, macro base stations and radios, small cells, Massive MIMO, Open RAN, and vRAN. The report also tracks the RAN market by region and includes a four-quarter outlook. To purchase this report, please contact us by email at [email protected].
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Another recent Dell’Oro Group report reveals that the Mobile Core Network (MCN) market revenue outside China surged 14% year-over-year (Y/Y) in 3Q 2025. Twelve Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) have now selected to move forward with 5G-Advanced (the marketing term used for the next phases of 3GPP’s 5G specs, which started with Release 18 and continues with Release 19 and beyond).
“The Chinese market experienced abnormally high growth in 3Q 2024. As a result, the China market revenue declined 39 percent Y/Y for 3Q 2025,” stated Dave Bolan, Research Director at Dell’Oro Group. “The revenue for all the other regions increased, between 9 percent and 17 percent Y/Y, resulting in a worldwide revenue decline of 2 percent Y/Y. As noted, revenue worldwide excluding China rose 14 percent Y/Y, continuing the trend in subscribers migrating to 5G Standalone (5G SA), and revenue worldwide excluding North America declined 5 percent Y/Y.
“MNOs are moving forward with 5G SA (72 in our last count) and moving forward to take advantage of monetization opportunities. Network Slicing announcements continued. Of note is Reliance Jio (India), which announced 10 network slices with guaranteed service level agreements (SLAs) at scale. In October, T-Mobile launched Edge Control, providing enterprises with what Dell’Oro Group refers to as an MNO-provided Mobile Private Network (MPN). This is in response to the challenges of implementing 5G SA Private Wireless networks in the shared CBRS spectrum in the US.
“We have identified 12 MNOs that have commercially launched 5G-Advanced networks (not all this quarter), to take 5G to the next level with new features and performance. MNOs include: China Mobile, China Telecom, China Unicom, CTM (Macau), Du (UAE), e& (UAE), HKT (Hong Kong), Singtel (Singapore), Telstra (Australia), T-Mobile (USA), YTL (Malaysia), and Zain (Kuwait),” added Bolan.
Additional highlights from the 3Q 2025 Mobile Core Network and Multi-Access Edge Computing Report include:
- Region rankings were: EMEA; Asia Pacific, excluding China; China and North America tied; CALA.
- Vendor rankings (with more than 5 percent share) were: Huawei, Ericsson, Nokia, and ZTE.
The Dell’Oro Group Mobile Core Network & Multi-Access Edge Computing Quarterly Report offers complete, in-depth coverage of the market with tables covering manufacturers’ revenue, shipments, and average selling prices for Traditional Packet Core, Evolved Packet Core, 5G Packet Core, Policy, Subscriber Data Management, Signaling, Circuit Switched Core, and IMS Core by geographic regions. To purchase this report, please contact us at [email protected].
About Dell’Oro Group:
Dell’Oro Group is a market research firm that specializes in strategic competitive analysis in the telecommunications, security, enterprise networks, and data center infrastructure markets. Our firm provides in-depth quantitative data and qualitative analysis to facilitate critical, fact-based business decisions.
For more information, contact Dell’Oro Group at +1.650.622.9400 or visit https://www.delloro.com.
References:
MCN Market Up 14 Percent Outside China in 3Q 2025, According to Dell’Oro Group
Market research firms Omdia and Dell’Oro: impact of 6G and AI investments on telcos
Omdia on resurgence of Huawei: #1 RAN vendor in 3 out of 5 regions; RAN market has bottomed
Omdia: Huawei increases global RAN market share due to China hegemony
Dell’Oro Group: RAN Market Grows Outside of China in 2Q 2025
Dell’Oro: RAN revenue growth in 1Q2025; AI RAN is a conundrum
Dell’Oro: Global RAN Market to Drop 21% between 2021 and 2029
Dell’Oro: RAN market still declining with Huawei, Ericsson, Nokia, ZTE and Samsung top vendors
Highlights of Dell’Oro’s 5-year RAN forecast
Dell’Oro: 2023 global telecom equipment revenues declined 5% YoY; Huawei increases its #1 position
Dell’Oro & Omdia: Global RAN market declined in 2023 and again in 2024
Dell’Oro: Mobile Core Network market has lowest growth rate since 4Q 2017
Dell’Oro: Mobile Core Network market driven by 5G SA networks in China
Dell’Oro: Mobile Core Network Market 5 Year Forecast
Dell’Oro: AI RAN to account for 1/3 of RAN market by 2029; AI RAN Alliance membership increases but few telcos have joined
Highlights of Ericsson’s Mobility Report – November 2025
The latest issue of the Ericsson Mobility Report states that 5G subscriptions now account for one-third of total mobile subscriptions. Mobile network data traffic grew slightly more than expected – 20 percent between Q3 2024 and Q3 2025. As 5G evolves, service providers are increasingly exploring innovative use cases and new monetization opportunities such as offering differentiated connectivity services and modernizing enterprise IT with 5G.
After many years of hype, network slicing, which requires a 5G SA core network, is finally gaining market traction with 33 communications service providers now offering variations of the technology. Of the 118 network slicing cases discovered by Ericsson’s researchers, 65 have moved beyond proof of concept and into commercial services, either as standalone subscription services or as add-on packages for consumer or business customers. Ericsson attributes this growth spurt to more widespread deployment of 5G SA core networks.
Looking further ahead, the 6G RAN standardization process has begun in 3GPP and ITU-R WP5D, with the first commercial launches expected in front-runner markets.
–>However, there has been no work initiated on the 6G core network in either 3GPP or ItU-T.
Ericsson’s report says the U.S., Japan, South Korea, China, India and some Gulf Cooperation Council countries are the 6G leaders. Global 6G subscriptions are likely to reach 180 million by the end of 2031, the report predicts.
We think that forecast is highly unlikely as the IMT 2030 (6G) RIT/SRITs recommendation won’t be completed till the end of 2030 with initial deployments sometime in 2031.
References:
https://www.ericsson.com/en/reports-and-papers/mobility-report/reports/november-2025
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Nokia in major pivot from traditional telecom to AI, cloud infrastructure, data center networking and 6G
At its Capital Markets Day 2025 today, Nokia announced a new strategy to position itself to lead in the AI-driven transformation of networks and capture the value of the AI supercycle. Nokia also has new long-term financial targets, strategic KPIs for the business, an evolution of its operating model and changes to its Group Leadership Team. To execute on its new strategic direction, Nokia is simplifying its operational model into two primary operating segments of 1.] Network Infrastructure and 2.] Mobile Infrastructure.
These changes are intended to put Nokia on a stronger path to innovate, serve its customers and create shareholder value. The company now targets to grow its annual comparable operating profit to a range of EUR 2.7 to 3.2 billion by 2028.
The new strategy will focus on the following five strategic priorities:
- Accelerate growth in AI & Cloud
- Lead the next era of mobile connectivity with AI-native networks and 6G
- Grow by co-innovating with customers and partners
- Focus capital where Nokia can differentiate
- Unlock sustainable returns
Nokia will reorganize its business into two primary operating segments to better align to customer needs and accelerate innovation as AI increases demand for advanced connectivity. This reorganization will take effect as of 1 January 2026. “Nokia changed the world once by connecting people — and will again by connecting intelligence,” said Justin Hotard, President and CEO of Nokia. “As the trusted western provider of secure and advanced connectivity, our technology is powering the AI supercycle. From fixed to mobile infrastructure we are developing technology that accelerates value for our customers. I am proud of the work Team Nokia is doing to focus and lead this critical era in connectivity.”
The reorganization recognizes Network Infrastructure as a growth segment, positioned to capitalize on the rapid, global AI and data center build-out while continuing to innovate for its telecommunications customer base. The segment will continue to be led by David Heard and consists of three business units Optical Networks, IP Networks and Fixed Networks.
The new Mobile Infrastructure segment will bring together Nokia’s Core Networks portfolio, Radio Networks portfolio and Technology Standards, formerly Nokia Technologies. It will be positioned for core and radio network technology and services leadership to lead the industry to AI-native networks and 6G. The new segment brings together a portfolio whose value creation is founded on mobile communication technologies based on 3GPP standards with a strong cash flow position underpinned by IP licensing. It will be led by Nokia CEO Justin Hotard on an interim basis and will consist of three business units Core Software, Radio Networks and Technology Standards.
Nokia is announcing additional changes in its leadership team, effective January 1, 2026. Raghav Sahgal will take the position of Nokia’s Chief Customer Officer, and will continue in the Group Leadership Team, driving a seamless customer experience for Nokia’s customers. Patrik Hammarén will continue in the Group Leadership Team as President, Technology Standards, formerly Nokia Technologies, reflecting the significant value technology standards creates for Nokia. In addition, Tommi Uitto will step down from the Group Leadership Team, effective 31 December.
Nokia plans to move the following non-core business units into Portfolio Businesses. Nokia plans to determine the future of these units by the end of 2026, which may include selling them off.
- Fixed Wireless Access CPE (currently in Fixed Networks in Network Infrastructure)
- Site Implementation and Outside Plant (currently in Fixed Networks in Network Infrastructure)
- Enterprise Campus Edge (currently in Cloud and Network Services)
- Microwave Radio (currently in Mobile Networks)
Nokia Defense is being launched as an incubation unit to serve as the central go-to-market and R&D hub for Nokia’s defense portfolio. Building on the strong foundation of Nokia Federal Solutions in the US, the company sees further opportunities in the US, Finland and other allied countries to deliver defense-grade solutions based on Nokia’s core technologies in Network and Mobile infrastructure.
Nokia is introducing a series of strategic Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) which best illustrate the expected outcomes of Nokia’s strategy. These KPIs for the business are not part of the group level financial outlook.
- Net sales growth in Network Infrastructure: Nokia targets 6-8% net sales CAGR during 2025-2028. This includes a 10-12% target for the combined Optical Networks and IP Networks.
- Network Infrastructure operating margin: 13% to 17% by 2028
- Mobile Infrastructure gross margin: 48-50% by 2028
- Mobile Infrastructure operating profit: Grow from a base of EUR 1.5 billion
- Group Common and Other operating expenses: EUR 150 million operating expenses down from the current EUR 350 million run-rate by 2028.
- Free cash flow conversion: Nokia targets to deliver free cash flow conversion from comparable operating profit of between 65% and 75%.
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Comment and Analysis:
The restructure is Nokia’s biggest announcement since October’s news that Nvidia made a $1 billion investment in the the company to develop AI-RAN (Radio Access Network) products and 6G platforms.
Nokia has been making sizable strides into the data center networking, leveraging Hotard’s expertise at Intel where he headed their data center group:
- The Finland headquartered vendor became the primary networking partner for Nscale, the ambitious data center at the center of OpenAI’s Stargate buildout in Europe.
- Nokia also introduced a new family of high-performance 7220 IXR-H6 data center switches, capable of 102.4 Terabits per second throughput with 1.6 Terabit Ethernet interface speeds. These switches are designed to meet the demands of large-scale AI data centers (up to one million XPUs) and are compliant with Ultra Ethernet Consortium (UEC) specifications.
- The company has enhanced its Event-Driven Automation (EDA) platform with new AIOps (AI for IT Operations) features, including a natural language chatbot called “AskEDA” to aid network troubleshooting and automation, which can reduce downtime by up to 96%.
- Acquisition of optical networking equipment vendor Infinera Corp which specializes in data center interconnect.
- Nokia launched an “Autonomous Network Fabric” to accelerate network automation using a library of telco-trained AI models and integrated security.
- Nokia is using AI-powered solutions, such as its MantaRay Energy software and “extreme deep sleep mode” in 5G radios, to optimize energy consumption in mobile networks, aiming for “zero energy use at zero traffic.
The new product strategy, effective January 1, 2026, will center around two primary, simplified operating segments:
1. Network Infrastructure
- Product Focus: Optical Networks, IP Networks, and Fixed Networks.
- Strategic Goal: Accelerate growth in AI & Cloud and drive innovation in data center networking and high-capacity transport solutions. The company aims for 6-8% annual sales growth in this segment from 2025 to 2028.
- Key Initiative: A major $1 billion partnership with Nvidia to enhance network capabilities, highlighting the AI focus.
- Product Focus: Core Software, Radio Networks, and Technology Standards (formerly Nokia Technologies).
- Strategic Goal: Lead the industry toward “AI-native networks” and the development of 6G technology, building on existing and future 3GPP specs and ITU-R IMT 2030 recommendations (standards).
Comment: Since IMT 2030 (6G) RIT/SRITs standards won’t be completed till the end of 2030, there will be a long lead time to revenue and profitability in Nokia’s mobile infrastructure segment. Furthermore, its AI RAN efforts face substantial resistance from wireless telcos who would be the main customers of that niche technology.
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About Nokia:
Nokia is a global leader in connectivity for the AI era. With expertise across fixed, mobile, and transport networks, powered by the innovation of Nokia Bell Labs.
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References:
https://www.datacenterdynamics.com/en/news/nokia-cleans-house-in-full-ai-data-center-pivot/
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Highlights of 2025 Broadband Nation Expo: Comcast, T-Mobile keynotes + selected quotes
Over 100 ISPs from across the U.S., vendors in the broadband ecosystem, organizations and more gathered in Orlando, FL November 17-19th for the TIA’s annual Broadband Nation Expo, to talk about the challenges of delivering broadband today. Keynote speakers discussed topics including Comcast’s 10G network technologies and AI, T-Mobile’s fixed wireless access strategy, AT&T’s fiber expansion, and Google’s use of AI in data center innovation.
- Future-proofing the network: Strategies for evolving existing broadband infrastructure to meet increasing demands from emerging technologies like AI, advanced streaming, and more.
- 10G technology and multigigabit speeds: Nafshi discussed progress and plans for delivering multigigabit upload and download speeds to millions of Americans using this standard.
- Network resilience: Insights into how Comcast is building a more resilient network to keep communities connected, particularly in the face of severe weather events.
- Innovation and strategy: Leading with purpose and innovation in the era of the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program.
- Core-to-edge intelligence: The integration of artificial intelligence and a robust fiber backbone to create a smarter, faster, and more reliable connectivity experience for customers.
Comcast is using artificial intelligence (AI) to create a “smarter,” self-healing 10G network, emphasizing distributed AI at the network edge to improve customer experience and network reliability. He noted that investments in 10G technologies like DOCSIS 4.0 and next-generation amplifiers are aimed at future-proofing the network for anticipated data usage growth. In particular. Comcast applies AI at various levels of its 10G network for automation, self-healing, performance optimization, and cybersecurity. This approach is designed to create a “smarter” and more resilient network, with a focus on real-time, distributed intelligence at the network’s edge.
- Predictive maintenance: Using AI and machine learning (ML), the network can analyze performance data to identify issues before they impact customers, reducing the time needed for repairs. The network also automatically detects when a customer’s modem is offline and analyzes the data to determine the cause of the outage.
- Capacity scaling: The Octave platform uses AI to automatically increase network capacity in areas experiencing unexpected spikes in data traffic, such as during live-streamed events.
- Traffic rerouting: AI agents can perform large-scale tasks like automatically rerouting data traffic around fiber cuts to prevent service interruptions.
- Automated deployment: With its AI and ML capabilities, Comcast automates over 99.7% of all software changes on the network, which also helps prevent human-caused errors.
- In-home WiFi optimization: Every hour, AI analyzes thousands of data points from millions of network devices to enhance in-home WiFi performance. The xFi platform also uses AI to dynamically optimize home WiFi based on user behavior and signal interference.
- Outage restoration: AI helps accelerate recovery efforts during extreme weather by detecting mass outages faster, pinpointing the cause, and identifying where technicians are needed most.
- Threat mitigation: AI agents are being trialed to identify cyber threats and take proactive measures to mitigate them, providing end-to-end cybersecurity protection.
- Optimized power usage: AI agents can also optimize power usage in the network based on spikes and lulls in data consumption.
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II. T-Mobile Chief Broadband Officer Allan Samson said the “uncarrier” has gained sizable 5G FWA market share in urban markets (it’s offered in Santa Clara, CA- hometown of this author). 70% of T-Mobile’s FWA activations come from the “top 100” U.S. cities and approximately 65% of fixed wireless sales per quarter happen in suburban and urban markets.
Samson said improved quality of service is one reason more people in urban areas are drawn to FWA, touting T-Mobile’s average FWA download speed sits at 239 Mbps and latency has decreased to about 34 milliseconds. T-Mobile has now converted every fixed wireless customer to a standalone 5G core network (specified by 3GPP). “From a technology perspective, this so-called cell phone quality internet has not only made a lot of progress but has so much more room to run in terms of the innovation,” Samson added.
He admitted T-Mobile’s lack of expertise in fiber optic networks: “Our approach is real simple. We don’t build wireline networks, you’ve got to know what you’re not good at,” he said. Hence T-Mobile’s decision to acquire both Lumos and Metronet. Samson said T-Mobile expects to close 2025 with “well north of 3 million homes passed” and “hopefully about 900,000 to a million customers.”
Selected Quotes:
Dr. Dong Hao, market technology development manager, Optical Communications at Corning, told a breakfast session about Meta’s 1 million GPU data center campus in Louisiana. “It’s so gigantic that it’s going to consume 8 million miles of optical fiber in that data center, alone,” he said. “How do you manufacture that? We are dealing with the capacity crunch. It’s a high-priority issue.”
In the age of AI….Robin Olds, senior business development manager, Broadband Program Office, Americas Service Provider, from Cisco, said that service providers are getting more comfortable with AI in the network, given rising costs. “Trusting the networks to make changes on the fly – that is a really hard thing for humans to do, but providers are starting to look at that to save time and money.”
“It’s about getting smarter networks, not just faster networks,” said Jeff Brown, senior director, Segment Marketing, Calix, said during a panel on access technologies.
Mike Lubin, senior advisor and VP at ViaSat thinks LEO satellite transport will emerge as FWA backhaul “in the interim” until fiber or another optical communications technology comes along. Some combination of satellite and FWA is “going to be the paradigm” for connecting about 2.6 billion unconnected folks globally.
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Point Topic: Global Broadband Subscribers in Q2 2025: 5G FWA, DSL, satellite and FTTP
U.S. BEAD overhaul to benefit Starlink/SpaceX at the expense of fiber broadband providers
Broadband Forum new work areas to enable broadband services & apps
UK’s CityFibre launches 5.5Gbit/s wholesale broadband service- 3 times faster than BT Openreach
Google Fiber and Nokia demo network slicing for home broadband in GFiber Labs
ITU’s Facts and Figures 2025 report: steady progress in Internet connectivity, but gaps in quality and affordability
Overview:
The world’s online population grew by more than 240 million people in 2025, according to a new ITU Facts and Figures 2025 report. The new estimates confirm continuing progress in expanding digital connectivity, while pointing to differences in quality that impact how users benefit from Internet use. Globally, an estimated 6 billion people – about three-quarters of the world’s population – are using the Internet in 2025, up from a revised estimate of 5.8 billion in 2024. However, 2.2 billion people remain offline, down from a revised estimate of 2.3 billion in 2024. Overall, the report’s findings underline the importance of digital infrastructure, affordable services and skills training to ensure that everyone can truly benefit from advancing technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI).
“In a world where digital technologies are essential to so much of daily life, everyone should have the opportunity to benefit from being online,” said ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin. “This report highlights how today’s digital divides are being defined by speed, reliability, affordability, and skills, all of which we must prioritize as we work toward our mission of universal connectivity.”
Connectivity’s quality challenge:
For the first time, Facts and Figures estimates the total number of 5G subscriptions, which now account for about one-third – or around 3 billion – of all mobile broadband subscriptions worldwide.
In 2025, 5G networks are estimated to cover 55 per cent of the world’s population, reflecting strong momentum in advanced mobile technologies. Coverage, however, remains uneven, with 84 per cent of people in high-income countries having access to 5G, compared with only 4 per cent in low-income countries.
While Facts and Figures shows that 4G and 3G services are available to most of the global population, these services are not best suited for keeping pace with advancing technologies.
Estimates in the report reveal deep contrasts in intensity of use as an indicator of the quality gap. A typical user in a high-income country now generates nearly eight times more mobile data than one in a low-income country.
Making connectivity meaningful:
Facts and Figures 2025 highlights that affordability and digital skills remain essential to achieving universal and meaningful connectivity – reached when everyone can access the Internet with high-quality service, at an affordable cost, whenever and wherever needed.
Globally, the median price of a data-only mobile broadband basket decreased, but access remains unaffordable in around 60 per cent of low- and middle-income countries.
Data also suggest that most Internet users possess basic skills, while more advanced capabilities – such as online safety, problem-solving and digital content creation – are being developed more slowly.
“Reliable data are the foundation of effective digital policies and of our shared vision to connect the world,” said ITU’s Telecommunication Development Bureau Director Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava. “
Achieving that vision will require sustained and well-targeted efforts – in infrastructure, in digital skills, and in data systems. By working together and directing resources where the needs are greatest, we can ensure that no one is left behind and that everyone benefits fully and safely from the opportunities of the digital age.”
The report underscores the persistence of several digital divides:
- 94 per cent of people in high-income countries use the Internet, in contrast to only 23 per cent in low-income countries;
- 96 per cent of those offline live in low- and middle-income countries;
- 77 per cent of men are online compared to 71 per cent of women;
- 85 per cent in urban areas are online versus 58 per cent in rural areas;
- 82 per cent of 15–24-year-olds use the Internet, compared with 72 per cent of the rest of the population.
Facts and Figures 2025 provides global, regional and income group estimates for indicators related to Internet use, mobile network coverage, Internet subscriptions, Internet traffic, affordability, digital skills and mobile phone ownership.
Getty Images – credit: fotograzia
About the ITU:
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is the United Nations agency for digital technologies, driving innovation for people and the planet with 194 Member States and a membership of over 1,000 companies, universities, civil society, and international and regional organizations. Established in 1865, ITU coordinates the global use of the radio spectrum and satellite orbits, establishes international technology standards, drives universal connectivity and digital services, and is helping to make sure everyone benefits from sustainable digital transformation, including the most remote communities. From artificial intelligence (AI) to quantum, from satellites and submarine cables to advanced mobile and wireless broadband networks, ITU is committed to connecting the world and beyond. Learn more: www.itu.int
References:
https://www.itu.int/en/mediacentre/Pages/PR-2025-11-17-Facts-and-Figures.aspx
An Uncertain Future for the Global Internet
NTT DOCOMO successful outdoor trial of AI-driven wireless interface with 3 partners
NTT DOCOMO has successfully executed the world’s premier outdoor field trial of real-time transceiver systems leveraging artificial intelligence (AI)-driven wireless technology, a critical advancement for sixth-generation (6G) mobile communications (AKA IMT 2030).
Conducted in collaboration with parent company NTT, Inc. (NTT), Nokia Bell Labs, and SK Telecom Co., Ltd, the field trials were held across three sites in Yokosuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture. The results validated that the application of AI optimized system throughput (transmission speed), achieving up to a 100% improvement over conventional, non-AI methods under identical environmental conditions, effectively doubling communication speeds.
Wireless communication quality can be compromised by fluctuations in radio propagation environments, leading to unstable connections. To mitigate this challenge, the partners developed “AI-AI technology,” which applies AI to both the transmitting and receiving ends of the wireless interface. This system dynamically optimizes modulation and demodulation schemes based on prevailing radio conditions, facilitating stable communication across diverse use cases. The efficacy of this technology had previously been confirmed in indoor environments.
The recent field trials aimed to verify the technology’s stable performance in complex outdoor settings, where radio conditions are subject to greater variability from factors such as temperature, weather, and physical obstructions.
This innovative AI wireless technology was evaluated across three distinct outdoor courses with varying propagation conditions, including the presence of obstacles and terminal mobility:
- Course 1: A public road featuring gentle curves, with a test vehicle traveling up to 40 km/h.
- Course 2: An environment with partial signal obstructions.
- Course 3: A road with minimal obstructions, with a test vehicle traveling up to 60 km/h.
In all test scenarios, the technology demonstrated its ability to compensate for signal degradation, confirming enhanced communication speeds. Specifically, in the highly complex propagation conditions of Course 1, the AI-AI technology yielded an average throughput improvement of 18% and a maximum increase of 100% compared to traditional methods.
These findings enable higher-speed data transmission for users and allow network operators to enhance spectrum efficiency and deliver superior quality of service (QoS). The successful outdoor validation marks a significant milestone toward the practical implementation of 6G systems, which promise a combination of high wireless transmission efficiency and reduced power consumption. NTT DOCOMO remains committed to refining this technology under a wide range of conditions and accelerating R&D efforts toward 6G realization, while simultaneously collaborating with global partners on 6G standardization (in 3GPP and ITU-R WP5D) and deployment.
This new technology will be featured at the NTT R&D FORUM 2025 hosted by NTT, scheduled from November 19–21 and November 25–26, 2025.
These three AI-wireless field trials represent the latest joint effort stemming from the collaborative AI research partnership of DOCOMO, parent NTT, Nokia Bell Labs, and SK Telecom Co, which was established at Mobile World Congress (MWC) in February 2024.
NTT Docomo has forged additional 6G alliances with a range of partners, including Ericsson, domestic Japanese suppliers Fujitsu and NEC, and testing specialists Keysight Technologies and Rohde & Schwarz.
This year has seen an increase in partnerships among Korean and Japanese operators. Earlier this month, KDDI‘s research partnership with Nokia Bell Labs was announced, focusing on achieving 6G energy efficiency and enhanced network resilience. Samsung and SoftBank entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) last month to co-develop prospective next-generation technologies, encompassing 6G, AI-driven Radio Access Networks (AI RAN), and Large Telecom Models (LTMs).
In a separate MoU signed in March, KT‘s and Samsung’s collaboration was formalized to jointly advance 6G antenna technology. Additionally, KT has maintained a separate research engagement with Nokia centered on semantic communications research.
About NTT DOCOMO:
NTT DOCOMO, Japan’s leading mobile operator with over 91 million subscribers, is one of the global leaders in 3G, 4G and 5G mobile network technologies.
Under the slogan “Bridging Worlds for Wonder & Happiness,” DOCOMO is actively collaborating with global partners to expand its business scope from mobile services to comprehensive solutions, aiming to deliver unsurpassed value and drive innovation in technology and communications, ultimately to support positive change and advancement in global society.
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References:
https://www.docomo.ne.jp/english/info/media_center/pr/2025/1117_00.html
https://www.docomo.ne.jp/english/
https://www.lightreading.com/6g/ntt-docomo-doubles-6g-throughput-in-ai-trials
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