At Mobile World Congress 2025, Jio Platforms, AMD, Cisco, and Nokia announced the Open Telecom AI Platform, a new project designed to pioneer the use of AI across all network domains.  It aims to provide a centralized intelligence layer that can integrate AI and automation into every layer of network operations.

The AI platform will be large language model (LLM) agnostic and use open APIs to optimize functionality and capabilities. By collectively harnessing agentic AI and using LLMs, domain-specific SLMs and machine learning techniques, the Telecom AI Platform is intended to enable end-to-end intelligence for network management and operations.  The founding quartet of companies said that by combining shared elements, the platform provides improvements across network security and efficiency alongside a reduction in total cost of ownership. The companies each bring their specific expertise to the consortium across domains including RAN, routing, AI compute and security.

Jio Platforms will be the initial customer.  The Indian telco says it will be AI-agnostic and use open APIs to optimize functionality and capabilities. It will be able to make use of agentic AI, as well as large language models (LLMs), domain-specific small language models (SLMs), and machine learning techniques.

“Think about this platform as multi-layer, multi-domain. Each of these domains, or each of these layers, will have their own agentic AI capability. By harnessing agentic AI across all telco layers, we are building a multimodal, multidomain orchestrated workflow platform that redefines efficiency, intelligence, and security for the telecom industry,” said Mathew Oommen, group CEO, Reliance Jio.

“In collaboration with AMD, Cisco, and Nokia, Jio is advancing the Open Telecom AI Platform to transform networks into self-optimising, customer-aware ecosystems. This initiative goes beyond automation – it’s about enabling AI-driven, autonomous networks that adapt in real time, enhance user experiences, and create new service and revenue opportunities across the digital ecosystem,” he added.

On top of Jio Platforms’ agentic AI workflow manager is an AI orchestrator which will work with what is deemed the best LLM. “Whichever LLM is the right LLM, this orchestrator will leverage it through an API framework,” Oomen explained.  He said that Jio Platforms could have its first product set sometime this year.

The Telecom AI Platform intends to share the results with other network operators (besides Jio).

“We don’t want to take a few years to create something.  I will tell you a little secret, and the secret is Reliance Jio has decided to look at markets outside of India. As part of this, we will not only leverage it for Jio, we will figure out how to democratise this platform for the rest of the world. Because unlike a physical box, this is going to be a lot of virtual functions and capabilities.”

AMD represents a lower-cost alternative to the likes of Intel and Nvidia when it comes to central processing units (CPUs) and graphics processing units (GPUs) respectively. The latter in particular are relied upon for a lot of the AI grunt work – on the network side at least.

AMD’s participation suggests that this JPL-led group is looking for hardware that can handle AI workloads without necessarily breaking the bank.

“AMD is proud to collaborate with Jio Platforms Limited, Cisco, and Nokia to power the next generation of AI-driven telecom infrastructure,” said Lisa Su, chair and CEO, AMD. “By leveraging our broad portfolio of high-performance CPUs, GPUs, and adaptive computing solutions, service providers will be able to create more secure, efficient, and scalable networks. Together we can bring the transformational benefits of AI to both operators and users and enable innovative services that will shape the future of communications and connectivity.”

Jio will surely be keeping a close eye on the cost of rolling out this reference architecture when the time comes, and optimizing it to ensure the telco AI platform is financially viable.

“Nokia possesses trusted technology leadership in multiple domains, including RAN, core, fixed broadband, IP and optical transport. We are delighted to bring this broad expertise to the table in service of today’s important announcement,” said Pekka Lundmark, President and CEO at Nokia. “The Telecom AI Platform will help Jio to optimise and monetise their network investments through enhanced performance, security, operational efficiency, automation and greatly improved customer experience, all via the immense power of artificial intelligence. I am proud that Nokia is contributing to this work.”

Cisco chairman and CEO Chuck Robbins said: “This collaboration with Jio Platforms Limited, AMD and Nokia harnesses the expertise of industry leaders to revolutionise networks with AI.

“Cisco is proud of the role we play here with integrated solutions from across our stack including Cisco Agile Services Networking, Data Center Networking, Compute, AI Defence, and Splunk Analytics. We look forward to seeing how the Telecom AI Platform will boost efficiency, enhance security, and unlock new revenue streams for service provider customers.”

If all goes well, the Open Telecom AI Platform could offer an alternative to Nvidia’s AI infrastructure, and give telcos in lower-ARPU markets a more cost-effective means of imbuing their network operations with the power of AI.

References:

Quartet set out plans for Open Telecom AI Platform

https://www.telecoms.com/ai/jio-s-new-ai-club-could-offer-a-cheaper-route-into-telco-ai

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