Finnish telecom equipment manufacturer Nokia is introducing AI-based radio access networks (AI-RAN) to Indian carriers, with commercial deployments potentially beginning by 2028. According to Business Standard, India is experiencing a massive AI supercycle with 5G data consumption growing by 70%, reaching 31 GB per month per user - unprecedented data volumes even before full-scale AI adoption. The company is pivoting its strategy to address this surge through AI-RAN and software-defined radio networks, security and connectivity with hyperscalers. Samar Mittal, Nokia India's country business leader, confirmed that commercial deployments in India may begin by 2028, alongside global markets.
Nokia's strategy is supported by Nvidia's $1 billion investment, creating a global co-innovation effort around AI-RAN technology. As reported by Business Standard, the company is integrating Nvidia's pluggable GPUs into Nokia's baseband units and leveraging GPU capacity on commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) hardware. Global trials with 4 to 5 operators are currently underway, with discussions ongoing for potential trials in India. The partnership combines Nokia's telecom expertise with Nvidia's silicon R&D to optimise GPU cost structures for operators. Beyond baseband processing, edge GPUs can double up as localised micro-data centres for multi-vendor edge use-cases, expanding the application scope of AI-RAN technology.
Nokia's software-defined radio solutions currently yield 20% gain in spectral efficiency, with targets of 50% by next year and double current efficiency by 2028. According to Business Standard, these solutions allow Communication Service Providers (CSPs) to leverage commercial off-the-shelf hardware. The company is also deploying optical innovations like hollow-core fibre with DWDM technology to significantly reduce latency for mission-critical applications, while automation at scale lowers costs and dynamically serves varied requirements across hyperscalers, enterprises, and consumers. As networks become more complex, securing connectivity at scale is critical, with Nokia's end-to-end portfolio spanning radio, IP, optics, autonomous networks, and core enabling comprehensive traffic monitoring and security from call initiation to termination.
Nokia maintains a substantial operational footprint in India with the Chennai manufacturing facility exporting 40% of its total output globally, spanning radio and backhaul equipment. As reported by Business Standard, India serves an end-user base of 800 million to 1 billion subscribers, providing unmatched operational scale. The country houses major software R&D facilities, global support centres, global network operations centres (NOCs), and localised equipment repair facilities to shorten service turnaround times. Beyond direct business contribution, India serves as a vital proving ground and R&D hub, with extreme diversity of use-cases generating operational insights and software innovations that Nokia deploys globally. India also houses major software R&D facilities, global support centres, and localised equipment repair facilities, with the extreme diversity of use-cases from dense consumer environments to enterprises and hyperscalers generating operational insights and software innovations deployed globally.
