Nvidia said it is working with telecom operators to develop open 6G networks based on open and secure AI-native platforms. The initiative was announced at Mobile World Congress 2026, and Nvidia said the first 6G trials should begin in 2028, with commercial deployment around 2030.
Ronnie Vasishta, Nvidia’s senior vice president of telecommunications, said current networks are not ready for tomorrow’s use cases. Nvidia also said 6G wireless networks will become the framework for physical AI, supporting billions of machines, vehicles, sensors and autonomous robots at scale.
Who is in the partner list
The partner list includes Booz Allen, BT Group, Cisco, Deutsche Telekom, Ericsson, MITRE, Nokia, OCUDU Ecosystem Foundation, ODC, SK Telecom, SoftBank Corp. and T-Mobile. Nvidia also announced AI-RAN collaboration with T-Mobile US, SoftBank and Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison, and said they have all deployed test systems.
Live tests are already under way
Vasishta said Nvidia, T-Mobile and Nokia completed the first live AI-RAN call using Nokia’s CUDA-accelerated software running on Nvidia during outdoor trials on live networks. Nvidia also said there will be three times more AI-RAN innovations at this year’s MWC than last year, with 26 of the 33 AI-RAN Alliance demos built using Nvidia AI Aerial and a software-defined architecture.
Read for RAN and 6G planning teams
The timetable gives operators a concrete planning window: trials in 2028 and commercial deployment around 2030. The partner list also shows which vendors and operators are already being used to validate AI-RAN before 6G reaches the market.