It’s the middle of the night, and you need to make an urgent call. You dial, but… no signal. You move to the balcony, wave your phone in the air, even restart your device—still, nothing. The helplessness creeps in, and frustration takes over.

We’ve all been there. Whether stuck in remote areas, underground parking lots, crowded stadiums, or even inside skyscrapers, network blackouts have been an unavoidable reality for years. But what if dropped calls and weak signal bars became a thing of the past?

At MWC 2025, telecom leaders proved that we’re entering an era where AI-powered networks will eliminate dead zones, optimize connectivity in real-time, and create self-healing infrastructures. AI isn’t just improving networks; it’s making them intelligent, proactive, and resilient like never before.

From AI-driven RAN to self-learning antennas and autonomous networks, MWC 2025 showcased the biggest AI-driven telecom innovations that will ensure you never lose connection again. Let’s dive into the groundbreaking AI deployments that are reshaping the telecom industry. 🚀

Key AI Deployments Unveiled at MWC 2025

1. SoftBank’s AI-RAN Revolution with NVIDIA and Red Hat

SoftBank Corp. has taken a decisive step towards AI-powered Radio Access Network (RAN) infrastructure through strategic alliances with NVIDIA and Red Hat:

• NVIDIA’s Aerial RAN Computer-1: AI-optimized computing systems project a 40% reduction in power consumption, accelerating the transition to a fully software-defined 5G radio stack.

• AITRAS (AI Transformed RAN Architecture with Sustainability): Developed with Red Hat OpenShift, this initiative enables real-time network orchestration and energy-efficient resource allocation.

• 5G Baseband on NVIDIA Grace Hopper Superchips: AI-enhanced signal processing has resulted in a 20% improvement in uplink throughput, showcasing AI’s capacity to enhance spectral efficiency.

2. Reliance Jio’s Open Telecom AI Platform

Reliance Jio Platforms (JPL) has introduced the Open Telecom AI Platform, developed in collaboration with AMD, Cisco, and Nokia:

• Multi-Domain Intelligence Framework: Integrates Large Language Models (LLMs), Small Language Models (SLMs), and AI-driven automation to optimize telecom operations.

• Strategic Partnerships:

• AMD: High-performance EPYC CPUs and Instinct GPUs.

• Cisco: Networking, security, and AI analytics.

• Nokia: Wireless, core networks, and optical transport expertise.

• Vision for Autonomous Networks: The initiative seeks to redefine network intelligence by creating self-optimizing, customer-aware telecom ecosystems.

3. Qualcomm and IBM: AI-Enabled Telecom Evolution

Qualcomm and IBM have entered into a strategic partnership aimed at integrating AI across wireless, edge computing, and semiconductor design:

• Hybrid Cloud AI for the Edge: Reducing latency by bringing AI computation closer to mobile devices.

• 5G/6G AI Integration: Exploring AI’s role in advancing next-generation wireless networks.

• AI-Powered Silicon Design: AI-driven innovation in semiconductor manufacturing and optimization.

4. Huawei’s AI-Native Core Network & 5.5G Business Model Transformation

Huawei introduced an AI Core Network, signalling a move towards fully autonomous telecom infrastructures, alongside AI-Centric 5.5G solutions, marking a shift from data-driven monetization to experience-based monetization:

• Autonomous Network Agents: AI-driven agents self-optimize core network functions and dynamically allocate network resources based on demand.

• Foundation for 5.5G and 6G: AI’s role in shaping next-generation network architecture, eliminating manual intervention.

• AI-Optimized Mobile Connectivity: AI enhances human-to-AI and AI-to-AI interactions, ensuring seamless low-latency experiences.

• Network Autonomy & Efficiency: Multi-agent energy automation delivers "0 Bit, 0-Watt, 0 Loss" AI-driven power savings.

• Revenue Diversification: Telcos can monetize AI-driven network experiences, moving beyond traditional data consumption models.

5. The AI Phone by Perplexity and Deutsche Telekom

MWC 2025 showcased a wave of AI-powered smartphone innovations, led by the Perplexity AI Phone, developed by Perplexity in collaboration with Deutsche Telekom:

• Multimodal Input: Users interact through voice commands, typing, or camera-based searches.

• Perplexity AI Assistant Integration: Enables seamless execution of tasks like emails and online shopping without switching apps.

• AI Ecosystem: Includes Magenta AI, integrating Perplexity Assistant, Google Cloud AI, Eleven Labs, Picsart, and more.

• Availability and Pricing: Launching in the second half of 2025, sales start in 2026 in Europe, priced under $1,000.

6. Telefónica and AWS's Cloud-Based 5G RAN

Telefónica, collaborating with Nokia and AWS, completed Europe’s first 5G Standalone call using hybrid cloud RAN architecture:

• Hybrid Cloud RAN Architecture: Nokia’s 5G RAN software ran on AWS Graviton cloud servers at the network edge, connecting seamlessly to AWS’s public cloud.

• Optimized Network Resources: AI-driven orchestration placed workloads optimally (on-premises or cloud), demonstrating improved network resilience and efficiency through automated scaling and resource allocation.

7. Nokia and NTT DOCOMO's 6G Network Computing Collaboration

Nokia and NTT DOCOMO demonstrated a 6G-era concept known as the In-network Service Acceleration Platform (ISAP):

• Integration of Computing and Networking: ISAP merges computing and networking by offloading application tasks into the data transport layer, facilitating low-latency, AI-driven applications at the network edge.

• Enhanced AI Video Analytics: Real-time AI video analytics on ISAP improved accuracy from 57% to 90% by reducing latency in data exchange.

Conclusion: AI is the New Backbone of Telecommunications

MWC 2025 proved that AI isn’t just enhancing telecom—it’s redefining it. From AI-driven RAN and autonomous networks to intelligent service orchestration, AI is shaping the industry's future in three keyways:

✅ AI-RAN is the future, but ecosystem governance remains a challenge, especially with Nvidia’s dominance.
✅ The shift from connectivity to intelligent services is accelerating, yet telcos must escape legacy constraints to unlock new monetization models.
✅ 6G is on the horizon, but optimizing 5G standalone networks is the immediate challenge.
✅ Agentic AI and AI inference models hint at a future where networks don’t just process data—they reason, adapt, and optimize autonomously.

More than ever, telecoms must embrace AI beyond cost-cutting—it’s time to leverage AI as an enabler of new revenue models, digital experiences, and industry-wide transformation.

The question is no longer whether AI will define telecom—but rather, how quickly telcos can redefine themselves in an AI-powered world. 🚀