Nokia, China Mobile to open AI 5G research lab

Nokia and China Mobile have signed a partnership agreement to investigate the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning for future networks, as well as enable the delivery of new Edge Cloud and 5G services. The companies will jointly establish a laboratory in Hangzhou, China to develop the demo system to verify technology use cases using Nokia 5G Future X architecture. China Mobile will lead the research in terms of scenario selection, requirements confirmation, open API standardization and solution definition.

Under the terms of the agreement, Nokia and China Mobile will jointly research the application of AI and machine learning to ensure any changes in demand are predicted and network resources are automatically allocated to meet service demands. At the new laboratory in Hangzhou, Nokia and China Mobile plan to foster an open RAN and 5G ecosystem working with third parties to leverage AI and machine learning and optimize networks for the delivery of services such as cloud virtual reality gaming. The companies' research will use the Nokia AirScale Cloud RAN, AirFrame OpenRack, open edge server and ReefShark chipsets, as well as Nokia-developed AI middleware to access embedded intelligence. Nokia and China Mobile will also conduct technology field trials and demonstrations.