Nvidia pushes open-source 6G with telecom giants, challenging how mobile networks get built

Nvidia Leads Coalition to Build Open-Source 6G Networks

At Mobile World Congress this week, Nvidia announced a sweeping initiative to develop AI-native 6G networks built on open-source platforms, assembling a coalition that includes some of the biggest names in telecommunications 1

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. The partnership brings together BT Group, Cisco, Deutsche Telekom, Ericsson, Nokia, SK Telecom, SoftBank, and T-Mobile, among others, in what Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang described as an effort to transform telecom networks into AI infrastructure everywhere 3

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. "Artificial Intelligence (AI) is redefining computing and driving the largest infrastructure buildout in human history -- and telecommunications is next," Huang said in a statement 1

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The initiative marks a dramatic shift from how 5G was developed. That previous generation relied heavily on proprietary systems controlled by Ericsson and Nokia, which made it difficult for smaller firms to innovate without paying licensing fees 1

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. The involvement of both Nordic giants in Nvidia's open-source 6G effort comes as something of a surprise, given their historical dominance of mobile network infrastructure outside China through closed ecosystems 2

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Why Open-Source Matters for Next-Generation Mobile Connectivity

The push for open-source 6G addresses fundamental limitations that emerged with 5G. Despite initial excitement, 5G never delivered a dramatic leap over 4G beyond adding capacity, and critically, it wasn't designed with AI in mind 2

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. Ronnie Vasishta, who leads Nvidia's telecom work, told Light Reading that the closed nature of 5G prevented developers and smaller companies from having the flexibility to build on those network platforms 2

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. With software-defined platforms, someone with a better algorithm for techniques like beamforming could plug it directly into the broader stack without needing exclusive ecosystem access 2

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The US government has thrown its weight behind this approach through a partnership with the Linux Foundation called OCUDU, which aims to embed open-source software directly into the foundation of 6G networks 2

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. Washington sees open-source platforming as a way to reduce reliance on technology from foreign firms, particularly for critical communications infrastructure and military use 1

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. Arielle Roth, assistant secretary of commerce for communications and information, emphasized that this global collaboration aligns with broader national competitiveness and security objectives 3

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AI Infrastructure Takes Center Stage in Radio Access Network Design

Nvidia's vision centers on creating an AI-powered radio access network (RAN) capable of supporting billions of AI-connected devices with the security, speed, and trust they require 1

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. These AI-native platforms are designed to support emerging use cases that go beyond traditional communication, including autonomous vehicles, industrial robotics, smart cities, and vast arrays of connected sensors, all requiring real-time intelligence and resilient performance 3

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Nvidia has already developed an early proof of concept through Aerial, an open-source reference platform for radio access developed with DeepSig 1

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. The Aerial reference platform has enabled DeepSig to insert an AI-native waveform directly into the stack 2

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. Nokia is reportedly trialling Nvidia GPUs with "Layer 1" RAN software from T-Mobile in the US 1

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Strategic Positioning Raises Questions About True Openness

While Nvidia champions openness, the company appears to be positioning itself as a keystone within the open-source ecosystem. Aerial requires developers to work with Nvidia's CUDA platform, as it won't function with general-purpose CPUs from Intel or AMD, or on systems based on ARM Holdings' architecture 1

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. Embedding CUDA into the backbone of future mobile internet infrastructure would make Nvidia even more central to an industry where it already dominates 1

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Ericsson is pushing to develop solutions that can run on more general CPUs, which could open greater hardware options for powering next-generation RANs 1

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. For Nokia and Ericsson, the shift toward open-source presents a direct threat to their business models, as both companies derive significant profits from licensing proprietary technology to network operators 2

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. When that technology becomes freely available, their core revenue streams could erode 2

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. Ranny Haiby, the Linux Foundation's networking CTO, expects a gradual transition rather than an overnight transformation, with a slow drift toward compatibility as benefits become harder to ignore 2

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Industry Leaders Signal Commitment to AI-Native Networks

Telecom executives across the coalition emphasized the strategic importance of this shift. BT Group CEO Allison Kirkby described connectivity as the backbone of economic growth, arguing that open and trustworthy AI-native platforms will help the industry scale beyond 5G while unlocking powerful new capabilities 3

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. Deutsche Telekom CEO Tim Höttges stated that intelligent and trusted 6G infrastructure will be essential for delivering superior customer experiences and unlocking new value streams for enterprises and consumers 3

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. T-Mobile leadership described 6G as the backbone of the AI era, enabling autonomous systems and new digital business models at scale 3

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