European Telecoms and NVIDIA Collaborate to Pioneer AI-Integrated 6G Wireless Networks

European researchers are leveraging NVIDIA’s 6G research portfolio to develop the next generation of cellular technology, which will be AI-native. This innovative approach aims to foster new services, enhance customer experiences, and promote sustainability. Since the launch of NVIDIA’s 6G Developer Program last year, over 200 telecommunications organizations across 30 European countries have adopted NVIDIA technologies to accelerate their work. In the U.K., the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology has partnered with NVIDIA to advance the nation's goals in AI within telecom. Leading U.K. universities will now have access to powerful AI tools, 6G research platforms, and training resources, including NVIDIA AI Aerial and Sionna. According to Sir Chris Bryant, the UK's Minister of State for Data Protection and Telecommunications, this collaboration is a significant step towards making the U.K. a global leader in advanced connectivity technologies. The integration of AI will make networks more intelligent, efficient, and reliable, ultimately improving daily digital experiences. The University of Oulu in Finland is conducting research to enhance wireless channel estimation with a real-time network digital twin using synthetic lidar data and the NVIDIA Isaac Sim reference application. This project focuses on integrating sensing and communications (ISAC) capabilities, allowing networks to act as sensors to optimize operations and contribute to the modeling of 6G access systems. France's OpenAirInterface (OAI) and NVIDIA are collaborating to integrate OAI’s open-source virtualized and open Radio Access Network (RAN) stack with NVIDIA AI Aerial and Sionna systems. This partnership enables researchers to innovate in 5G and 6G RAN development using AI and machine learning at every layer, providing a comprehensive framework for advanced testing and deployment. Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute (HHI) in Germany is researching neuromorphic wireless cognition for robotic control. Using NVIDIA AI Aerial, the project employs an event-based camera to capture robotic movements, which are then processed by a neuromorphic processor for gesture recognition, enhancing transmission quality over base stations. Another significant player, Rohde & Schwarz, is setting new standards in AI-powered wireless communication research with its neural receiver design and testing. Demonstrated at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, the proof of concept uses digital twin technology and high-fidelity ray tracing, combined with NVIDIA Sionna simulations, to create a reliable framework for testing 5G-Advanced and 6G neural receivers under real-world conditions. ETH Zurich and NVIDIA are jointly working on improving the performance of AI-native 6G networks. They have developed the DUIDD (Deep Unfolded Iterative Detector Decoder) architecture using NVIDIA Sionna, designed to increase the data capacity of base stations by utilizing information learned from their local environments. DUIDD is expected to be implemented on the NVIDIA AI Aerial commercial testbed, ARC-OTA. The University of Leeds is exploring an agentic architecture that integrates large language models into RAN operations. This research aims to create standardized frameworks for deploying agent-based architectures, establish key performance indicators, and build templates for new agents to enhance network performance and reduce operational costs. Europe has a rich history in telecommunications, dating back to the 1987 development of GSM. Today, the European Union continues to drive innovation through initiatives like the Smart Networks and Services Joint Undertaking, 6G SNS, and the 6G Flagship project. These programs bring together universities, research institutions, and industry leaders to develop next-generation AI-native networks, focusing on AI integration, sustainability, and security. Major European telecommunications vendors are actively involved in shaping 6G standards and vision. Their leadership and participation in research consortia ensure that the region remains at the forefront of technological advancements. The NVIDIA 6G research portfolio offers a comprehensive three-computer solution for developing, training, and deploying AI algorithms in wireless stacks. This includes accelerated compute infrastructure, software libraries like AI Aerial, Sionna, and CUDA-X, and various deployment options. The portfolio is unique in providing open-source and source-code access, cloud and on-premises solutions, and full-stack systems for researchers. Additionally, the NVIDIA Deep Learning Institute provides training essential for 6G development, covering topics such as simulating physical environments. The 6G Developer Program has seen significant adoption, with over 2,000 researchers from 85 countries joining and leading to 190,000 downloads of NVIDIA tools and 350+ citations in technical papers. Industry insiders laud the collaboration between European institutions and NVIDIA, noting that the integration of AI into 6G networks could revolutionize how telecom infrastructure operates. The ability to sense and adapt to the physical environment will enhance network efficiency and reliability, opening up new possibilities for applications in areas like robotics, automotive, and smart cities. Furthermore, the EU's strong governmental support and the involvement of leading telecom vendors are critical factors in driving this innovation forward. NVIDIA, with its advanced computing and AI capabilities, is positioning itself as a key enabler of 6G research across Europe. The company's commitment to providing state-of-the-art tools and extensive training resources is expected to accelerate the development and deployment of AI-native 6G networks, solidifying Europe's role in shaping the future of telecommunications.