Technical strategies among major radio access network vendors are diverging sharply regarding the hardware requirements for sixth-generation wireless technology. Nokia is advocating for the widespread adoption of graphics processing units, while competitors argue that purpose-built chips remain sufficient.
Pallavi Mahajan, Nokia’s chief technology officer, stated that the company now views GPUs as a critical component for its future infrastructure. She noted that previous limitations prevented the use of complex machine learning algorithms due to their heavy computational demands. With GPU support, she said, the company can run these previously inaccessible algorithms more efficiently.
This shift follows a $1 billion investment from Nvidia ten months ago. The deal included plans to design radio access network software based on Nvidia’s CUDA platform. Nokia intends to make GPUs integral to its upcoming 5G and 6G products. While current devices still utilize custom silicon from Marvell Technology, Mahajan confirmed that those chips will be the last custom hardware the company develops.
Nokia claims this transition could double spectral efficiency by 2028. The company argues that GPU-based hardware provides a foundation capable of supporting software upgrades for six years. This projection significantly exceeds capabilities previously cited by rival Ericsson regarding its own custom silicon solutions.
Ericsson has rejected the notion that GPUs are mandatory. A spokesperson stated that purpose-built silicon remains relevant for operators seeking lower energy consumption and efficient scaling. The Swedish vendor expects future networks to utilize a mix of compute architectures depending on specific use cases. Ericsson has previously offered cloud-based products using CPU architecture, though it has investigated alternatives involving Nvidia processors to handle power-intensive tasks.
Samsung’s position aligns with Ericsson’s skepticism. The South Korean manufacturer argues that GPUs are merely one option among many for 6G and artificial intelligence applications. Samsung maintains that a single hardware type is not the only solution for the industry's needs.
