AI-Native networks are no longer a 6G promise–MWC 2026 just proved it

AI News

by Dashveenjit Kaur

March 3, 2026

AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary

The 2026 Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona marked a turning point for AI-native networks, shifting from theoretical discussions to concrete evidence of their viability. Major telecom vendors, chipmakers, and operators delivered significant announcements, including field trial results, commercial product launches, open-source tools, and a multi-operator coalition dedicated to building 6G on AI-native foundations. This pivot signals a transformative shift in telecom infrastructure that will redefine connectivity, management, and monetization. Nvidia emerged as a key player with commitments from leading global operators and tech companies to develop 6G on open, secure, and AI-native software-defined platforms. The initiative, backed by collaborations with governments worldwide, aims to create intelligent, resilient, and trustworthy future networks. Jensen Huang, Nvidia’s CEO, emphasized AI's role in reshaping telecom infrastructure, highlighting the importance of AI-RAN (AI-Ready Network Function Virtualization) for 6G. To support this vision, Nvidia introduced a suite of open-source tools tailored for network operators. The Nemotron Large Telco Model, a 30-billion-parameter AI model developed with AdaptKey AI, is designed to assist in optimizing telecom operations. Additionally, Nvidia released guides and blueprints for RAN energy efficiency and network configuration, with real-world deployments already underway across Africa and Japan. Nokia demonstrated significant progress in its partnership with Nvidia, completing functional tests of its anyRAN software on NVIDIA's GPU-accelerated AI-RAN platform in live, over-the-air conditions. These trials proved the viability of running AI and RAN workloads simultaneously in real-world environments, showcasing advancements like AI-powered video

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Originally published on AI News on 3/3/2026