NVIDIA and global telecom leaders commit to build 6G on open and secure AI-native platforms

At Mobile World Congress, NVIDIA announced a joint commitment with major telecommunications operators, technology providers and public sector stakeholders to develop 6G networks on AI-native, open and secure foundations. The coalition includes Booz Allen, BT Group, Cisco, Deutsche Telekom, Ericsson, MITRE, Nokia, OCUDU Ecosystem Foundation, ODC, SK Telecom, SoftBank Corp. and T-Mobile.

The group aims to shape 6G infrastructure as an intelligent and resilient platform capable of supporting future connectivity demands while reinforcing trust and interoperability. The initiative reflects a shared view that next-generation wireless networks must move beyond incremental upgrades to 5G and adopt architectures designed from the outset for artificial intelligence integration, programmability and supply chain resilience.

Industry participants argue that 6G will extend beyond conventional mobile broadband. As networks begin to underpin autonomous machines, connected vehicles, sensors and robotics at scale, wireless systems will increasingly function as the operational fabric for physical AI. This shift is expected to drive higher security, latency and reliability requirements than legacy architectures were originally designed to handle.

NVIDIA said it is convening ecosystem partners to accelerate the development of AI-native, software-defined wireless platforms built on open and trusted principles. The approach centres on embedding AI capabilities across the radio access network, edge and core layers, allowing networks to evolve through software updates and real-time optimisation rather than hardware cycles alone.

“AI is redefining computing and driving the largest infrastructure buildout in human history — and telecommunications is next,” said Jensen Huang, founder and CEO of NVIDIA. “Together with a global coalition of industry leaders, NVIDIA is building AI-RAN to transform the world’s telecom networks into AI infrastructure everywhere.”

Building an AI-native, software-defined 6G foundation

The companies involved describe 6G as inherently AI-native and software-defined, enabling wireless systems to adapt continuously through programmable platforms. In this model, AI-RAN architectures would support integrated sensing and communications, automated decision-making and enhanced interoperability across vendors and operators.

Proponents argue that open frameworks are essential to sustain innovation and reduce dependency on closed ecosystems. By enabling broader participation from operators, vendors, startups and research institutions, the coalition seeks to create a programmable foundation where new services and capabilities can be introduced at the pace of software development.

Allison Kirkby, chief executive of BT Group, said: “Connectivity is the backbone of economic growth, and with this collaboration, we’re helping lay the foundations for a future ecosystem that is intelligent, sustainable and secure. By building on open and trustworthy AI native platforms, we can simplify future technologies like 6G, ensuring they build upon the strengths of today’s 5G networks while still unlocking powerful new capabilities at scale.”

Tim Höttges, CEO of Deutsche Telekom AG, said: “Best network, best customer experience — that remains our promise. With an open, intelligent and trusted 6G infrastructure, we are laying the foundation for the era of physical AI and unlocking new value for our customers, for industry and for society.”

Governments and operators align around 6G leadership

The announcement also reflects increasing alignment between industry and government stakeholders around 6G as a strategic technology domain. In the United States, public sector representatives have linked 6G development to economic competitiveness and national security considerations.

Arielle Roth, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information, and Administrator at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, said: “America’s 6G leadership will be critical to our nation’s economic prosperity, national security and global competitiveness. Today’s announcement demonstrates that the United States and our allies and partners around the world are leading in this next-generation technology. We look forward to the next steps from this international industry coalition as they advance and implement their shared 6G vision.”

Operators in Asia have similarly framed 6G as foundational to the AI era. Jung Jai-hun, president and CEO of SK Telecom, said: “SKT is evolving telco infrastructure to serve as the foundation for the AI era, where connectivity serves as a platform for intelligence and innovation. Together, we can build open, trusted infrastructure that drives a global ecosystem of AI innovation.”

Hideyuki Tsukuda, executive vice president and chief technology officer of SoftBank Corp., said: “Al-native 6G will transform wireless networks into secure, software-defined infrastructure that supports the next wave of global innovation. SoftBank Corp. is driving this innovation with NVIDIA by advancing open and trusted platforms that enable interoperability, resilience and continuous evolution at scale.”

Srini Gopalan, CEO of T-Mobile, said: “We’re at a pivotal moment. In the U.S., we’ve laid the foundation with 5G Advanced and AI-native networks where intelligence lives inside the network. As 6G becomes the backbone of the AI era, telecom will serve as the nervous system of the digital economy, enabling autonomous systems and intelligent industries at scale and unlocking new value for customers and businesses alike. T-Mobile is proud to help define what’s next through deep ecosystem collaboration and sustained innovation.”

Advancing 6G through global research and open initiatives

Alongside industry commitments, NVIDIA outlined its participation in public and private initiatives intended to accelerate 6G research and development. In the United States, the company has joined the FutureG Office-led OCUDU Initiative to align with government and industry partners on open, software-defined and AI-native architectures.

NVIDIA is also a founding member of the AI-RAN Alliance, which now counts more than 130 participating companies working on AI-RAN innovation. In October, NVIDIA, together with Booz Allen, Cisco, T-Mobile, MITRE and ODC, launched the AI-Native Wireless Networks project, an all-American AI-RAN stack designed to accelerate progress towards 6G.

In Korea, the company is collaborating with an industry consortium to shape intelligent and programmable 6G networks from the ground up. In the United Kingdom, NVIDIA is working with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology to advance applied research and ecosystem development in trusted AI-native network design.

Across Europe and Japan, the company said it is engaged in public and industry programmes focused on strengthening open innovation, interoperability and trusted infrastructure. Collectively, these efforts signal a coordinated push to define 6G not solely as a radio technology upgrade, but as a secure and intelligent digital infrastructure layer for the AI era.