Stefan Pongratz

Vice President

The use of AI in the radio access network (RAN) is not new. In fact, 4G and 5G deployments already rely heavily on automation and intelligence to replace manual tasks and manage the increased complexity without raising the costs. AI is also used in both 4G and 5G to improve network performance and the user experience. What is new, however, is the proliferation of consumer and enterprise AI and the change in attitude toward this tool. As the conversation about the implications for society as a whole is now moving to center stage, the timing is right to review how AI is likely to impact the RAN market, both directly and indirectly. In this report, we will focus on the following areas: mobile data traffic, operator revenue, RAN economics, asset utilization, new applications, energy savings, and spectral efficiencies.

The report addresses such questions as:

  • How will AI impact the broader RAN market
  • Will AI change the mobile data traffic growth trajectory?
  • Could AI spur topline growth for the carriers and eventually fuel more RAN capex?
  • How much can AI boost RAN efficiencies?
  • How will AI be deployed in the RAN?
  • Could AI change the semi-conductor RAN landscape?
  • Will AI change the RAN vendor dynamics?