Written by Nick Wood
Nokia is building on last week’s launch of an AI tool for operators with the opening of a new lab.
Based in Dubai, it has a fairly broad remit, one that includes fostering the development and adoption of new AI and machine learning (AI/ML)-based network intelligence tech by operators throughout the Middle East and Africa. Nokia also hopes the lab will drum up business for two of its cloud RAN partners, Dell and Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE).
The new facility, called the Open Innovation Lab will focus on three main areas.
First up is cloud RAN. Nokia will invite hyperscalers and related ecosystem partners to work with Nokia, Dell and HPE to further Nokia’s progress on what it calls ‘anyRAN’. AnyRAN represents Nokia’s effort to achieve feature and performance parity between cloud and purpose-built RAN, giving operators and enterprises the flexibility to choose the network architecture that suits them best.
The second area of focus is private wireless and industrial networks. Nokia has been working hard to drive adoption of its MX Industrial Edge (MXIE) platform, and its new lab offers a chance to show off some new industry 4.0 use cases, and stimulate interest among MEA enterprises.
Last but by no means least, Nokia wants its new lab to accelerate the adoption of AI and ML for network automation and optimisation. It will use it as a shop window for its MantaRay self-organising network (SON) portfolio, which Nokia claims is capable of taking self-configuring, self-healing, and self-optimising actions that boost network performance and efficiency.
“We are excited to launch our Open Innovation Lab in MEA, reaffirming our commitment to drive innovation with our partners in key future technology areas, including Dell and HPE,” said Mikko Lavanti, SVP of Mobile Networks at Nokia, MEA, in a statement.
“This collaboration will accelerate the adoption of new technologies in our region. We can help both operators and enterprises enhance network efficiency and performance as well as unlock new monetisation opportunities,” he said.
