O2 and Nokia have completed what they say is the UK’s first live deployment of an AI-powered radio access network (RAN) feature, demonstrating how AI can improve 5G network efficiency and performance in a live customer environment.
The deployment took place at O2’s Giga Site in London Paddington, one of the UK’s busiest transport hubs, where the technology operated on O2’s live network and served customers throughout the trial.
The project forms part of O2’s £700 million (€835.1m) Mobile Transformation Plan, which is combining targeted investment and new technology to improve the reliability, capacity and performance of the mobile network.
As mobile data usage continues to grow, networks must make increasingly efficient use of available spectrum and infrastructure. Traditionally, mobile sites have relied on largely static algorithms to manage radio resources. Nokia’s AI-powered solution takes a more dynamic approach, continuously learning from network conditions and automatically adjusting how spectrum and capacity are allocated across the site.
Using predictive AI embedded within the radio network, the feature analysed network conditions and anticipated changes in demand, enabling the site to respond automatically to shifting traffic patterns without manual intervention.
During the live trial, the technology improved spectral efficiency by approximately 20 per cent. In practical terms, this allowed the site to carry more data using the same spectrum and existing network capacity. The feature also delivered significant throughput gains during periods of high demand while maintaining stable network accessibility and reliability.
Jeanie York, Chief Technology Officer at O2, commented: “Mobile data demand continues to grow, so we need smarter ways to make the most of the spectrum and infrastructure we already have. This live trial with Nokia showed how AI can improve network efficiency and help us respond more effectively to changing customer demand. By making better use of existing network resources, we can deliver a better experience for customers while supporting future traffic growth.”
Emma Falck, President of Mobile Networks at Nokia, added: “This milestone demonstrates how AI is moving from experimentation to delivering measurable benefits in live mobile networks. By embedding intelligence directly into the RAN, operators can make better use of existing spectrum resources, improve network performance and create a stronger foundation for future AI-driven services. Our collaboration with O2 shows the significant potential of AI-native networks to enhance customer experiences while improving operational efficiency.”