• T-Mobile and Ericsson said AI-native RAN software lifted spectrum efficiency by nearly 10% in U.S. trials
• The companies said the software delivered downlink throughput gains of up to 15% versus legacy methods
• T-Mobile is targeting commercialization in the third quarter after trials across multiple U.S. markets

T-Mobile and Ericsson are sharing some of the findings from their trials that take advantage of T-Mobile’s 5G Advanced network and AI-native RAN, and they’re quite impressive.

It’s a mouthful, but the “AI-native Scheduler with Link Adaptation” that they’ve been testing achieved close to a 10% increase in spectrum efficiency and up to 15% boost in downlink throughput compared to legacy rule-based methods.

T-Mobile began the trials early in the second quarter of 2025 and expanded to multiple markets across the U.S., including Los Angeles, New York, New Jersey and Salt Lake City, according to Grant Castle, SVP, RAN Technologies and Emerging Technologies at T-Mobile. 

They’re targeting commercialization sometime in the third quarter of this year. 

“Following our milestone as the first U.S. operator to deploy 5G Advanced nationwide in 2025, we’re continuing to push the boundaries of RAN innovation,” Castle said in a statement. “Our work with Ericsson on AI-native Scheduler with Link Adaptation demonstrates how real-time, AI-driven optimization can enhance spectral efficiency and throughput while delivering a more consistent experience for customers at scale.” 

AI is central to Ericsson’s vision  

According to Ericsson, its AI-native Scheduler with Link Adaptation software ensures reliable performance even in high-demand environments with poor radio frequency conditions. For customers, it means smoother streaming, more responsive gaming and uninterrupted video calls even during times of peak usage.  

Johan Hultell, head of Product Line RAN Software, Business Area Networks at Ericsson, said AI is central to Ericsson’s vision for high-performing programmable networks.

“By embedding intelligence directly into RAN software, we can deliver real-time performance gains that enhance user experience while helping operators like T-Mobile maximize the value of their spectrum,” he said in statement. 

Both Ericsson and Nokia are part of T-Mobile’s collaboration with Nvidia.

In September 2024 at its Capital Markets Day, T-Mobile announced the AI-RAN Innovation Center at its headquarters in Bellevue, Washington, where it’s working with Nvidia, Ericsson and Nokia. All four of them are founding members of the AI-RAN Alliance, which kicked off at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona in February 2024.