Keysight Demonstrates 6G Neural Receiver Design Flow in Collaboration with NVIDIA at Mobile World Congress 2024
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Insights
The collaboration between Keysight Technologies and NVIDIA to develop a neural receiver within an Open RAN testbed is a significant advancement in the evolution of wireless networks. The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into 5G systems has already begun to enhance network components, but the transition towards 6G represents a paradigm shift where AI is not just an enhancement, but a foundational technology.
Neural receivers are poised to revolutionize the physical layer of wireless communications by learning to adapt to various signal conditions, which could lead to more efficient use of the spectrum and improved signal quality. The ability to train these receivers using site-specific scenarios is crucial, as it ensures that the AI models are not just theoretically sound but are also practical for real-world applications. The use of digital twins and ray-traced channels for training indicates a move towards more sophisticated and accurate models that mirror the complexities of physical environments.
For businesses in the telecommunications sector, this development could mean more reliable and adaptable network infrastructure, potentially reducing costs associated with signal interference and network maintenance. In the stock market, investors might view such technological advancements as positive indicators of future growth for companies like Keysight Technologies and NVIDIA, which are at the forefront of this innovation.
The integration of AI into 6G wireless technology, as demonstrated by Keysight Technologies and NVIDIA, underscores the growing importance of machine learning in telecommunications. The neural receiver's capability to be trained and validated using simulated external channel models and real-world data highlights the convergence of AI and traditional engineering.
The use of NVIDIA's Sionna library for training neural receivers is a testament to the increasing role of open-source software in accelerating AI research and development. The ability to create digital twins for training purposes is not only innovative but also a strategic move to reduce the time and cost associated with deploying AI in wireless networks.
From an investment perspective, this collaboration could signal a strategic partnership that leverages each company's strengths—Keysight's expertise in electronic measurement and NVIDIA's leadership in AI—to create a competitive edge in the emerging 6G market. The focus on end-to-end design and validation environments for AI components could be a key differentiator that attracts investment in a sector where technological leadership is critical.
The demonstration of a neural receiver within an Open RAN testbed has broader implications for the telecommunications industry and its market dynamics. Open RAN (Radio Access Network) promotes interoperability and standardization across different vendors' equipment, which can lower costs and increase competition in the market. The successful deployment of AI-driven components like neural receivers in Open RAN architectures could incentivize more operators to adopt this approach, potentially disrupting the market shares of traditional RAN providers.
For stakeholders, the transition to AI-native 6G networks represents both an opportunity and a challenge. The opportunity lies in the potential for new services and applications that can be enabled by more intelligent and efficient networks. The challenge is in the investment required to develop these technologies and the uncertainty regarding the timeline for commercial deployment. Keysight's and NVIDIA's progress in this area could serve as a bellwether for the industry's readiness to embrace 6G.
Investors monitoring the telecommunications sector should consider the long-term implications of AI in wireless communications, as well as the partnerships forming between established companies and cutting-edge tech firms. These collaborations could reshape the competitive landscape and influence which companies are best positioned to capitalize on the next wave of wireless innovation.
- Demonstration of neural receiver performance inside an Open RAN testbed
- Tools for complete design flow include ability to train the neural receiver using site-specific scenarios
- External channel models simulated by NVIDIA Sionna are emulated using Keysight equipment to create custom end-to-end system
While 5G integrates artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance specific components in wireless networks, 6G will be the first generation of wireless technology that is AI-native. A key goal is to develop site-specific neural receivers to replace the entire human-designed receive chain of the physical layer. Yet, the data required to train these neural receivers is limited, and validating their performance in end-to-end systems presents a challenge. Before neural receivers can be deployed in commercial networks, they need to be adequately trained, demonstrated to surpass traditional receivers in performance and shown to robustly handle the channel conditions of real-world networks.
This demonstration shows how Keysight solutions enable the design and validation of a neural receiver. With the NVIDIA Sionna library used to train the neural receiver, ray-traced channels allow for site-specific training data generation and hence the creation of digital twins of real-world systems. As such, the neural receiver can be optimized for any intended environment.
When the training is complete, the neural receiver is deployed in an Open RAN testbed using Keysight’s equipment connected to a FlexFi commercial radio unit from LITEON Technology. To emulate the site-specific channel, the Keysight PROPSIM channel emulator is used. It allows for the seamless import of ray-traced channel impulse responses. The trained neural receiver then demodulates the signal. Measurements of the block error rate of the end-to-end system provide insights into the neural receiver’s performance.
Giampaolo Tardioli, Vice President, 6G and Next Generation Technology at Keysight, said: “By collaborating with industry leaders like NVIDIA, Keysight is helping provide the tools and insights needed to allow artificial intelligence to move into the mainstream for wireless communications. Through use of our simulated and measured data for training digital twins of Open RAN networks and the validation of AI performance, we are able to provide the complete end-to-end design environment that is needed to develop neural receivers and other AI components for 6G.”
Ronnie Vasishta, Senior Vice President of Telecom at NVIDIA, said: “Software-defined RAN enables the native integration of AI across the entire protocol stack, ultimately leading to 6G systems that can optimally adapt to any environment. Keysight’s ability to generate and capture real-world data for training and evaluation, bolstered by the open-source NVIDIA Sionna library for 6G physical-layer research, is a key element helping to drive the adoption of AI in wireless networks.”
This demonstration includes technology that was developed as part of CENTRIC and 6G-SANDBOX, projects that have received funding from the Smart Networks and Services Joint Undertaking (SNS JU) under the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation program under Grant Agreement No 101096379 & 101096328, respectively.
About Keysight Technologies
At Keysight (NYSE: KEYS), we inspire and empower innovators to bring world-changing technologies to life. As an S&P 500 company, we’re delivering market-leading design, emulation, and test solutions to help engineers develop and deploy faster, with less risk, throughout the entire product lifecycle. We’re a global innovation partner enabling customers in communications, industrial automation, aerospace and defense, automotive, semiconductor, and general electronics markets to accelerate innovation to connect and secure the world. Learn more at Keysight Newsroom and www.keysight.com.
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Source: Keysight Technologies, Inc.
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