RFNokia & R&S Test AI-Powered 6G Receiver: Coverage Boost
Published on December 20, 2025
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Nokia and Rohde & Schwarz have created and successfully tested a 6G radio receiver that uses AI technologies to overcome one of the biggest anticipated challenges of 6G network rollouts, coverage limitations inherent in 6G’s higher frequency spectrum.
The machine learning (ML) capabilities in the receiver greatly boost uplink distance, enhancing coverage for future 6G networks. This will help operators roll out 6G over their existing 5G footprints, reducing deployment costs and accelerating time to market.
Nokia Bell Labs developed the receiver and validated it using 6G test equipment and methodologies from Rohde & Schwarz. The two companies have demonstrated a proof of concept (POC) receiver at the Brooklyn 6G Summit on November 6, 2025.
Nokia and R&S have tested this new AI receiver under real world conditions, achieving uplink distance improvements over today’s receiver technologies ranging from 10% to 25%. The testbed comprises an R&S SMW200A vector signal generator, used for uplink signal generation and channel emulation. On the receive side, the newly launched FSWX signal and spectrum analyzer from Rohde & Schwarz is employed to perform the AI inference for Nokia’s AI receiver. In addition to enhancing coverage, the AI technology also demonstrates improved throughput and power efficiency, multiplying the benefits it will provide in the 6G era.
About Nokia Bell Labs
Nokia Bell Labs serves as the renowned industrial research engine behind Nokia’s telecommunications dominance, credited with inventing many of the foundational technologies that underpin modern cellular networks. In the cellular domain, they are currently spearheading the architectural evolution from 5G Advanced toward 6G, focusing on breakthrough innovations such as native AI/ML integration into the air interface, network sensing and sub THz communications. Their capabilities extend beyond theoretical research to driving global standards within 3GPP, where they design resilient, energy efficient network architectures that define how future mobile systems handle massive connectivity, industrial automation and private wireless deployments.
About Rohde & Schwarz
R&S is a premier provider of test and measurement solutions that are essential for the entire lifecycle of cellular ecosystems, enabling the development of technology from chipset R&D to mass manufacturing and network optimization. Their comprehensive portfolio includes high precision vector signal generators (VSGs), spectrum analyzers and radio communication testers capable of validating complex signaling scenarios across 4G, 5G FR1/FR2, and emerging 6G frequencies. By offering end to end testing capabilities including over the air (OTA) testing for massive MIMO and rigorous protocol conformance verification; Rohde & Schwarz acts as a critical partner for operators and device manufacturers, ensuring hardware interoperability and network performance meet strict industry standards.
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