Optus and Ericsson use AI to boost 5G downlink performance

In what they say is an Australian-first trial, Optus and Ericsson have announced an AI-native Radio Access Network (RAN) Link Adaptation capability that dynamically reacts to challenging network environments with weak or limited radio signal coverage, boosting 5G downlink performance in poor radio frequency conditions.

The new capability, which delivered cell level throughput gains of more than 20% in medium to poor radio frequency conditions during field-validated testing on the Optus 5G network, demonstrates how real-time AI can deliver positive outcomes. It can enhance downlink throughput, delivering better consistency and reliability for users, particularly at the edges of mobile coverage or in challenging conditions.

Traditional 5G networks rely on static rules to manage changing radio environments. With Ericsson’s AI-native Link Adaptation, those rules are replaced with software that uses real-time AI inferencing on the node using live network data to make fast intelligent decisions under real-time conditions, according to Ericsson. Using reinforcement learning, the system can dynamically select the most efficient transmission settings as conditions evolve, enabling improved performance without additional hardware.

“Improving day-to-day network performance for our customers is always our priority,” said Sri Amirthalingam, Optus Chief Technology Officer. “This collaboration with Ericsson demonstrates how practical AI-native software can help us deliver more speed, reliability and consistency across our 5G network, without customers needing to change how they connect.”

“As Australians rely more on mobile connectivity wherever they are, networks need to respond instantly to changing conditions,” said Ludvig Landgren, Head of Ericsson Australia and New Zealand. “This collaboration with Optus shows how AI-native software can adapt the network in real time to improve 5G performance, particularly in areas with weaker or more variable coverage.”

The trial has been undertaken at one Optus site and will progressively be rolled out over the second half of 2026.

Image credit: iStock.com/Thurtell