- NTT DOCOMO selected Ericsson’s RAN Compute platform for its networks in Japan, including 5G
- Ericsson said the platform delivers up to twice the capacity while using less than half the energy of its previous-generation baseband products
- The companies plan to collaborate on next-generation network architectures designed to support growing AI-generated traffic
Ericsson has secured a new infrastructure win in Japan, with NTT DOCOMO selecting the vendor’s next-generation RAN Compute platform for deployment across its networks, including 5G services. Deployment began in July 2026 and is expected to help DOCOMO strengthen network performance as traffic demands continue to rise.
The RAN Compute platform is built on Ericsson’s latest silicon technology and is designed to support 4G, 5G and 5G-Advanced networks. Ericsson said the platform is also optimized for AI and machine learning workloads within the radio access network (RAN), enabling the creation of what it described as AI-native and programmable networks that can evolve through future software updates.
Masafumi Masuda, SVP and GM of the Radio Access Network Design Department at NTT DOCOMO, said in an announcement about the deal that the operator is focused on increasing network processing capacity to maintain and improve service quality as traffic continues to grow. He said Ericsson’s platform aligns with DOCOMO’s infrastructure strategy because of its processing performance and flexibility.
For Ericsson, the deal extends a longstanding relationship with Japan’s largest mobile operator. Yukiko Sato, board director and head of Customer Unit NTT Group at Ericsson Japan, noted that the company’s RAN Compute technology is designed not only to address network traffic growth but also to improve environmental sustainability and reduce operating costs.
According to Ericsson, the platform can provide up to two times the capacity of previous-generation baseband products while consuming less than half the energy. The company said those gains can support more efficient site operations and lower deployment costs in centralized radio access network (C-RAN) environments where compute resources are aggregated.
The agreement builds on earlier work between the companies. Ericsson noted it began commercial deployment of its 4.5 GHz Massive MIMO radio, AIR 3255, for DOCOMO’s 5G network in December 2025. The addition of the RAN Compute platform is expected to further support DOCOMO’s future network goals, including preparations for increased traffic generated by AI applications and services.