Europe

O2 and Nokia test AI on a live London 5G site and report 20% higher spectral efficiency

The trial ran at Paddington while the site served customers. The figure is the operator’s reported result; no timetable for a network-wide rollout was announced.

O2 and Nokia said on October 26 that they had tested an artificial intelligence feature in O2's 5G radio access network at London Paddington. The site continued serving customers during the trial. The carrier describes it as the UK's first live deployment of this kind; that priority claim comes from the companies and has not been independently established. [1][2]

The feature analyses network conditions and anticipates changes in demand to adjust radio resource allocation automatically. O2 says the site's spectral efficiency improved by approximately 20% during the trial, allowing it to carry more data with the same spectrum and existing infrastructure. It also reported throughput gains during busy periods while preserving accessibility and reliability. These are results from one location, not a measured improvement across the national network. [1][2]

In answers to Telco Magazine, O2 technology chief Jeanie York said the test required no additional hardware and the company intends to use the feature more widely. It did not announce a timetable for a general rollout. The archive photo shows Paddington station in 2024, not the network equipment used in the trial. [2]

Report an error →