SoftBank launched an first outdoor test environment for a 5G virtual Radio Access Network (vRAN) using the NVIDIA GH200 Grace Hopper Superchip. Set up in Fujisawa City, Kanagawa Prefecture, the test involves baseband processing for up to 20 5G cells across 100 MHz of bandwidth on a single server. This deployment marks a pioneering use of the GH200’s unique architecture, combining NVIDIA’s Hopper GPU with the Arm-based Neoverse V2 CPU to handle high-frequency processing demands efficiently, crucial for next-gen 5G and future 6G applications.
The test uses the 4.9 GHz frequency band, achieving a maximum communication speed of about 1.3 Gbps per cell with 4-layer MIMO (Multi-Input Multi-Output). The high-density setup simulates an urban environment, mirroring the interference and mobility demands found in city centers. NVIDIA’s accelerated platform shows promise for accommodating broad bandwidths, key for high-frequency 5G and eventual 6G deployments. With more than 100 mobile devices engaged in the test, SoftBank is actively assessing the RAN’s carrier-grade stability in real-world conditions.
SoftBank plans to expand its testing scope, exploring AI-based enhancements for RAN performance and additional spatial multiplexing capabilities, including Massive MIMO. Through this collaboration with NVIDIA and Arm, SoftBank is positioning itself at the forefront of telecommunications infrastructure innovation, targeting a robust RAN solution for future networks.
• SoftBank builds first outdoor 5G vRAN test site using NVIDIA GH200 Grace Hopper Superchip
• Single-server solution processes 20 cells at 100 MHz, achieving speeds up to 1.3 Gbps per cell
• Test conducted in Fujisawa City, Japan, simulating dense urban network demands
• Over 100 devices used to evaluate carrier-grade RAN stability and connectivity
• Expansion plans include AI-driven RAN enhancements and advanced spatial multiplexing
Ryuji Wakikawa, Vice President of SoftBank’s Research Institute, commented, “In this trial simulating a real-world environment with 20 cells, we successfully demonstrated NVIDIA’s converged CPU and GPU acceleration and Arm Neoverse V2’s low power efficiency. This platform meets rigorous performance standards and advances SoftBank’s vision, achieved through partnership collaboration.”
