# Nokia pitches practical telecom AI with mobile core program launch > Source: > Published: 2026-09-08 09:27:04+00:00 Nokia launched a new program designed to give operators and enterprises early, hands-on testing of advanced mobile core features in a live hosted environment. Mobile Core Early Access is pitched as a chance to explore the software driving advanced network connectivity in the AI era, namely 5G Core, automation, analytics, and network exposure use cases. Initially launched in June with a select group of 30 companies, registration is now available to the wider telecom and wireless networking industry. Kal De, senior VP for core networks, Nokia, commented in an announcement that as mobile innovation cycles continue to accelerate, “operators need more than presentations and demonstrations to make confident technology choices.” “Mobile Core Early Access provides a practical way to experience the latest mobile core innovations in a live environment. By bringing capabilities closer to customers earlier, we help them reduce uncertainty and move more quickly from exploration to deployment,” De added. According to Nokia, network functions, radios, and devices can be evaluated early in the development cycle. Also on offer is clear visibility into how cloud-native capabilities, user interfaces, and operational workflows function, helping to minimize initial testing setup efforts while helping align key stakeholders around practical business use cases and value. Nokia also provides a premium tier to support advanced evaluation, experimentation, and validation for participants "requiring extended access, broader flexibility, or deeper integration with their own environments." Nokia's venture echoes [a recent lab initiative from rival Ericsson](https://www.sdxcentral.com/news/hpe-ericsson-red-hat-target-telecom-cloud-native-core-integration/). Launched in October with Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) and Red Hat, the test environment supports operators with real-world testing and feedback on 5G-pointed scalable core infrastructure. Mobile Core Early Access also deepens Nokia's testing footprint following the founding of an AI networking lab with partners including AMD and Nscale. Located within its Sunnyvale, California facility, [Nokia's AI Networking Innovation Lab](https://www.sdxcentral.com/news/nokia-ai-networking-lab-sees-beyond-telco-for-storage-and-compute-focus/) aimed to accelerate next-generation networking technologies for AI infrastructure with AI and neocloud partners such as Nscale. Foregoing telecom, the venture works primarily with silicon and graphic processing unit (GPU) vendors alongside storage players such as Everpure and Weka.