Keysight and Qualcomm Advance RF Digital Twins to Scale Massive MIMO and AI-Native 6G Research
Collaboration links digital twins with real-world measurements to reduce risk and speed development for 5G-advanced and emerging 6G networks
Keysight Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:KEYS) collaborated with Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. to accelerate high-precision Radio Frequency (RF) digital twins for massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) development in 5G-Advanced and emerging 6G networks. This collaboration demonstrates how chipset, device, and network equipment manufacturers could more accurately predict and optimize massive MIMO performance prior to deployment, reducing rollout risk and speeding innovation for next-generation wireless systems.
As wireless networks evolve, massive MIMO performance is increasingly shaped by the unique RF conditions of each deployment site. Beamforming and precoding decisions that appear strong in simulation may perform differently once deployed. At the same time, the industry is pushing to apply AI within the radio access network (RAN), which requires high-quality channel data and repeatable benchmarks to build confidence in real-world outcomes.
Keysight and Qualcomm Technologies will jointly demonstrate how a high-fidelity RF digital twin can bridge the gap between simulation, lab emulation, and real-world network performance at Mobile World Congress 2026. The demonstration will take place at Keysight's booth (Hall 5 #5F41) and show how a photorealistic RF digital twin of Qualcomm Technologies' massive MIMO prototype network on the San Diego campus is created using Keysight's Channel Studio RaySim and Qualcomm Technologies' massive MIMO algorithms. The radio propagation modeling will capture site-specific effects which will then be verified by comparing results from Qualcomm Technologies' end-to-end massive MIMO prototype network with lab-based testbeds using Keysight channel emulation and Qualcomm Technologies' test devices.
The workflow demonstrates observed correlation in evaluated scenarios across key performance indicators (KPIs), including Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP), rank and data throughput, when compared against over-the-air (OTA) measurements. The same validated workflow may be used to support generation of high-quality channel datasets to train and validate AI/machine learning techniques, such as Channel State Information (CSI) compression, adaptive beam management, and AI-assisted precoding optimization.
Kiran Mukkavilli, Senior Director, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., said: "Realistic RF digital twins are essential for developing and validating advanced beamforming and AI-based optimization techniques. By anchoring high-fidelity digital twins to Qualcomm Technologies' end-to-end massive MIMO research platform, this collaboration demonstrates how high-fidelity modeling, combined with system-level testing and over-the-air validation, can improve confidence that massive MIMO algorithms will perform as expected in real deployments."
Mosaab Abughalib, General Manager and Head of Wireless Solutions, Keysight, said: "High-precision RF digital twins help engineers connect algorithm design to measurable hardware performance. By combining raytraced digital twins with advanced channel emulation, Keysight enables customers to predict massive MIMO behavior before deployment, reducing risk and accelerating innovation toward AI-native 6G networks."
Resources:
- Product page: Channel Studio RaySim
About Keysight Technologies
At Keysight (NYSE:KEYS), we inspire and empower innovators to bring world-changing technologies to life. As an S&P 500 company, we're delivering market-leading design, emulation, and test solutions to help engineers develop and deploy faster, with less risk, throughout the entire product life cycle. We're a global innovation partner enabling customers in communications, industrial automation, aerospace and defense, automotive, semiconductor, and general electronics markets to accelerate innovation to connect and secure the world. Learn more at Keysight Newsroom and www.keysight.com.
Qualcomm branded products are products of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries. Qualcomm is a trademark or registered trademark of Qualcomm Incorporated.
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