Based in Boston, zTouch Networks is a spinoff from Northeastern University’s Institute for the Wireless Internet of Things, born of years of federally funded research. Its leadership brings a combined 40+ years of pioneering experience in 5G technologies, including the first O-RAN-slicing xApp demonstrating how AI can tailor 5G networks to diverse needs and priorities. We asked co-founder and Chief Technology Officer Salvatore D’Oro to tell us more about the company and why its leadership chose AI-RAN Alliance membership.

“Our zTouch.OS platform addresses a critical gap in current network architectures, which typically dedicate compute resources to either AI or RAN workloads in isolation,” explains D’Oro. “We’ve engineered a solution that dynamically orchestrates these workloads, allowing infrastructure owners to monetize their assets more effectively while reducing total cost of ownership. Our technology transforms traditional towers and data centers into intelligent, multi-tenant revenue engines through sophisticated automation and real-time resource optimization.”

The Value of Unification

When asked why zTouch Networks chose membership in the AI-RAN Alliance, D’Oro points to the importance of a unified approach to the technology’s advancement. “Our decision to join the AI-RAN Alliance was driven by our fundamental belief that the future of telecommunications lies in the seamless integration of artificial intelligence with radio access networks, transforming the RAN beyond connectivity. We recognized that the industry needed a unified approach to tackle the complex challenges of resource sharing, workload orchestration, and infrastructure monetization.” He points to a paper recently co-authored with Northeastern University on an AI-RAN architectural framework: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2507.06911. “We see the Alliance as the ideal forum to collaborate with industry leaders and shape the standards that will define next-generation networks.”

In zTouch Networks point of view —which is also shared by many Alliance members—AI is not merely an enhancement to existing RAN technologies but a fundamental paradigm shift in how networks operate. “We envision AI transforming radio access networks through intelligent, intent-based management systems that can interpret natural language requests and automatically configure complex network parameters,” D’Oro describes. “Our platform already demonstrates this capability through GPT-based interfaces that reduce deployment times from weeks to mere seconds. AI will enable networks to self-optimize based on real-time conditions, dynamically allocating spectrum and compute resources to balance performance, energy efficiency, and revenue generation.”

Missions Aligned

D’Oro describes a perfect alignment between the zTouch Networks mission and that of the AI-RAN Alliance, specifically through a comprehensive approach to infrastructure convergence. “We’ve demonstrated that AI workloads can seamlessly coexist with RAN functions on the same infrastructure, with intelligent orchestration ensuring that both meet their performance requirements,” says D’Oro. “Our zero-touch deployment capabilities and intent-based management interfaces represent the practical realization of the Alliance’s vision for simplified, intelligent network operations. Our platform also natively supports O-RAN architectures with integrated RAN Intelligent Controllers (RICs), enabling continuous reconfiguration and optimization through xApps, rApps, and dApps.”

When asked about company participation in Alliance initiatives, the focus of zTouch Networks will be on ones that advance infrastructure sharing and automated orchestration standards, especially in WG2 and WG3. “These areas are fundamental to our platform’s value proposition and critical for industry-wide adoption,” explains D’Oro. “Developing and demonstrating industry-wide solutions for network intent translation and for AI-driven RAN is a key priority for our engagement within AI-RAN.”

Unlocking the Potential of New Models

Looking ahead to the next five years, zTouch Networks sees unprecedented opportunities in the AI-RAN space, the most significant being unlocking the economic potential of infrastructure through dynamic resource monetization. “As 5G deployments mature and edge computing becomes ubiquitous, the ability to flexibly allocate resources between AI inference tasks and RAN processing will become a critical competitive advantage,” says D’Oro.

“We anticipate that neutral host deployments will become the norm, with our multi-tenant isolation and priority management capabilities enabling new business models. Energy efficiency will also drive adoption, as our platform’s ability to intelligently shut down underutilized cells during low-traffic periods while reallocating compute to AI workloads represents a significant operational cost-reduction opportunity.”

Learn More About Alliance Membership

The AI-RAN Alliance thrives on collaboration among visionaries, researchers, and operators and their communities. And the shared missions and visions of membership ensure that collaboration thrives within the Alliance. To learn how your organization can benefit from membership while contributing to the future of AI-RAN, visit our membership page.