Petroc Taylor
Research expert covering global developments in the use of data
Artificial intelligence (AI) in telecoms - statistics & facts
The artificial intelligence (AI) revolution is placing unprecedented demand on global communications networks. The broad adoption of AI-powered applications, paired with an increasing reliance on cloud technology, is driving a remarkable surge in data traffic across the globe. To keep pace, network operators and infrastructure providers are racing to engineer the low latency networks required to make the most of these emerging technologies. At the same time, AI is proving a powerful tool for telcos, with a host of AI technologies promising optimization throughout the telecoms value chain, from the handling of network traffic to the processing of customer service inquiries.
AI adoption is well underway
The vast majority of telecom providers see AI integration as a business imperative. Almost 90 percent of firms worldwide had either fully or partially integrated the technology in at least one business area as of 2024, while just three percent had no plans to do so. Unsurprisingly, operators are broadly driven by the ability to reduce costs and improve performance. However, the sheer range of possible applications has left organizations split on where to direct resources, particularly when a return on investment can be difficult to quantify. In addition, telco leaders have echoed concerns in the wider business landscape concerning a lack of qualified data scientists.Mobile operators seek to predict 5G demand
Major mobile network operators have directed investment at their core product – 5G networks. Among the numerous use cases is the ability to predict both traffic and potential faults, enabling operators to preempt surges and head off potential threats. Some operators have sought to support this with AI enhanced network slicing, in which multiple virtual networks for various use cases are run on the same physical network. More broadly, retail providers have been quick to implement AI in customer service operations, be this through AI powered analytics or AI chatbots.A competitive market will drive deeper AI integration
Intense competition among the world’s leading providers will necessitate continued AI innovation over the coming decade. As next-generation technologies evolve, customers will expect services to keep up with shifting consumption habits, demanding a seamless user experience. Ultimately, it will fall upon telecom leaders to make the case for increased AI investment while navigating evolving regulatory environments in the world’s largest markets.
