At the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, a global telco AI alliance highlighted how operators are leveraging their unique data, talent, and regulatory expertise to drive innovation, driven by telcos’ access to vast proprietary datasets.
As AI reshapes industries, telecommunications companies are capitalizing on their inherent strengths to integrate intelligent systems effectively. Unlike sectors that rely on third-party data, telcos have direct access to vast, proprietary datasets that enable advanced AI-driven solutions.
Contrary to common perceptions, experts like Soonmin Bae, Chief Responsible AI Officer at KT, and Geoff Hollingworth, Chief Marketing Officer at Rakuten Symphony, argue that telcos are uniquely equipped to harness the potential of AI in telco operations.
Unique and Abundant Data
Bae identifies that telcos hold “very unique” and “special” data, such as user location and preferences – rare outside the industry – with sensitive and personal data giving telcos a competitive edge in AI deployment.
The soaring deployment of agentic AI for telco services, operating on devices, is energetically driving transactions of this special data. Due to their privileged access, AI analytics for telcos play a “significant role” in such transactions, according to Bae.
Hollingworth also adds that the telecom industry is “one of the most data-rich industries on the planet,” having always been data-driven. That being said, he acknowledges that telco data is yet to be end-to-end managed and governed from an industrialization point of view.
With a sense of urgency, the global telco AI alliance is industrializing data, driving huge leaps in AI and telcos capabilities.
Rakuten’s Japanese network uses AI to automatically tune antennas based on weather and other conditions, ensuring optimal service quality. The company’s Large Language Model (LLM) also supports customers’ natural language communication, further enriching network and service experiences.
Fixing AI Talent Gaps
A common issue across the telecommunication sector is attracting and keeping AI talent. Bae considers this “the biggest hurdle” of the age of AI, suggesting that future success depends on securing such talent. Hollingworth does not concur and believes AI can itself solve the problem.
He emphasizes that AI is transforming software development, making it cheaper and faster, offering telcos a chance to lead in software development with domain knowledge guiding outcomes without being constrained by traditional coding skills.
AI Managing Regulatory Environments
The global telco AI alliance, experienced in navigating strict regulatory frameworks, is well-positioned to tackle AI governance, accountability, and security. Bae stresses telcos’ role in maximizing data usage while ensuring safe storage and application.
Bae believes “governance is very important in this AI era,” as stronger public trust in data protection will accelerate AI innovation in telecom. Given their regulatory expertise, telcos can spearhead the way to have good AI governance, determining future telecom and AI solutions integration of directions.
The future of AI in telecom industry is not behind when it comes to adopting AI. Instead, it is leveraging its unique data assets, addressing talent challenges with AI innovation, and leveraging its regulatory expertise to safely integrate AI and thereby enhance services and operational efficiency.
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