The role of AI in the operations of telecommunication companies was a central theme in the 2024 Mobile World Congress. In the last couple of years, mobile phone companies have led the race in embracing artificial intelligence, with Samsung, Google, and Apple all confirming the incorporation of AI technologies in their new releases. Phones are processing and providing more data than before, being used to facilitate online shopping, on-the-go gaming, personal assistance, and high-volume data processing. Telecommunication companies inevitably need a reevaluation of their process and one obvious change is to follow suit and leverage AI technologies to scale up and evolve with changing demands.
AI Adoption by Mobile and Telecom Companies
AI has seen massive adoption, with AI-powered tools and systems being used for analytics, marketing, cybersecurity, forecasting, content creation, and more. E-commerce companies, online casinos, education institutions, and governments are all using AI to automate and streamline various operations. For instance, real money casinos in the entertainment industry are using AI to gather insight into player preferences by analyzing their activities and patterns. This information is then used to suggest personalized slots, roulettes, poker, and other games, as well as bonuses. Casinos and bookmakers are also leveraging AI analytics to stamp user patterns and recognize unusual activity, which helps with combating cybersecurity and unauthorized account access while supporting responsible gambling.
Many other industries, including telecom, are embracing AI. Mobile phones are becoming smarter as phone companies integrate AI tools into their devices. Google released Gemini AI for Pixel handsets and Samsung has Galaxy AI. Apple also recently announced that Apple Intelligence will be part of Siri chatbot. The integration of AI in smartphones and tablets results in expanded computing potential and activity, putting strain on network operators. Fortunately, telecom companies have the same opportunity to integrate AI into their operations. In 2024, mobile phone networks are utilizing AI for various needs, from network optimization to enhanced security, personalized services, and customer service. AI promises to transform the telecom industry by increasing operation efficiency and improving the user experience.
The Role of AI In Telecom Company Operations
AI has a role in enhancing the efficiency of telecom networks, which are relied on by data centers, businesses, learning institutions, governments, online gamers, and the general public. This was evident during the MWC 2024 conference where generative AI was the central theme. During the event, telecom companies showcased how artificial intelligence can be deployed to proactively detect network anomalies, analyze and identify network usage trends and patterns, and automate network adjustments to optimize performance. Some of the telecom operations where AI tools can be deployed include predictive maintenance, real-time data mining and analysis, automated anomaly detection and self-healing, and proactive network monitoring. AI can be used to monitor network performance, prioritize critical incidents, and offer instant solutions. However, the key potential of AI in telecom is in automation.
AI-powered systems can be used to automate various processes, including routing, network configuration, maintenance, and other network optimization protocols. The technology also supports ethical auditing and validation of algorithms. For telecom businesses, embracing AI translates to cost optimization, increased revenue, and sustainability. However, AI has many other benefits, including improved capacity planning, service quality, and efficiency. AI systems result in faster incident resolution times while optimizing resource allocation to guarantee consistent network performance. Telecom companies can also leverage AI SaaS solutions, which are designed to offer ready-to-use systems for easy AI adoption. Many mobile network operators are already partnering with other tech companies to adopt AI-driven solutions.
Telecom Companies Embracing Artificial Intelligence
Mobile network operators are already using AI to optimize networks, supercharge customer service, and deliver hyper-personalized services. For instance, some operators use AI to manage radio frequencies and provide optimal levels of service. AI systems can monitor cell towers to automate energy consumption and result in less energy use during low demand. Autonomous monitoring is also being used by South Korea Telecom to localize and fix faults within minutes. AT&T is also using predictive AI trained on large volumes of data from previous alerts. These systems provide instant warnings before issues arise in the network, resulting in proactive system maintenance and consistency. Meanwhile, Vodafone uses AI-powered virtual digital replicas of masts, antennas, and other real-world equipment to monitor network performance.
Vodafone also teamed up with Azure OpenAI from Microsoft, which provides a digital assistant called Tobi. The assistant currently interacts with over 40 million users monthly from more than a dozen countries and understands 15 different languages. AI chatbots are already being used to learn and answer questions customers generally ask, allowing call center staff to focus on other areas. Thanks to machine learning, AI assistants and chatbots can constantly learn from user responses, which helps them answer questions more accurately. BT Group partnered with IBM to leverage AI in real-time performance monitoring, enhancing visibility, and streamlining operations. Orange also offers first-of-a-kind AI-driven GPU as a service, which is another example of how telecom companies are embracing AI.
Key Takeaways About AI Adoption In the Telecom Industry
AI has many use cases in the telecom industry, from network optimization to service personalization. The technology can also support environmental sustainability and energy efficiency practices by accurately focusing and optimizing network usage. Network operators can use AI to streamline resource allocation and power management to reduce energy consumption. As more AI-driven tools become integrated into mobile devices, the way people use and interact with their devices will change. Network operators can leverage AI to adapt to these changes, maintain service consistency, and keep their networks secure.
