The GSMA Foundry has embarked on an exciting initiative to showcase innovation in the telecommunications sector, aiming to counter the perception that the sector lacks rapid innovation.
Through a series of Innovation Spotlight interviews, the GSMA Foundry aims to highlight groundbreaking developments and investment opportunities, with over 700 mobile operators globally seeking new innovations. This initiative serves as a pipeline to demonstrate that the telco sector is indeed innovative and vibrant.
This edition dives deep into the journeys of Azercell and SLT Mobitel, two forward-thinking telecom operators who are harnessing the power of generative AI (Gen AI) through the IBM watsonx platform and the GSMA Foundry Gen AI Accelerator program.
A Mission with Purpose: AI-Driven Telecom
In a world racing toward digital transformation, telcos face mounting pressure to innovate beyond connectivity. That’s where Gen AI steps in, offering a powerful toolkit for automation, optimisation, and smarter decision-making across networks, customer service, and operations.
The GSMA Foundry and IBM’s Gen AI Accelerator Pack provides telcos with:
- Access to watsonx, IBM’s cutting-edge AI platform
- Free credits, expert guidance, and hands-on POC support
- A chance to showcase innovations at global GSMA events
All at zero cost. And the results are already speaking volumes.
Azercell: Smarter Networks, Sharper Insights
Shirin Aliyeva, Chief Legal and Data Strategy Officer at Azercell, highlighted how Azerbaijan’s largest mobile operator is leveraging Gen AI to enhance network optimisation. Serving 5.5 million users, Azercell is using AI to improve:
- Predictive maintenance
- Smart CapEx allocation
- Network slicing and performance monitoring
In collaboration with IBM, Azercell’s AI project now includes automating the analysis of multi-language site visit reports, significantly cutting down manual effort and accelerating decision-making across technical teams.
Surprise Insight: AI’s multilingual processing turned out to be a game-changer, allowing Azercell to unify and standardise complex reporting from various regions and languages.
SLT Mobitel: Enhancing Customer Service with Enterprise Knowledge Hub
Anil Pradeep Kumara, General Manager of R&D at SLT Mobitel, shared their journey in building an AI-powered enterprise knowledge hub. The solution was born from a need to improve efficiency in call centers by simplifying access to vast knowledge repositories.
With support from IBM and the GSMA Accelerator, Mobitel’s AI solution:
- Reduced call center agent response time by 20%
- Cut knowledge search clicks by 70%
- Improved customer satisfaction and operational efficiency
Next Phase: Mobitel is working toward real-time AI assistance, where agents receive instant, context-aware responses without needing to search manually.
IBM’s Perspective: The Road to Autonomous Networks
Eoin Coughlan, CTO for Telecoms, Media & Entertainment at IBM, emphasised that while Gen AI is already delivering ROI in areas like HR, finance, and customer support, its full potential in network operations is just beginning.
IBM’s approach includes:
- Small language models tailored to telecom data
- Mixture-of-experts architectures for efficiency
- Agentic AI models that can recommend, or even implement network changes autonomously
The long-term vision? Self-healing, self-optimising telecom networks that radically reduce OpEx and human error.
The Next Five Years: What’s Ahead?
Both operators and IBM foresee a transformation where AI becomes central to:
- Autonomous, self-healing network infrastructure
- Seamless, AI-enhanced customer experience
- Telecoms evolving into “TechCos”, technology-driven companies beyond connectivity
As Anil noted:
“Gen AI will empower telcos to deliver intelligent, human-like agentic solutions, handling complex tasks across customer, employee, and network layers.”
Advice to Telecom Leaders: Start Small, Scale Smart
For telcos considering Gen AI adoption, the consensus is clear:
- Start with a real use case tied to business KPIs
- Invest in AI literacy, ethical frameworks, and internal talent
- Leverage partnerships with trusted experts like IBM and GSMA
Shirin summed it up perfectly:
“AI isn’t here to replace people – it’s here to help us do what we do better.”
Skills for an AI Future
The episode closed with a thoughtful challenge from last episode’s guest:
What are the three essential skills in an AI-driven world?
Here’s what the panel said:
- Critical thinking: Distinguishing real information from misinformation
- Lifelong learning: Constantly adapting to evolving tech
- Emotional intelligence: Staying people-centric in a tech-heavy world
Final Thoughts
Innovation Spotlight #7 is a masterclass in how telcos can unlock real value from Gen AI, today and into the future. Through targeted use cases, bold experimentation, and the right partnerships, Azercell and Mobitel are paving the path for a more intelligent, automated, and customer-focused telecom industry.
Begin your generative AI integration journey
The GSMA Foundry and IBM Gen AI Accelerator Pack is available for GSMA members looking to explore AI-driven business transformation.
How to get started:
- Register your interest – Apply for the Gen AI Accelerator Pack.
- Develop AI solutions – Access watsonx.ai and start building AI-driven applications.
- Gain industry recognition – Showcase your innovation through the GSMA Foundry’s platforms and global events.
The telecoms industry is evolving rapidly, operators who fail to embrace generative AI integration risk falling behind. Register now to future-proof your business with an industry-leading AI solution that delivers demonstrable results.
Watch the full interview here.
Stay tuned for further developments from the GSMA Foundry.