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 Innovation Spotlight focused on the rapidly evolving role of AI in the telecom industry. With insights from Marouane Debbah, a leading expert in both academia and telecom, the discussion covered AI’s growing influence, the development of specialised models, and the future of autonomous networks.
AI’s Growing Role in Telecom
The session kicked off with a mention of the upcoming M360 Doha event, highlighting the industry’s enthusiasm for AI advancements. Marwan Deba, who has an extensive background with companies like Motorola Labs, Siemens, and Huawei, shared his perspectives on AI’s increasing collaboration with telecom operators. He emphasised that universities are playing a crucial role in bridging the gap between research and real-world implementation.
Telecom GPT – A Game Changer
One of the standout discussions revolved around Telecom GPT, a large language model specifically trained on telecom data, including industry papers, standardisation documents, and code generation. This AI model aims to streamline operations, improve productivity, and reduce call center inefficiencies, attracting global interest for its potential applications.
Open Source vs. Proprietary AI Models
A significant debate in the AI space is whether open-source or proprietary models will dominate telecom AI. Marwan Deba noted the challenges in defining “open source” in the generative AI era and stressed the importance of sharing datasets and code to enhance community-driven innovation.
The Future of AI in Telecom
Looking ahead, Marwan Deba painted a picture of a telecom industry transformed by AI. He highlighted key advancements such as networked AI models, semantic communication, and agentic AI—potentially leading to app-free phones and solver engines that autonomously handle user requests.
Telecom operators, he argued, have a unique opportunity to leverage their infrastructure to regain a larger share of the value chain by offering AI-powered services, including subscription-based Telecom GPT solutions.
Key takeaways
- AI is bridging academia and industry – Universities are accelerating AI innovation in telecom.
- Telecom GPT has vast potential – AI-trained models can enhance productivity and reduce customer service inefficiencies.
- Open vs. proprietary AI models – The telecom industry must balance open collaboration with proprietary advancements.
- AI will redefine networks – Expect significant progress in autonomous networks, digital twins, and mobile edge computing.
- The human role is evolving – AI will solve problems faster, but humans will remain essential for defining challenges and setting direction.
With rapid AI advancements, telecom operators must adapt, leveraging AI-driven strategies to remain competitive in this evolving landscape. The coming years will likely bring unprecedented changes, making AI an indispensable part of the telecom industry’s future.
Watch the full interview here.
Stay tuned for further developments from the GSMA Foundry. If you have any questions or want to join this exciting journey, feel free to reach out.