The conversation at MWC 2025 wasn’t just about AI; it was about AI becoming the backbone of the future of telecom. From AI-embedded handsets and self-optimizing networks to intelligent BSS/OSS solutions and AI-powered customer experiences, the telecom industry is no longer asking ‘if’ AI will transform operations but ‘how fast’ it can be embedded across the value chain. What was once a fringe innovation is now a core driver of efficiency, revenue growth, and competitive differentiation.
As AI takes center stage, Trust in AI will emerge as one of the defining factors. CSPs must be confident that AI-driven automation and intelligence will enhance reliability, lower costs, and improve customer experience. Trust isn’t just about technology; it’s about outcomes.
One of the defining themes at MWC was the growing strategic shift in how telcos are approaching AI. Telcos are no longer just buyers of AI; they are becoming builders.
- Self-Healing Networks are Becoming a Reality – Deutsche Telekom’s AI-powered self-healing networks showcased how predictive automation is evolving to prevent failures rather than just respond to them.
- Strategic AI Initiatives from Industry Leaders – Orange Business and Telefónica highlighted their investments in AI-driven customer experience, network intelligence, and real-time operational efficiencies.
- The End of Traditional Vendor Models – Client-vendor relationships are being replaced by co-innovation partnerships, where telcos and AI providers collaborate to build, refine, and scale AI-driven solutions together.
The ability for AI to act autonomously, make real-time decisions, and continuously optimize network and service delivery will redefine telecom operations.
And it’s not just networks that will change. The entire BSS/OSS software ecosystem is poised for reinvention. The idea that telcos must purchase heavy, monolithic software products may soon become obsolete. With the rapid evolution of LLMs and AI-driven low-code/no-code solutions, spinning up AI-powered, use-case-specific telecom software on demand could soon be the norm – replacing traditional, static platforms with agile, intelligent, and adaptive AI architectures.
At Sutherland, we’ve been championing this model for years and are at the forefront of this transformation, offering a suite of AI-powered solutions tailored for the telecom industry:
- AI-Driven Network Operations – Enable strategic transformation by streamlining network management with cutting-edge AI, ensuring real-time monitoring, predictive issue resolution, and intelligent traffic optimization to maximize performance and reliability.
- Agentic AI: Transforming Productivity – Unlock productivity and elevate experiences with GenAI-powered, Service Lifecycle Management (SLM)-integrated platforms, automating repetitive tasks, enhancing decision-making, and empowering teams to focus on higher-value initiatives.
- Streamlined Telco Operations – Enhance operational efficiency with an AI-powered unified services hub that automates workflows, optimizes resource allocation, and improves service delivery across the entire telecom ecosystem.
Our Digital Acceleration Centers and AI Center of Excellence are innovation hubs, helping CSPs design and deploy AI-led solutions by blending domain expertise with cutting-edge AI capabilities. We enable telcos to move beyond experimentation and drive real-world AI execution.
While AI dominated MWC 2025, one key question remains: how does it truly benefit the end customer? Will it lead to lower tariffs, seamless connectivity, or hyper-personalized experiences? While AI advancements are accelerating, their real-world impact on consumers is still taking shape.
To bridge this gap, the industry must move beyond technology for technology’s sake and rethink AI adoption through an outcome-first approach. Whether it’s lowering costs, enabling seamless connectivity, or delivering hyper-personalized services, AI-led transformation must be designed to enhance customer value at every touchpoint. Even as partnership models evolve, the goal should remain the same – AI implementations must be built on real-world benefits, not just operational efficiencies. CSPs that prioritize end-user impact over AI experimentation will lead the way in shaping telecom’s next chapter.
MWC 2025 proved that AI isn’t just reshaping telecom; it’s redefining its future. But success won’t come from just adopting AI; it will come from trusting AI, scaling it, and ensuring it delivers real-world impact. Telcos that harness AI strategically will optimize operations and unlock new revenue streams and customer experiences. At Sutherland, we’re making this future a reality, helping CSPs turn AI ambitions into measurable outcomes.
The AI revolution in Telecom is here. Let’s build it together.
