Telco generative AI adoption tracker

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The Telco generative AI adoption tracker is a database of deployments of generative AI by telcos around the world. It also features STL’s assessment of key telcos’ progress with AI

Last updated: May 2026

About the Telco generative AI adoption tracker

This ‘Telco generative AI adoption tracker’ follows telcos’ progress in the adoption of AI. It is based on publicly available data and includes STL’s analysis of telcos’ strategies and ambitions in the area.

Tracker components

  1. STL Partners’ assessment of telcos’ progress on AI: Shows a summary of 120 telcos’ play across nine areas of AI implementation, with a focus on productisation. Includes also STL’s view on where each telco stands on a scale from ‘Progressing’ to ‘Frontrunner’.
  2. Generative AI telco adoption: Lists all generative AI use cases in telecom globally from publicly available data and tracks important characteristics of the implementations.
  3. Generative AI solutions for telcos: A collection of generative AI solutions specifically designed or optimised for the telecom industry.

For the summary deck, click on ‘Download’ under ‘Download the full report’.

For the full Excel database, download ‘Additional files’.

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Telcos’ enthusiasm for deploying GenAI is showing no signs of slowing down

In May 2026, the number of generative AI (GenAI) entries in the tracker reached 826 projects across 120 telcos worldwide. While major telcos focus on broadening their GenAI portfolios, smaller telcos are still catching up. 

Global distribution of generative AI implementations by telcos, May 2026

In our analysis of these implementations, we collect various types of data, such as:

  • Does the telco uses its in-house developed large language model (LLM)?
  • What share of the deployments include an element of agentic AI?
  • Is the implementation internal or productised in a solution for businesses or consumers?
  • Is the deployment part of a sovereign AI proposition?
  • Is the deployment about building an AI factory?

In addition to the detailed database, the tracker includes a summary of the activities of all 120 telcos and STL’s assessment on the stage of maturity of AI adoption by these telcos.

Framework for analysis of telcos’ activities related to AI

Table of contents (summary deck) – May 2026

  • Executive summary
  • STL Partners’ assessment of telcos’ progress on AI
  • Current implementations of AI by telcos

Related research

For the summary deck, click on ‘Download’ under ‘Download the full report’.

For the full Excel database, download ‘Additional files’.

Technologies and industry terms referenced include: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Marina Koytcheva

Marina Koytcheva

Marina Koytcheva

Director, Research

Marina works across STL Partners’ research portfolio, with a specific focus on the Executive Briefing Service, consumer services and sustainability. She joined STL Partners in 2023 with 18 years of experience as a market analyst, first at Nokia, and then at CCS Insight where she led the market forecasting practice across all technology areas and modelled the impact of major global disruptions. She has wide expertise across telecoms, hyperscalers, device markets, consumer behaviour, and the impact of macroeconomic factors on the tech industry. Marina holds an MSc in Finance and Economics, and an MBA.

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