AI in telecoms networks: The state of play in 2026

Executive Briefing Service, Network Innovation —

Purchase report

This report is available to purchase.

Buy Now

Login to access

Want to subscribe?

This article is part of: Executive Briefing Service, Network Innovation

To find out more about how to join or access this report please contact us

In the run-up to FutureNet World London, we conducted a survey with telcos, vendors and analysts to assess the degree of adoption of AI in telcos' operations and the impact of these capabilities in terms of cost savings and new service launch and revenue. Here we share the results.

Introduction

This survey was conducted by STL Partners for FutureNet World in the run up to its flagship event in London on 21-22 May 2026, which brings together more than 1,200 senior executives across the industry.

The purpose of the survey was to understand the state of adoption of AI across the telecoms industry, both in terms of penetration within telco processes as well as financial impact on operations and AI-enabled new services.

It builds on two previous annual surveys conducted for FutureNet World by Connective Insight. In this document we share results and key insights from the survey.

Survey overview

Source: STL Partners

If you are not a subscriber, enter your details below to download an extract of the report

Operations is delivering the biggest ROI for telcos

  • 22% of respondents cited cost savings of >10% in operations.
  • 20% of respondents cited cost savings >10% in customer experience.
  • At the surface level, this suggests that AI adoption in operations delivers much stronger ROI for telcos. However, measuring the financial impact of AI in CX/BSS is notoriously difficult, and often materialises as improved customer retention rather that lower absolute costs. It is therefore possible that the ROI in CX/BSS is also under-represented in this sample.
  • Critically, most do not know the cost impact of AI in any domain with 25% to 30% responding ‘I don’t know’ in each domain.
  • This could indicate that ROI measurement frameworks are not yet mature across the sector. This poses a risk to long-term investment in AI.

AI penetration vs impact on cost reduction in telcos

Source: STL Partners

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

Amy Cameron

Author

Amy Cameron

Research Director

Amy works with world-leading operators and tech companies to define opportunities and strategies in the B2B and AI fields. She leads STL Partners’ research into application of AI in telecoms, as well as the Growing Enterprise Revenues research stream.

You might be interested in