Networks for AI: Segmenting the growth

Networks for AI: Segmenting the growth

£3,000.00 excl VAT

AI will create large potential opportunities for telcos in connectivity and use case enablement. But telcos must manage expectations and prioritise their investments carefully.

Description

Format: PDF filePages: 38Author: David MartinPublication Date: April 2025

 

The rise of generative AI presents significant potential growth opportunities for the telecom industry. But the AI landscape is moving so fast that it is almost impossible to predict how and when AI workloads will spread across networks. We outline the no-brainer and the higher risk/reward possibilities for telecom players at the infrastructure and service layers.

 

Table of contents

  • Executive summary
    • AI is both a substantial opportunity and risk for telcos
    • Different AI investments are suitable for different types of telco
    • Recommendations: No-brainer versus risky but high-reward investments
  • AI is a major potential opportunity for telcos
    • AI workloads will gradually migrate from central locations to distributed sites
    • Inferencing will eventually drive AI workloads to the edge
    • Some inferencing will still be carried out in centralised sites
    • It is too early to model accurately how AI will drive networking demand for telcos
    • Servicing real customer AI demand: Infraco, servco and techco plays
  • Telco roles in AI: Focusing investments around internal capabilities and customer needs
    • AI connectivity and infrastructure provider
    • AI enabler and service provider
    • Techco – AI company
  • Conclusion: Differentiated approaches are required to seize the AI opportunity

Technologies and industry terms referenced include: agentic AI, AI, AI workloads, AI-RAN, AIaaS, broadcom, connectivity, data centres, DCI, Deutsche Telekom, distributed, edge, edge AI, GenAI, GPUaaS, Inferencing, infraco, infrastructure, Investment, LLMs, model building, model training, NaaS, network, network infrastructure, nvidia, optical networking, Perplexity, SD-WAN, ServCo, SK Telecom, SLM, SLMs, softbank, techco, Telco, telco to techco, Use cases