Pawan Narula’s Post

AI demand could reshape telecom capital allocation The AI investment cycle is usually discussed through chips, cloud and data centres. But every new computing cluster also creates a connectivity requirement. That means telecom operators may need to reassess where they allocate capital: ▶️ consumer mobile capacity, ▶️ enterprise fibre, ▶️ inter-data-centre connectivity, ▶️ optical upgrades, ▶️ edge locations, ▶️ or international routes. The challenge is that AI-related demand may be concentrated, contract-led and infrastructure intensive. Operators cannot simply build everywhere and wait. They will need sharper demand forecasting, anchor-customer strategies and disciplined return thresholds. Verizon’s Google agreement shows how a major hyperscaler commitment can support the investment case for fibre expansion. The strategic advantage may go to operators that connect commercial demand with network investment earlier than competitors. My Curiosity: Should AI connectivity become a separate investment portfolio within telecom operators? Source: https://lnkd.in/dD-j-ECv

How are telecom giants making billions when connectivity revenues flatten? As global voice and traditional mobile data revenues reach saturation, telecommunications operators face a crucial question: *Where will future growth come from?* China’s leading telcos have unlocked the answer by pivoting from **connectivity providers** to **AI & Computing Network Orchestrators**. Instead of just routing packets, operators are transforming their core networks and distributed data centers into **Intelligent Computing Grids**. The results? Computing and AI infrastructure revenues are exploding—growing by over **140% year-over-year** for major players. The New Revenue Engines for Telecom: AI Infrastructure & Compute-as-a-Service: ** Operators leverage their nationwide edge infrastructure to host and deliver low-latency AI inference and training capacity directly to enterprises. **Token-Based Telecom Billing:** Moving beyond traditional Gigabyte or ARPU pricing to monetize network usage based on **AI Model API Tokens** processed over the network. **5G Private Networks + Industrial Edge AI: ** Deploying custom 5G/5.5G private networks bundled with edge computing for smart manufacturing, ports, and autonomous logistics. Shift in CAPEX Allocation: ** Operators are reallocating over **35% to 37% of their total CAPEX ** directly into intelligent computing and AI infrastructure. **The Takeaway:** The future of telco profitability isn't in selling more GBs—it's in monetizing compute power, tokens, and intelligent edge automation. Do you see Western operators successfully replicating this transition to AI & Compute Networks, or will tech giants continue to dominate this space? Share your perspectives below! #Telecom #ArtificialIntelligence #CloudComputing #AI #EdgeComputing #DigitalTransformation #FutureOfTelecom #Innovation

I'm starting to think we've been looking at telecom the wrong way. A few years ago, if someone had told me that some of the biggest conversations in telecom would revolve around AI models, cloud platforms, developer ecosystems, and software, I probably wouldn't have believed them. .We were focused on what we do best: .Building reliable networks. .Expanding coverage. .Improving performance. And those things still matter. They always will. But recently, I've noticed something interesting. When I speak with colleagues, attend industry events, or follow discussions around AI-RAN, Autonomous Networks, and 6G, the conversation has shifted. We're spending less time asking: "How do we build a better network?" And more time asking: "What can the network enable?" That's a very different question. The network is no longer just the destination. It's becoming the foundation for AI, edge computing, automation, digital services, and entirely new business models. Maybe the biggest transformation in telecom isn't moving from 5G to 6G. Maybe it's moving from thinking of the network as the product to thinking of it as the platform. I'm curious whether others see the same shift. Do you think the next competitive advantage in telecom will come from building better networks... or from building better platforms on top of them? I'd genuinely love to hear different perspectives from operators, vendors, software companies, cloud providers, and fellow architects. #Telecom #AI #6G #AIRAN #Leadership #Innovation #Cloud #EdgeComputing #FutureOfTelecom

Nokia’s AI strategy will not be proven by another press release. It will be proven when AI customers become materially larger than 8% of revenue. That was Nokia’s AI-and-cloud contribution in Q1 2026. The growth was impressive: AI-and-cloud sales increased 49%. Nokia booked approximately €1 billion of AI-and-cloud orders during the quarter. Optical Networks grew 20%. Combined Optical and IP Networks are expected to grow 18–20% in 2026. But the starting point still matters. More than 90% of Nokia’s revenue comes from somewhere else. And while Nokia is a top-three optical transport vendor, it is not yet a top-tier data-centre Ethernet switching vendor by market share. This That creates four execution tests. 1️⃣ Can Nokia move from connecting data centres to winning inside them? DCI is already a credible Nokia position. AI back-end switching is a much harder battle. 2️⃣ Can it sell to cloud buyers? Hyperscaler procurement, product cycles and operating models are very different from telecom RFPs. 3️⃣ Can it grow without destroying margins? Optical growth is valuable. Commodity hardware growth is not. 4️⃣ Can it manage RAN for profit without weakening it? Underinvest too aggressively and Nokia could lose scale, competitiveness, standards influence and operator confidence before 6G arrives. That is the balancing act. Nokia cannot simply leave telecom behind. Telecom supplies the revenue, customer access, patents and technical foundation funding the next move. But it also cannot remain dependent on a low-growth mobile infrastructure market. My prediction: By 2028, Nokia will still be described as a telecom vendor. But investors, competitors and customers will increasingly judge it as an AI networking infrastructure company. The transformation succeeds when “Nokia vs Arista” sounds as natural as “Nokia vs Ericsson.” Until then, this remains a credible strategy—not yet a completed reinvention. #Nokia #AIInfrastructure #Telecom #DataCenterNetworking #Strategy

𝟏𝟓𝐆𝐖 - 𝐒𝐊 𝐓𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦 𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐭𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐀𝐬𝐢𝐚'𝐬 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐀𝐈 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞. SK Telecom has unveiled plans to develop up to 15GW of AI data center capacity, marking one of the most ambitious AI infrastructure initiatives announced in Asia. 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐎𝐮𝐭? -- Up to 15GW AI Data Center Buildout aimed at establishing Korea as a major AI infrastructure hub for Asia. -- The initiative is designed to support the rapidly growing demand for AI computing, hyperscale AI workloads, and next-generation AI services. -- SK Telecom plans to leverage its strengths across telecommunications, AI, energy, semiconductors, and strategic partnerships to accelerate deployment. -- The company sees AI data centers as a key pillar of Korea's digital competitiveness while strengthening Asia's AI ecosystem. 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐈𝐭 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 The announcement signals that AI infrastructure is entering a new phase where multi-gigawatt AI campuses are becoming a strategic priority, not just for hyperscalers, but also for telecom operators seeking to become long-term AI infrastructure providers. #DataCenters #AIInfrastructure #AriztonInsights

The Road to 6G Has Already Begun While 5G continues to expand worldwide, the telecommunications industry is already shaping the future with 6G. The next generation of mobile networks is expected to become far more than a faster communication technology. It aims to create an intelligent, secure, and programmable digital infrastructure where connectivity, Artificial Intelligence, cloud computing, and advanced applications work seamlessly together. Some of the key expectations for 6G include: 🔹 AI-native network architecture capable of autonomous optimization and decision-making. 🔹 Significantly improved performance, reliability, and ultra-low latency for mission-critical applications. 🔹 Greater energy efficiency and sustainability by design. 🔹 Programmable network capabilities that enable developers and industries to create innovative services beyond traditional connectivity. 🔹 Integration of terrestrial, satellite, sensing, and computing technologies into a unified communications platform. As mobile data traffic continues to grow rapidly over the coming years, 6G is expected to support new digital experiences, including immersive mixed reality, autonomous mobility, intelligent industrial automation, and large-scale machine collaboration. The first commercial deployments are anticipated around 2030, while research, standardization, and technology validation are already progressing globally. The future of telecommunications is no longer just about connecting people—it's about creating an intelligent digital fabric that connects people, machines, data, and AI in ways never seen before. Source: Adapted from Ericsson's official 6G vision and research. 📖 Learn more: Ericsson – 6G: Follow the journey to the next generation networks

Recent industry developments signal a shift in the AI landscape. While attention is focused on models and compute, the next phase of competition will depend on the infrastructure that enables AI to scale and deliver value. This is redefining telecom’s role. Connectivity is no longer just a support layer for digital services; it has become a strategic foundation for AI factories, distributed inference, sovereign AI platforms and edge intelligence. Verizon’s recent collaboration with Google to expand AI-ready fiber infrastructure reinforces this trend. It highlights how telecom assets are becoming strategic components of the AI economy. AI infrastructure can be understood through four layers(Compute, Energy, Connectivity, and Data). While GPUs dominate the narrative, connectivity is what enables AI to scale across data centers, clouds and the edge. Without high capacity fiber, resilient transport and advanced interconnection, even the most powerful models cannot reach full potential. This shift also changes telecom’s growth model. Success will be measured less by subscribers or devices and more by the AI workloads networks can support. In my view, future telecom leadership will depend on building AI-ready digital infrastructure for enterprises, governments and AI ecosystems. Fiber density, optical transport, edge presence and interconnection capabilities are becoming as strategically important as spectrum and coverage in defining long term advantage. #AIInfrastructure #Telecommunications #DigitalInfrastructure #Connectivity #EdgeComputing #FutureNetworks

Mobile operators are in a new cycle of decision-making as they craft their network strategies for the next five years. The process is complex because an array of sophisticated technologies will be used to transform network performance and efficiencies and operators must weigh the role each technology plays and its likely impact on their businesses, before placing it on their technology roadmaps. To gauge mobile operator opinions, priorities and plans for key technology trends, GSMA’s Mobile World Live surveyed executives from 119 global network operators. The questions we asked them about focused on five technology topics: 5G’s standalone architecture (5G SA), Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML), the Open Radio Access Network (O-RAN), cloud computing and tools for energy management and sustainability. The results show that all these technologies are important to mobile operators and companies are investing strategically in them to take advantage of anticipated business and performance benefits. Depending on the technology, deployments are underway already or expected within the next five years. Slower deployment timelines are associated with concerns about technology maturity or perceived deployment difficulties. More updates: 𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 Telco AI-Native virtual conference. https://lnkd.in/gQgA-y8G ♻️ Repost NOW 👉Subscribe to #global5gevolution newsletter https://lnkd.in/ge9gsyjE 👉Subscribe to our YouTube https://lnkd.in/g8M7YvKq 👉Follow us on Kaneshwaran Govindasamy & Global 5G Evolution 👉Click comments

Industry Myth vs. Reality: Common Misconceptions in Telecom The telecom industry is evolving at an unprecedented pace, yet many long-held misconceptions continue to shape how it's perceived. The reality? Modern telecom is no longer just about connectivity—it's about enabling intelligent, secure, and scalable digital ecosystems. Here are a few myths worth debunking: ❌ Myth: Faster speeds are all that matter. ✅ Reality: Reliability, resilience, and user experience are equally critical. ❌ Myth: More towers automatically mean better networks. ✅ Reality: Smart network design, optimization, and automation deliver real performance. ❌ Myth: AI is just another buzzword. ✅ Reality: AI is transforming network planning, predictive maintenance, customer support, and operations. ❌ Myth: Cloud will replace telecom infrastructure. ✅ Reality: Cloud and telecom complement each other to power next-generation digital services. ❌ Myth: Telecom is a mature industry with limited innovation. ✅ Reality: From AI-native networks and Open RAN to edge computing and satellite connectivity, telecom is driving the future of digital transformation. As technology continues to evolve, separating myth from reality helps businesses make informed decisions and unlock new opportunities. Which telecom myth have you heard most often? Share your thoughts below. #Telecom #DigitalTransformation #Networking #AI #Innovation #Telecommunications #Cloud #EdgeComputing #FutureOfTechnology #MomentumControls

🚀 Current Telecom Trend: AI is Transforming 5G Networks The telecom industry is entering a new phase where 5G-Advanced is no longer just about faster speeds—it's about making networks smarter. Operators and technology partners are increasingly integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) into Radio Access Networks (AI-RAN) to: ✅ Improve network performance and coverage ✅ Reduce energy consumption ✅ Detect and resolve network issues proactively ✅ Optimize spectrum utilization in real time ✅ Enhance customer experience through intelligent automation The shift toward cloud-native architectures, Open RAN, and AI-driven network operations is laying the groundwork for the transition from 5G-Advanced to 6G. Industry collaborations are also accelerating work on AI-native network infrastructure and autonomous operations. As telecom professionals, this means the required skill set is evolving beyond traditional networking. Understanding Kubernetes, OpenShift, AI-assisted automation, cloud-native 5G Core, network slicing, and protocol analysis (SIP, Diameter, HTTP/2, PFCP) is becoming increasingly valuable. The future of telecom isn't just connected—it's intelligent. What technology do you think will have the biggest impact on the next generation of mobile networks: AI-RAN, Open RAN, Network Slicing, or Satellite-to-Device connectivity? #5G #5GAdvanced #Telecom #AIRAN #OpenRAN #CloudNative #Kubernetes #OpenShift #NetworkAutomation #AI #Wireless #Telecommunications #6G