Telcos Double Down on AI as 90% Report Positive Returns
Telcos Double Down on AI as 90% Report Positive Returns
Publish Date: 2026-02-20 15:51:00
Source Domain: www.pymnts.com
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Prioritization of Internal Operational Improvements: Telecom operators are finding stronger returns from AI-driven network automation and internal process optimization rather than customer service chatbots.
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Network Automation as Major ROI Driver: With about half of respondents identifying network automation as the leading AI use case for ROI, AI’s applications like predictive maintenance and traffic optimization are becoming strategic focal points.
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Emphasis on Internal Efficiency: Internal process automation, such as fraud management and billing reconciliation, is delivering higher immediate returns and cost savings due to AI.
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Autonomous Network Vision on the Horizon: Despite incremental challenges, most operators expect to see AI-native autonomous networks before the introduction of 6G, aiming towards self-configuring, self-healing, and self-optimizing networks.
