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A smart move: Maximizing business value with AI and automation

A smart move: Maximizing business value with AI and automation

AI business value: Unleashing the potential of AI for telecom operations

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Artificial intelligence (AI) is taking automation to the next level. But AI implementation isn't just a one-off tech solution – it's a whole new way of working, which means its value is often hard to measure. To calculate how AI is driving growth in the telecommunications industry, we surveyed industry professionals about the role it plays in their organizations, using the insights to develop an industry-unique measurement framework.

Learn from the front-runners of telecom AI

We spoke to more than 80 communications service provider (CSP) professionals around the globe about four keytopics:

  • The state of AI in their organizations
  • Adoption evolution, barriers and preconditions of AI
  • AI use case benefits and attractiveness
  • Preferred vendor engagement models.

Discover everything you need to know about AI automation.

5-10% ROI
When it is implemented, a majority of CSPs believe that AI can result in IT and network OPEX reductions, as well as returns on investment of between 5 and 10 percent.

Discover the AI business potential for telecom operation​

We divided the findings of our study in two reports.  The first report summarizes the finding of our survey, presents the top ten AI use case cluster for telecom and describes the AI value measurement framework. The second, deep-dive, focuses on selected clusters and their business benefits and provides a quick guide on the steps to accelerate AI implementation.

Watch our experts’ discussion on the report and the potential of AI in telecom l 30 min

We know AI will deliver value across industries, including the telecommunication sector. It was also very clear in our discussion with our customers, that although the benefits of early AI implementation are visible, it is difficult to quantify and measure the Return On Investment. To help CSPs understand AI value creation, we partnered up with Arthur D. Little to help bring answers those questions” Eva Hedfors, Head of Marketing & Communications, Ericsson Cloud Software & Services.

AI is no longer a buzz word in the telecom industry and we clearly see its business potential. Listen to our business experts discussing the key findings of our report and answer some of the most interesting questions around it.

Measuring the benefits of AI for CSPs

With hundreds of possible use cases, AI unlocks enormous business potential for CSPs.

While many of these new opportunities are easy to implement, others are very specific to the telecom industry and require deep telecom domain expertise and AI expertise. To help CSPs determine which AI use cases are best suited to their business goals, we created an industry-unique standardized measurement framework to calculate AI value creation. The framework has four distinctive steps.

1

Determine baseline
 

2

Specify the sought-after business outcome

3

Determine KPI drivers
 

4

Select the AI use case and assess business impact

What do the front-runners do?

There are several factors that contribute to a successful AI implementation. From the AI front-runners in the telecom industry, we see that they start with:

  • identifying the strategic outcome
  • prioritize working with quality data
  • collaborate and secure buy-in
  • and form organizational units dedicated to AI.
“What I would have done differently in our AI implementation? Bring people on board. It has to be very top to bottom. Engagement from C-level”

Manager Special Project Hyper Automation & Transformation, South East Asia

Selected AI clusters deep dives

Why does network optimization have such a high business potential? How can AI in network operations prepare CSPs for the future? And how can you use cloud and infrastructure operations to build your foundation? We take you on a deep dive to find out.

Explore three of the commonly adopted AI use case clusters: network optimization, network operations and cloud and infrastructure operations clusters to uncover their growth potential, benefits and future challenges.

Network optimization

Network optimization

AI use cases related to optimization and improvement of network performance. Examples include proactively identifying network bottleneck issues and maximizing CAPEX investments using AI-powered prediction models. Approximately 37 percent of surveyed CSPs have AI-powered network optimization solutions.

Network operations

Network operations

AI use cases related to improving the end-to-end operations and automation of the network, including network operations centres (NOC) and fieldwork. This included detecting incidents affecting the network performance and notifying CSPs of the possible first cut analysis. About 48 percent of surveyed CSPs are leveraging AI in their network operations.

Cloud and infrastructure operations

Cloud and infrastructure operations

AI use cases related to improving the effectiveness, availability, and stability of cloud and infrastructure operations. Examples include infrastructure fault detection and prediction and capacity management. Close to 35 percent of surveyed CSPs have implemented AI in cloud and infrastructure operations.

Interested in more details and recommendations for specific AI clusters?

Find out more about selected AI clusters deep dives and read our customer case

Download deep-dives

Customer case study: Far EasTone increases customer satisfaction rating by leveraging AI analytics in its 5G network.

FET NPS (4G+5G) - Based on FET's regular monthly survey of existing customers

Far EasTone (FET) a market-leading service provider in Taiwan, has been using AI in its 5G network to increase performance and differente itself in a highly competitive market. This has enabled a high-performing network with uplink and downlink speeds that outperform the three largest CSPs in Taiwan. Explore FET’s steps for success.

Dave Lu, Vice President Network and Technology, Far EasTone
“It’s a practice. Doing something the most efficient way. Maximizing network capability with minimum investment. It’s the same business, but with smart investment. The data is new, but you are still doing the same business more efficiently. It’s a different way of doing things.”

Dave Lu, Vice President Network and Technology, Far EasTone