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NTT DOCOMO and Keio University have validated that commercial 5G Standalone (SA) can stably support haptic-grade robot teleoperation using network slicing and configured grant—turning years of URLLC theory into practical results. By pairing 3GPP-configured grant scheduling with a low-latency slice and Keio’s Real Haptics technology, DOCOMO showed that public 5G SA can carry force and tactile feedback with the determinism required for safe, precise manipulation. The KPIs demonstrate material improvements in latency stability, force fidelity, and motion smoothness—indicators that the control loop is resilient enough for practical tasks.
TELUS Digital is using Mobile World Congress 2026 to move the AI-in-telecom conversation from pilots to proven production at scale. TELUS Digital reports processing more than two trillion tokens in 2025 through its Fuel iX generative AI platform for TELUS operations and customers. The portfolio spans AI for customer experience, application safety, and network modernization—built and battle-tested within TELUS before client rollout. The Network Design Services practice applies AI to planning and optimization while charting a path from legacy network stacks to cloud-native, automated environments.
SK Telecom introduced ATHENA—an architecture grounded in AI-native operations, Zero Trust security, hyper-connectivity, openness, and cloud-native design—to guide mid- to long-term evolution across RAN, core, transport, and network data platforms. The operator positions “AI for network” and “network for AI” as dual tracks: the former embeds AI into decision loops for autonomous optimization, while the latter tunes the network fabric to serve AI workloads efficiently. SK Telecom will showcase related technologies at MWC Barcelona 2026, including AI agents for networks, AI-RAN for combined connectivity and compute, device-side AI for antenna tuning, and integrated sensing-and-communications.
Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Telefónica, TIM, and Vodafone unveiled a live, pan‑European edge federation at MWC 2026, marking a practical step toward an interoperable edge cloud that spans national borders. The five largest European operators demonstrated the European Edge Continuum, a federated edge capability now running in lab and pre‑production environments. The initiative provides a single entry point to deploy and manage applications across multiple operators’ edge nodes, with automated placement, security controls, and mobility‑aware continuity. The platform draws on components developed under the IPCEI‑CIS program backed by the EU’s NextGenerationEU funds, and is positioned for industrialization and commercial rollout next.
Deutsche Telekom’s early live results showing up to 65% energy savings in its 5G core spotlight a pragmatic path to cut opex and carbon as traffic surges and standalone 5G scales. Operators have wrung out much of the easy efficiency from hardware refreshes; the next gains come from software-driven, demand-aware control. DT is applying that logic to the core, shifting components to run only when needed rather than idling at full power. The results are enabled by DT’s “Horizontal Telco Cloud,” a unified, standards-based platform that replaces fragmented stacks with one common layer for core services. Initial live-network tests have been completed, with broader rollout planned and further detail expected at MWC Barcelona 2026.
Deutsche Telekom’s launch of seamless IoT roaming across terrestrial, GEO, and LEO networks signals a practical turning point for standards‑based satellite IoT at global scale. Multi‑orbit roaming blends the strengths of geostationary (always‑on footprint, predictable links) with low‑earth orbit (lower latency, better high‑latitude reach) and terrestrial cellular to keep devices online where traditional networks fall short. The service has been validated on Nordic Semiconductor’s nRF9151—billed as the first 3GPP‑compliant cellular IoT module to support terrestrial NB‑IoT/LTE‑M and NB‑NTN over both GEO and LEO—which matters for total cost of ownership and speed to scale.
LG Uplus is moving from rule-based automation to closed-loop autonomy, using AI agents and digital twins to accelerate toward a fully autonomous network by 2028. Its core platform, the AI Orchestration Nexus (AION), is already automating repetitive operations and has contributed to a reported 70% reduction in customer complaints about network quality—an early signal that the approach is translating into measurable outcomes. The company plans to showcase these capabilities at MWC Barcelona 2026, underscoring growing operator interest in operational AI as 5G matures and traffic patterns become more volatile.
MWC25 Las Vegas is the premier North American event for CIOs and IT leaders, offering real-world insights on 5G, AI, IoT, private networks, and edge computing. With industry leaders from IBM, Qualcomm, T-Mobile, and more, the event focuses on actionable strategies for enterprise transformation.
In AI in Telecom: Strategic Themes, Maturity, and the Road Ahead, we explore how AI has shifted from buzzword to backbone for global telecom leaders. From AI-native networks and edge inferencing, to domain-specific LLMs and behavioral cybersecurity, this article maps out the strategic pillars, real-world use cases, and monetization models driving the AI-powered telecom era. Featuring CxO insights from Telefónica, KDDI, MTN, Telstra, and Orange, it captures the voice of a sector transforming infrastructure into intelligence.
In The Gateway to a New Future, top global telecom leaders—Marc Murtra (Telefónica), Vicki Brady (Telstra), Sunil Bharti Mittal (Airtel), Biao He (China Mobile), and Benedicte Schilbred Fasmer (Telenor)—share bold visions for reshaping the industry. From digital sovereignty and regulatory reform in Europe, to AI-powered smart cities in China and fintech platforms in Africa, these executives reveal how telecom is evolving into a driving force of global innovation, inclusion, and collaboration. The telco of tomorrow is not just a network—it’s a platform for economic and societal transformation.
In Beyond Connectivity: The Telco to Techco Transformation, leaders from e&, KDDI, and MTN reveal how telecoms are evolving into technology-first, platform-driven companies. These digital pioneers are integrating AI, 5G, cloud, smart infrastructure, and fintech to unlock massive value—from AI-powered smart cities in Japan, to inclusive fintech platforms in Africa, and cloud-first enterprise solutions in the Middle East. This piece explores how telcos are reshaping their role in the digital economy—building intelligent, scalable, and people-first tech ecosystems.
In Driving Europe’s Digital Future, telecom leaders Margherita Della Valle (Vodafone), Christel Heydemann (Orange), and Tim Höttges (Deutsche Telekom) deliver a unified message: Europe must reform telecom regulation, invest in AI and infrastructure, and scale operations to remain globally competitive. From lagging 5G rollout to emerging AI-at-the-edge opportunities, they urge policymakers to embrace consolidation, cut red tape, and drive fair investment frameworks. Europe’s path to digital sovereignty hinges on bold leadership, collaborative policy, and future-ready infrastructure.

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