As demand grows for high-speed, low-latency services, telecom operators are turning to AI at the Edge to enhance customer experiences and build scalable digital ecosystems. Recently, in an interview session moderated by Abe Nejad of The Network Media Group, Thomas Sennhauser, CTO and Business Lead APJ, Intel, and David Soldani, SVP - Next Generation Advanced Research, Rakuten Symphony, discussed the transformative role of Edge AI, focusing on open standards, scalability, and cross-industry collaboration to drive innovation and meet the demands of ultra-reliable, low-latency communications.
The leaders defined the Edge as the digital environment closest to end-users, where services are directly consumed. By integrating AI at the Edge, telcos can significantly improve mobile experiences, support connected robotics, and offer real-time, intelligent applications. Edge AI enables low-latency connections and supports diverse use cases, from logistics automation to smart home technology. Combining AI with Edge brings intelligence closer to the customer, enhancing control over latency and making smart city and logistics applications more achievable.
Open standards and software-defined networking emerged as essential to Edge AI’s success, enabling CSPs to maintain interoperable and flexible infrastructures. A unified platform allows communication services and AI applications to operate seamlessly at the Edge, creating a foundation for AI agents and applications to communicate across various platforms, maximizing functionality and adaptability.
A collaborative approach to AI – where shared, accessible standards become the norm – will attract developers and foster a thriving ecosystem. Instead of isolated standards, the industry benefits from unified frameworks that enhance scalability and avoid fragmented ecosystems, allowing Edge AI to reach its full potential.
On the topic of scaling, leaders shared approaches such as using cloud architecture to support distributed AI workloads across multiple platforms. With a cluster mesh approach, telecoms can run intensive AI applications at the Edge while maintaining ultra-low latency, ensuring users experience consistent, reliable service. Though the industry has made progress, Edge AI scalability is still evolving, and continued collaborative efforts are needed to prevent siloed solutions and enable broader impact.
“Bringing AI on the edge computing platform, I think, is essential, not only for enhancing the mobile end-user experience with new services, but particularly for achieving ultra reliable low latency communications.”
“I think what we need to learn is how can we work closer together... Open standards and collaboration will enable Edge AI to scale and achieve its full potential, rather than isolated ecosystems.”
The session underscored that AI at the Edge holds tremendous potential for telecom, from improved customer experiences to innovative, low-latency applications. Realizing this potential requires open standards, scalable architectures, and cross-industry collaboration. By working together to build unified platforms and a truly open digital ecosystem, the telecom industry is poised to unlock the full promise of Edge AI.
Watch the full interview here.
