"Telecom needs to be focused on using AI, not selling AI."
A month removed from the buzz and hype of MWC, is telecom asking the right questions about what comes next? AI compute economics, the case for 6G, autonomous networks and a pace of change that makes annual roadmaps feel obsolete are pushing operators to make consequential bets with imperfect information.
On this episode of Zero-Touch Live, Geoff Hollingworth sat down with Will Townsend of Lone Star Advisory & Research and Sean Kinney, principal analyst at RCR Tech, also co-hosts of the Beyond the Network series, to discuss what they're watching and what it means for operator strategies.
Is telecom avoiding important questions?
Geoff, Will and Sean covered a lot of ground, with key takeaways from the conversation including:
- The AI grid opportunity carries a familiar risk. The economics of deploying GPU compute at base stations raise the same questions MEC did a decade ago. The technology is real but the monetization path for operators is not yet proven.
- Level 4 autonomy is moving faster than 6G. Validated L4 use cases are stacking up across operators globally, raising an important question about whether "AI native" is a strong enough anchor for an entirely new network generation.
- The Nokia vs. Ericsson divergence demands a real strategic choice. There is diverging opinion on where operator value gets created next and operators watching from the sidelines will eventually have to pick a direction.
- Physical AI may be telecom's clearest long-term opportunity. Robotics and persistent low-latency connectivity are a natural pairing and if physical AI scales, telecom's relevance in the broader AI ecosystem as a strong opportunity can grow with it.
- AI safety in network operations is the unaddressed risk. Pressure to deploy AI and show results is outpacing governance, raising the risk of an eventual AI-driven failure at significant scale.
In short: the gap between having the right tech and building a sustainable business around it remains telecom's defining challenge.
👉 Watch the full conversation for a deeper look at where the industry is placing bets and what comes next.
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