AI-native telco accelerator launched to speed deployment

TelecomTV and a group of telecom operators, vendors and industry bodies have launched the AI-Native Telco Accelerator to help communications service providers move from AI trials to broader deployment.

Founding participants include Axiata, Deutsche Telekom, Orange, NTT Docomo, Rakuten Mobile, GSMA, Wind River and Totogi. The effort is also supported by ETSI, NGMN Alliance, TM Forum, Mavenir and Wavelo, giving it backing from operators, suppliers and standards organisations.

ANTA has been created to address a common problem as telecom groups test artificial intelligence across networks and operations: projects often develop in isolation, with limited shared measures of progress and few common reference points for implementation. The programme will provide research, collaboration and practical guidance throughout the year.

At the centre of the initiative is an annual AI-Native Telco Index, which will assess 50 Tier 1 and Tier 2 operators against 20 markers of AI-native transformation. The benchmark is intended to give the sector a clearer view of how far operators have progressed in adopting AI across their businesses.

Other planned outputs include quarterly reports on specific AI technologies and operational priorities, a digital intelligence channel for research and analysis, and an academy built around case studies, proofs of concept and innovation programmes. The initiative will also host webinars, interviews and panel discussions focused on implementation.

Shared framework

The launch reflects a broader shift in telecoms. Over the past few years, operators have experimented with AI in customer service, network planning, assurance and automation, but many have struggled to extend pilot projects across large, complex organisations. By creating a common framework and shared information base, ANTA aims to reduce that fragmentation.

Ahmed Hafez outlined the industry's view of the challenge. "Agentic AI in telco is increasing, but accelerating and scaling requires the right foundations including interoperable data, open APIs, AI controls and automated lifecycle management," said Ahmed Hafez, SVP Network Strategy and Data & AI in Networks at Deutsche Telekom.

"Building these foundations demands openness, standardisation and collective action across the ecosystem," Hafez added.

That emphasis on common standards and shared operating models is likely to resonate with mobile network groups trying to modernise legacy infrastructure while integrating AI into daily processes. Telecom operators often run multi-vendor systems across fixed, mobile and cloud environments, making it difficult to apply a single approach at scale.

Operator focus

Totogi, one of the founding technology partners, said the key issue for the sector is no longer whether AI matters, but how it should be deployed in practical terms. Danielle Rios, CEO of Totogi, framed the initiative as a route to more concrete execution.

"AI native is the work the industry has now agreed to do. The harder question is how," Rios said.

"Most AI in telecom today observes. Totogi's AI acts, and operators see the business results. We know how operators are using AI, and we know what an AI-native telco requires: AI that understands how the operator actually works, so it can act safely across the entire telco. Totogi joined ANTA as one of two founding technology partners to do that work together with the rest of the community. This is the group showing the industry what works," she added.

TelecomTV will provide the platform, research resources and editorial support for the project, giving the initiative a media and analysis base as it seeks to bring together contributions from operators, suppliers and industry bodies.

Guy Daniels said the market was moving quickly enough to make coordination a pressing issue for network operators. "AI is a strategic imperative for operators now," said Guy Daniels, Chief Strategy Officer at TelecomTV.

"The challenge is getting to grips with the fast-paced nature and complexity of the technology to move from isolated experiments to scalable deployment. ANTA exists to help the industry answer that question through shared knowledge, independent research and collective action, accelerating the emergence of truly AI-native telecom operators and helping ensure they are not left behind," Daniels said.