Telcos rebrand as cloud providers during MWC

2026-03-04 · Source: Tech Monitor · Field: Technology & Digital — Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, Cloud Computing & IT Infrastructure · Depth: Fundamental Awareness, quick

Summary

Global telcos at Mobile World Congress (MWC) are rebranding as AI, cloud, and edge providers, aiming to compete with hyperscalers by offering connectivity integrated with AI tooling and compute, often through strategic partnerships. This shift addresses the industry's focus on "infrastructure modernisation," with telcos stepping up to fill gaps left by application platform providers, including co-selling cloud services like Red Hat OpenShift. Operators are leveraging GenAI and AIOps to enhance network automation and secure connectivity, positioning managed cybersecurity as a key offering. Furthermore, telcos are exposing network functions via standardized APIs, such as those associated with GSMA/Open Gateway, to foster enterprise developer engagement in areas like identity and fraud detection. MWC underscores the critical role telcos play in supporting enterprise digital transformation and "app modernisation" efforts.

Key takeaway

Telcos are transforming into AI, cloud, and edge infrastructure providers, integrating GenAI and AIOps for network automation and exposing functions like identity/QoS via standardized APIs (GSMA/Open Gateway). This strategic shift, often via hyperscaler partnerships, offers AI/ML professionals new avenues for deploying models at the edge and leveraging specialized network services for distributed, secure AI workloads.

Topics

• Telco Cloud Strategy
• AI/ML in Telecommunications
• Network Automation
• Hyperscaler Partnerships
• Standardized APIs

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Editorial summary, takeaway, and curation by AIssential. Original article published by Tech Monitor.