Microsoft AI ignites telecom innovation and development 

The telecommunications {industry} is experiencing vital AI developments, rising because the main adopter of generative and agentic AI to drive automation, personalization, and data-driven selections. In response to a latest IDC white paper, telecom and media firms are seeing almost 4 instances the return on funding (ROI) on each greenback invested in AI. Moreover, by 2027, nearly 90% of telecom suppliers are anticipated to make use of generative AI to enhance buyer experiences, up from 62% as we speak. 

96% of our tier-1 telecom prospects are already adopting Microsoft AI options. Our ecosystem of shoppers and companions are harnessing the facility of AI to reimagine buyer experiences, modernize networks, automate enterprise operations, and drive development.

Forward of Cell World Congress 2025 (MWC), we’re sharing new capabilities and buyer momentum that present how telecoms are adopting the Microsoft Cloud and AI capabilities to assist their AI journey and empower the subsequent era of telecom options. 

We invite you to hitch us subsequent week at MWC to be taught extra about our new bulletins and see firsthand how Microsoft AI is remodeling the telecom {industry}. Expertise reside demos, attend insightful classes, and meet our specialists to be taught how one can drive innovation and development with Microsoft AI applied sciences.

Information is the gas that powers AI: Telco information mannequin

Telecom networks are acknowledged for his or her complicated, data-rich environments. This information is the gas that powers AI and kinds the muse upon which next-generation telecom methods are constructed. To transform this huge potential into actionable intelligence, organizations want a unified platform that may seamlessly join, handle, and analyze their information. Microsoft Cloth is the end-to-end information platform designed to energy buyer AI transformation and assist organizations reimagine how they unlock worth from their information and revolutionize the providers they provide.

Immediately we announce the Telco {industry} information mannequin in Microsoft Cloth, designed to unify all information—from community efficiency metrics to buyer interactions, inside a single analytics atmosphere. As an integral Cloth workload, telecom suppliers can use the Telco {industry} information mannequin to handle and streamline how all their information is ingested, modelled, and analyzed by: 

• Native Cloth integration—a unified pipeline inside Cloth’s analytics, governance, and visualization framework means sooner time to market, with higher insights. 
• Expanded information mannequin—pre-built telecom-specific schemas masking community information, buyer insights, and operational metrics drives operational effectivity.
• Developer and visualization instruments—simplified, AI-ready answer constructing that dramatically reduces growth and testing time, making networks extra resilient. 

Greater than 50% of our telecom prospects are leveraging Cloth for real-time enterprise insights to optimize enterprise and community operations. Main prospects like Telefónica, KPN, One NZ, and companions like Accenture, Infosys, and LigaData are utilizing Cloth to attain enterprise outcomes. The broader buyer adoption for Cloth is greater than 19,000 prospects, together with 70% of the Fortune 500. The Telco {industry} information mannequin in Microsoft Cloth permits telecoms to ascertain a powerful information basis to unlock AI-powered insights that gas innovation, operational effectivity, and higher worth throughout your entire group. 

“Microsoft Cloth, powered by Telco information mannequin and AI capabilities, has revolutionized our options by offering real-time insights all through the client journey, probably rising operational effectivity by 40%. Our answer affords preventive insights throughout your entire order lifecycle and its auto-healing functionality for enhanced jeopardy administration, considerably enhancing the administration of complicated B2B orders and enhancing the client expertise.”

Balakrishna D.R., Govt Vice President, Infosys Restricted 

The Telco {industry} information mannequin in Microsoft Cloth will probably be obtainable early in April 2025.

Telecom prospects all over the world are benefiting from the cloud and AI in new and revolutionary methods. The collaborations we not too long ago introduced with KT Company, Lumen, Telstra, and Vodafone show how telecoms are innovating to raise buyer experiences, streamline enterprise operations, modernize networks, and unlock new income streams. Moreover, we’re introducing new collaborations with high telecom suppliers that exemplify how they’re constructing the muse to efficiently implement AI, benefiting their group, workers, and prospects. 

• Spark, New Zealand’s main telecom supplier, is becoming a member of forces with Microsoft within the nation’s largest Microsoft public cloud partnership, highlighting how AI and the Cloud are serving to to remodel telecom worldwide. Spark will migrate a portion of its workloads to Microsoft Azure and roll out certainly one of New Zealand’s largest Microsoft 365 Copilot deployments. For extra, learn the press launch. 
• Microsoft and Telefónica are extending their strategic collaboration to co-develop digital options utilizing Open Gateway, a GSMA-led initiative that transforms communication networks into programmable platforms by way of Telefónica’s AI platform, Kernel. Each firms will work collectively emigrate Kernel’s capacities to Azure as a part of a software program as a service (SaaS) providing. The collaboration additionally encompasses a joint go-to-market technique, which is able to deliver a set of digital services to different telecoms, builders, and telecom entities—obtainable on Azure Market and built-in into Microsoft’s general telecom options. For extra, learn the press launch.

We’re additionally saying that Floor for Enterprise with 5G units and Microsoft 365 Copilot will probably be obtainable in all Verizon Enterprise channels beginning in April 2025. This launch marks a decade of partnership between Microsoft and Verizon Enterprise, providing mobile related Floor for Enterprise units and Microsoft providers. Clients are selecting Floor Copilot+ PCs as we speak for his or her distinctive efficiency, battery life, and safety. Now, with the Verizon 5G community, the mixture of Floor and Microsoft 365 Copilot affords an unparalleled cell expertise for enterprise prospects. For extra, learn the Floor IT Professional weblog. 

Telecoms speed up development within the subsequent wave of AI: Agentic AI

Because the AI platform shift accelerates, it’s inspiring to see prospects and companions harness AI, generative AI, and agentic AI to drive transformation—reshaping each their companies and the {industry} at massive. 

Elevating buyer experiences

A latest IDC white paper confirmed AI-powered buyer engagement is a high precedence for companies, with 92% of organizations presently utilizing AI for advertising and public relations (PR) and 77% utilizing it for customer support​. Telecom suppliers are delivering frictionless buyer experiences with AI-infused buyer care at-scale with Dynamics 365. With a complete view of the client, telecoms acquire real-time insights into accounts and next-best actions to take. In addition they allow their prospects by AI-powered automation for self-service. Moreover, Amdocs has created the Buyer Engagement Platform that’s totally built-in with Dynamics 365, to reimagine buyer expertise and determine new income alternatives for telecoms. 

Since final MWC, we introduced Dynamics 365 Contact Middle, a robust answer that works with current buyer relationship administration methods (CRMs) and unifies interactions, streamlines assist, and boosts buyer satisfaction. With this answer, shoppers can interact and self-serve of their channel of alternative whereas reps can deal with billing and tech points sooner with a single view. Constructed-in Copilot capabilities and real-time analytics drive enhancements and upselling, enhancing loyalty, and income. 

Main telecoms are additionally reimagining how they join with prospects by harnessing Microsoft 365 Copilot to seize real-time transcripts, achieve contextual insights, and automate repetitive duties. This reduces dealing with instances, releasing representatives to sort out extra complicated buyer wants.

Listed below are some examples of how telecoms prospects are utilizing Microsoft AI applied sciences to remodel their enterprise and reimagine buyer experiences:

• Telkomsel’s AI-powered answer Veronika, constructed on Azure and launched on the finish of 2023, is delivering spectacular outcomes. Telkomsel has elevated self-service interactions by 62% and reduce escalations to brokers by 38%. The typical month-to-month lively customers of Veronika additionally grew by 67%, rising from 1.3 million within the first half of 2023 to 2.2 million within the second half. These enhancements have boosted agent productiveness and repair high quality, making for a smoother, extra environment friendly buyer expertise.
• Vodafone is harnessing Microsoft 365 Copilot to empower 68,000 workers to spice up productiveness, innovation, and high quality. They’re additionally leveraged Azure OpenAI Service, Azure AI Studio, Kubernetes Service to develop Tobi and SuperAgent to empower their brokers with real-time AI assist to enhance buyer expertise, lower churn, and supply aggressive benefit. This improved first-time decision from 70% to 90%. 
• Lumen is leveraging Microsoft AI options to empower their workers and enhance customer support.

“Lumen is constructing the trusted community for AI. By scaling our AI capabilities with instruments like Copilot, Azure AI, and Azure ML, we’re empowering our workers to sort out complicated challenges and prioritize high-impact actions that improve buyer experiences and satisfaction. As we navigate our transformation, Microsoft’s AI instruments are important in supporting our goals and sustaining our aggressive benefit.”

Ryan Asdourian, Govt Vice President and Chief Advertising Officer, Lumen Applied sciences 

Optimizing operations and modernizing networks

To maintain tempo with rising enterprise calls for, main telecoms are optimizing enterprise operations and modernizing their networks with AI and an built-in information spine. 

Listed below are examples of how prospects are utilizing Microsoft AI capabilities to drive operational effectivity, innovation and development:

• AT&T automates code conversion and human sources (HR) inquiries with Azure OpenAI Service, enhancing worker expertise, reducing prices and boosting customer support.
• KT Company is leveraging Microsoft AI to drive effectivity and innovation.

“The Microsoft AI-driven options have enabled KT Company to enhance its work effectivity and drive vital work innovation. By introducing Microsoft 365 Copilot, KT Company empowered over 11,000 workers with the most recent AI options. Moreover, by creating AI brokers constructed on options equivalent to Microsoft Sustainability Supervisor and Copilot, KT decreased job completion time by 50% and improved infrastructure effectivity by 20%.” Phil Oh, CTO, KT Company

• Proximus and TCS’s GitHub Copilot journey showcases how Microsoft generative AI accelerates IT supply in telecom, enhancing productiveness, code high quality, and developer expertise.

“When it comes to developer expertise, that’s the place we acquired phenomenal, passable suggestions from builders—about 90% plus optimistic suggestions from all classes of builders.”

Muralidharan Murugesan, Head – AI, Telco, Media & Info Companies Trade, TCS 

• NTT DATA is leveraging Microsoft AI to construct agentic AI workloads.

“NTT DATA leverages Microsoft Copilot Studio to ship agentic AI advisory, implementation, managed providers, and connectivity. By offering industry-specific automation and using our built-in managed providers platform, we assist shoppers all through their brokers’ lifecycle. This collaboration is pivotal in attaining our shoppers’ outcomes, enabling us to ship tailor-made, environment friendly, and revolutionary options that drive enterprise success and improve decision-making processes.”

Aishwarya Sing, SVP, World Head of Digital Collaboration, NTT

• One NZ is utilizing Microsoft Cloth for real-time analytics from unified information sources. With the combination of a number of methods and visualizing insights on a single pane, One NZ has quickly streamlined processes and proactively addressed development alternatives: 

“Beforehand, you wanted to be a knowledge engineer or scientist to entry and perceive buyer info. Now we’re making it user-friendly, so anybody can simply make data-driven selections.”

Strathan Campbell, Channel Atmosphere Expertise Lead, One NZ 

• Telstra scales in-house generative AI instruments, saving 90% of workers’ time and lowering follow-up contacts by 20%.

Unlocking new income streams within the enterprise

A latest IDC white paper experiences that 63% of telco and media firms say they’re presently monetizing or utilizing AI to spice up income. As a trusted companion, past supporting their very own transformation, we equip telecom suppliers with complete business-to-business (B2B) choices to drive topline development and higher serve their enterprise prospects. 

For instance, AT&T’s collaboration with Microsoft is reimagining enterprise connectivity. AI purposes and AT&T’s connectivity are tackling the USD112 billion annual retail shrinkage problem head-on. By integrating Azure IoT with AT&T’s 5G community and leveraging Groups Cellphone Cell for notifications, retailers obtain alerts that decrease loss and guarantee safer procuring expertise. AT&T’s transfer into AI-powered connectivity has created new income streams, spanning value financial savings, compliance, and collaboration.

“AT&T is a pacesetter in enabling revolutionary AI options and continues to broaden capabilities by our relationship with Microsoft. We’re excited to combine Microsoft’s AI capabilities into our retail crime intelligence platform, which makes use of close to real-time notifications by way of Groups Cellphone Cell. This collaboration underscores the dedication of each firms to boost retail safety and contribute to a safer procuring atmosphere for each workers and prospects.”

Cameron Coursey, Vice President, AT&T Related Options 

One other companion, Norwood Programs, is extending conventional voice providers with Voice AI, opening up a brand new income stream for telecoms. Its OpenSpan answer, constructed on Azure OpenAI Service and Azure AI Speech, permits telecoms to bridge public switched phone community (PSTN) and cell providers, to ship superior options like real-time recording, transcription, and summarization. This gives seamless name administration for customers and deeper insights for the telecom suppliers:

“By integrating Norwood’s OpenSpan with our cell and voice networks, BT is unlocking new prospects in voice know-how. This innovation bridges our award-winning networks with AI, creating alternatives to boost buyer experiences, drive new efficiencies, and form the way forward for voice communications.”

Jon Martin, Senior Director, Unified Communications, BT 

To proceed our mission to assist telecoms succeed on this period of AI platform shift, Microsoft is enabling telecoms to additional capitalize on AI by providing generative AI-powered managed safety providers. This enables tier-1 telecoms to generate new income from reselling, implementation, and managed providers, whereas additionally lowering safety operations middle (SOC) prices and accelerating risk responses.

AI-powered Microsoft platforms and capabilities for co-innovation

Microsoft affords arguably the most complete AI options. As a platform-first firm, we additionally present in depth instruments to empower companions, builders and prospects to construct revolutionary cloud and AI options that meet the wants of telecom companies.

Our adaptive cloud strategy unifies hybrid, multi-cloud, and edge infrastructure by a single Azure Arc platform. We allow prospects to construct distributed, low-latency, high-performance purposes and set up a typical information basis for present and future AI investments. For ultra-low latency or regulatory eventualities, we’re increasing Azure with Azure Native—cloud-connected infrastructure deployable at edge places like retail websites and central places of work. We proceed to assist current Azure Operator Nexus prospects as the answer evolves as a part of our general strategy for Azure on the edge.

Accenture is spearheading an enterprise-ready personal multi-access edge compute (MEC) answer constructed on Azure Native to ship low latency, localized information processing, and meet regulatory necessities. Tejas Rao, Accenture, Managing Director, Accenture says, “Personal 5G and edge computing are not experimental applied sciences, they’re catalysts for enterprise transformation. By leveraging Azure Native, we assist organizations harness ultra-low latency and localized information processing to unlock real-time insights, automate essential operations, and meet industry-specific compliance wants.”

One other companion, Nokia, is utilizing generative AI to speed up the trail to self-healing and self-managed networks. They’re creating the capabilities to provision a completely autonomous “Degree 5” telecom community, one which self-manages and optimizes itself in real-time. Nokia’s “System Mind” structure, constructed on Azure AI Foundry and Azure Open AI Service, unifies a number of AI brokers beneath a single framework. This ensures reliability whereas delivering predictive insights, sooner downside decision, and steady operational enchancment. For extra, learn the Nokia weblog: AI and generative AI: Key to Degree 5 autonomous networks. 

We’re additionally open sourcing the programmability of the Radio Entry Networks (RAN) with Venture Janus, now on GitHub. Venture Janus streamlines real-time community telemetry right into a unified telecom information property, enabling AI-powered optimization and dynamic service fashions. It ensures that RAN intelligence, efficiency metrics, and radio useful resource utilization seamlessly feed into operational and buyer information, driving predictive upkeep and optimization for private and non-private networks.

Listed below are new Venture Janus integrations inside companion options:

• Capgemini is together with Venture Janus in a reference 5G stack, enabling its tools supplier prospects to construct extremely custom-made 5G community options. 
• Mavenir is incorporating Venture Janus-based probes into its newest RAN launch, serving to tier-1 telecoms scale back latency and enhance diagnostics.
• Software program Radio Programs (SRS) is integrating Venture Janus into its srsRAN codebase, together with the business Enterprise 5G providing and the open supply srsRAN Venture. 
• ZaiNar has constructed their 5G localization answer on high of Venture Janus.

Microsoft has additionally carried out an preliminary integration of Venture Janus into Intel’s FlexRAN reference structure, which ecosystem companions like Capgemini have adopted.

Tutorial establishments, such because the College of Edinburgh, are additionally adopting Venture Janus, and Texas A&M College and the College of California San Diego are integrating it into 5G analysis platforms.

To be taught extra about how telecoms can modernize their networks with Venture Janus, learn this weblog. 

Be part of us at MWC to be taught extra 

Because the tempo of AI influence accelerates, telecoms want a companion they’ll belief to navigate what’s subsequent. Be part of us at Cell World Congress 2025 to be taught extra about our newest AI improvements in theater classes, see leading edge demos, and meet with our specialists. Let’s form the way forward for telecom collectively—powered by AI, impressed by innovation, and constructed on belief. Learn this brochure to be taught extra about Microsoft’s MWC presence, together with in-booth theater classes and demos showcasing the most recent improvements from Microsoft and our prospects and companions.