AI for digital industries: navigating enterprise needs, investments and supplier decisions

Digital transformation of enterprises across vertical sectors is accelerating. During 2024-2030, enterprises will spend 10% of their revenues on digital transformation, and this provides new B2B opportunities to technology suppliers, including operators. The rise of digital industries is not one size fits all though. As sectors have different needs and priorities, getting insights directly from enterprises is key to formulate the right B2B strategies and capitalise on the digital transformation opportunity.

Several dynamics have either emerged or intensified, materially altering the strategic role of the mobile core. These shifts demand a fresh review of how mobile core networks are evolving – and how they must continue to evolve. The mobile core remains an enabling layer. At the same time, it is becoming an intelligent, adaptive platform that will shape how operators compete, differentiate and grow in the AI era – as long as operators know how to put it to use and evolve its capabilities.

By investing in AI factories, telecoms operators can leverage their infrastructure, traffic, customer base and regulatory positioning to capture a meaningful share of the expanding AI and cloud revenue pool. Scenario analysis suggests AI factories could deliver an incremental uplift of 1.5–6.0% to total operator revenues, depending on execution and market share capture. This represents a meaningful growth lever in an otherwise mature industry.