Customer care and network support are driving telco AI deployments worldwide

Sovereignty has moved from being a strategy position on paper to actual deployment plans. Most operators are building selectively at the data and infrastructure layers, where they already have assets. As well as outlining why sovereignty matters now and presenting global and regional landscapes, this research examines telco approaches to sovereignty so far and the priorities ahead for both operators and governments.

Use of AI agents is set to increase exponentially. But as AI agents become the norm, work alongside humans and make decisions, the need for verifiable, manageable and secure identities becomes critical to ensure digital trust. Identity and access management is not a new business for operators. However, its extension to AI agents brings new opportunities. This report analyses the technical options for AI agent identity, what pioneer operators are doing today, and the future business opportunities.

B2B has emerged as a strategic growth area for operators and the wider tech/digital ecosystem. As the digital transformation of vertical sectors accelerates, gaining insights directly from enterprises is key. GSMA Intelligence surveyed more than 500 enterprises from 10 vertical sectors across the US and Canada to gain insight into their digital transformation. The research focused on strategic objectives, investment plans, use of technology, deployment challenges, supplier decisions, tech sovereignty, and policy and regulation.