AI-Driven Telco Innovation

Key takeaways

• Communication service providers face increasing pressure to demonstrate return on investment from 5G infrastructure while reducing costs and unlocking new revenue streams.
• AI-native solutions built on SUSE Telco Cloud help operators modernize networks, automate operations and launch innovative services faster.
• AI applications span multiple telco domains, including core networks, radio access networks, telemetry, observability and fraud detection.
• SUSE Telco Cloud provides an AI-ready, carrier-grade foundation built on open source Kubernetes and Linux.
• Operators can improve customer experiences through intelligent network optimization, reduced latency and innovative edge services.

The telecommunications industry stands at a crossroads. After investing billions in 5G rollouts, operators face intense pressure to demonstrate tangible returns while managing rising operational costs.

AI offers communication service providers a path forward. By integrating artificial intelligence across network operations, telcos can accelerate cloud native transformation, reduce costs and create new revenue streams.

AI in the telco industry

AI in telecommunications is not entirely new. For more than 20 years, operators have used rule-based management, machine learning and self-organizing network capabilities to optimize performance. What has changed is the mainstream availability of AI tools that were previously out of reach.

Telecommunications operators occupy a strategic position in the edge computing ecosystem. Their extensive, geographically distributed infrastructure allows them to deploy edge nodes closer to end users, reducing latency significantly for applications like Internet of Things (IoT), autonomous vehicles and smart cities.

The convergence of 5G, IoT and edge computing reshapes the entire industry. Cloud native edge computing brings computing power closer to where data is generated. Modern AI-ready platforms now provide the infrastructure needed to deploy intelligent applications quickly.

AI and its power to transform telecommunications

AI applications can be found across multiple domains within telecommunications networks. For example, in core networks and radio access networks, AI helps automate deployment and configuration, and self-organizing networks use AI tools to optimize routes automatically.

Telemetry and observability benefit from AI-powered anomaly detection. Network APIs enhanced with AI provide better access and control, while predictive maintenance and fraud detection use machine learning to protect infrastructure and revenue.

In radio access networks, there are particularly compelling opportunities for AI implementation. AI optimizes power consumption, controls radio interference between cells and monitors performance. 

From network optimization to customer value

AI makes networks function better. Optimization based on observing network conditions and making autonomous decisions improves handover procedures, reduces dropped calls and minimizes quality issues during mobile connections.

The technology helps operators use network infrastructure more efficiently. By utilizing existing compute infrastructure in a distributed manner and combining it with AI, service providers can offer user-specific solutions. Small language models deployed near customers take local context into account, providing more relevant experiences.

Orange, one of the world’s leading telecommunications operators with 285 million customers globally, is a great example of the real-world impact of AI-driven infrastructure. The company uses SUSE Telco Cloud to manage 100% of cloud deployments with Kubernetes, streamlining processes for containerized applications and cutting time-to-market for new services.

How SUSE Telco Cloud supports AI adoption

SUSE Telco Cloud provides the software layer between the underlying hardware and the applications running on top. Our platform acts as an AI-ready foundation that can host traditional telco applications alongside AI-assisted network functions.

Built entirely on open source Linux and Kubernetes, SUSE Telco Cloud combines rigorous validation with security hardening to deliver reliable performance at scale. Our platform’s cloud native, AI-ready architecture gives customers the flexibility to integrate their preferred vendors and workloads.

SUSE Telco Cloud for AI also addresses key challenges in artificial intelligence adoption, including data security, regulatory compliance, quickly changing tools and complex infrastructure. Our platform offers a secure, flexible foundation with curated AI libraries to support trusted applications while maintaining the freedom to choose models and deployment methods.

As the commercially supported version of Project Sylva, SUSE Telco Cloud aligns with industry-wide efforts to create shared, interoperable network infrastructure. This open approach eliminates dependence on costly proprietary systems, reduces operating costs through shared infrastructure and meets strict regulatory requirements around information security and data governance.

The role of AI in the future of telco

The telecommunications industry changes daily, and cloud native telco solutions will continue to play an increasingly critical role in delivering the performance and innovation required to succeed.

Communication service providers that partner with SUSE can accelerate their digital transformation and create new revenue streams through edge-enabled services. Understanding 5G telco cloud is essential for operators looking to remain competitive.

If you’re curious to learn more, watch this video to hear directly from SUSE telco experts about how AI transforms telecommunications. 

Ready to explore how SUSE can power your AI initiatives? Learn more about SUSE Telco Cloud.