Like many industries predicated on technology, the telecoms sector is undergoing rapid change – but none so pivotal as the impact of AI, which has the power to both manage this change and create new challenges. Shashank Shekhar investigates
The telecoms industry is undergoing a revolution fuelled by the convergence of 5G networks, the Internet of Things (IoT) and the abundance of Big Data. According to Allied Market Research’s report AI in Telecommunication Market 2022, “The global AI in telecoms market size was valued at $1.2bn in 2021, and is projected to reach $38.8bn by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 41.4% from 2022 to 2031”.
To effectively navigate this era of unprecedented connectivity and data volumes, telcos are turning to AI as a critical catalyst for innovation, operational efficiency and enhanced customer experiences.
AI, driven by the exponential growth of data and computational power, has emerged as a game-changer across industries. By combining advanced algorithms, machine learning and deep neural networks, AI systems can analyse vast datasets, identify patterns and make intelligent predictions.
The integration of 5G supercharges AI by providing a reliable, high-speed network infrastructure. This enables AI-powered devices and applications to access and process data in real-time, leading to enhanced performance, responsiveness, and scalability.
Integration of telecom and AI has benefited telecoms in many areas. These include:
Virtual Network Management: With the advent of Software-Defined Networking (SDN) and Network Function Virtualisation (NFV) in 5G, AI plays a crucial role in managing virtualised networks. AI algorithms can optimize resource allocation, orchestrate virtual network functions, and automate network provisioning and scaling. This enables more flexible, efficient, and agile network management.
Revenue Assurance: AI helps in revenue assurance by detecting and preventing revenue leaks and billing errors. Machine learning algorithms can analyse billing data, identify discrepancies, and automate the reconciliation process. This ensures accurate billing, minimizes revenue losses, and improves financial performance for telecom operators.
Fraud Detection and Security: AI plays a crucial role in detecting and preventing telecom fraud. Machine learning algorithms can analyse network traffic patterns and identify suspicious activities, such as SIM card cloning, subscription fraud, or unauthorised access attempts. AI-powered security systems can also protect networks from cyber threats, including malware, Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks, and network intrusions.
Predictive Analytics: AI and machine learning algorithms enable telecom companies to leverage vast amounts of customer data for predictive analytics. This way, operators can forecast demand, predict customer churn and identify potential revenue opportunities. This helps in making data-driven decisions for network planning, marketing campaigns and service offerings.
Network Optimisation: AI algorithms can optimise network resources by dynamically adjusting capacity, routing and configuration based on real-time demand. This helps maximise network efficiency, reducing operational costs and improving Quality of Service (QoS). AI-driven optimisation also facilitates the deployment and management of emerging technologies like 5G and edge computing.
As many telecoms company are gearing for 5G launch across the world, it’s right time for telcos to harness the power of AI to deliver value for customers, while leveraging the terabytes of data to generate new revenue streams by developing innovative solutions. Telcos can play the role of an enabler by combining AI with 5G to create impact for various business across the domains such as:
- Smart Cities and Infrastructure management
- Healthcare and Tele-Medicine
- Industrial transformation 4.0
- Agriculture Industry
- Digital Governance
- AR/VR industry and Gaming Industry.
Starting AI journey have never been so easy
We have come far in terms of AI advancement from era of narrow AI to the Era of Artificial General intelligence (GAI). In recent years, we have seen AI community coming up with many generalized solutions like Large Language Model (LLMs), GANs etc. which enables us to create limitless applications on top of it.
Although training these generalised models are expensive process (Infrastructure, specialised human resources and technology), using these models is quite simple.
Today, we have a lot of no-code platforms available in the market, making AI transformation very easy for the customers who wants to develop custom solutions for their business.
Hypersense AI is a no-code platform developed by Subex that enables customer to either customise pre-built model for their business requirement, or develop a new one by simply configuring a pipeline in three clicks.
Hypersense AI is an integrated suite that enables customer not only to create machine learning models, but also to manage complete life cycle of AI/ML model.
Using Hypersense AI we have delivered telco solution such as SIM Box Fraud, Handset Fraud, Wangiri Fraud, Subex Alternative Credit Score, Liveliness detection, Churn prediction model, Network Optimisation and Revenue Consolidation.
But, generating value for business using AI is an art that needs to be mastered by carefully designing the right success metrices, coupled with right data saved at each point in whole journey of decision making.
Most companies face the challenge of not having the right process in place that store data. This will be a key factor for the success of AI transformation.
Author
Shashank Shekhar is Head – AI labs, Subex
