Somenath Nag, Senior Vice President, Head- Telecom Practice, Calsoft, on building the AI-native telco.
Rapid advancements in artificial intelligence, cloud-native architectures, and the growing frontiers of non-terrestrial connectivity are driving a moment of significant transition in the global telecommunications business. The next wave of innovation, according to CIOs, will completely alter how networks are constructed, run, and profited from. Five technological developments are emerging as the most important factors influencing telecom in 2026 as operators compete to enable new digital services at cheaper costs.
AI-Native, Self-Optimizing Networks
AI-Native networks were created specifically to integrate intelligence into every aspect of the network stack; this includes everything from vanilla-switch core switches through back-end DSN and RCSs, through the RAN – i.e. every part of the network. This design allows AI-Native networks to develop their AI capability, adapt to changes in performance, and be autonomous in their decision-making. With the ability to support applications such as immersive media, industrial automation, and fully autonomous mobility, this architecture provides the essential building block for real-time responsiveness for billions of devices and applications connected over networks.
The launch of SON 2.0 is driven by the establishment of an AI-Native ecosystem. While SON functionalities have existed for some time now, earlier versions were limited by the implementation of rule-based optimization processes, fragmented data storage, and the fundamental complexity of multi-vendor environments. The subsequent generation of SON utilizes advanced machine-learning algorithms as part of its closed-loop automation for infrastructure to automatically adjust to ever-changing network conditions based on traffic patterns, QoS metrics, and environmental influences. By 2026, SON will be able to provide network-wide intelligence that manage cross-domain orchestration across RAN, transport and core networks by performing tasks such as load balancing and interference reduction; reducing operational costs while increasing operators’ abilities to deliver reliable, high-quality services. Due to the rapidly evolving nature of today’s communications networks, with increasing diversity within the networks via the introduction of satellite and other non-terrestrial elements, as well as various other forms of private and/or public access, the ongoing capability for SON systems to perform across an entire operational footprint will be essential to network operators’ success.
AI-RAN and the Road to 6G
The second movement towards transformation is the integration of AI and radio access technologies (RAN) creation of AI-RAN. By integrating learning systems directly into radio scheduling, channel estimation, power control, and beam forming; AI-RAN extends the current generation of Open RAN programmability. The goals of 6G, such as sub-millisecond latency, ubiquitous, ultra-high-capacity coverage and intelligent surfaces that dynamically alter electromagnetic environments, cannot be reached without AI-RAN. Additionally, it will reduce energy consumption of radio networks with predictive modelling for adaptive power management. With AI-RAN, we are creating a fundamentally new operating paradigm for radio networks that will drive the competitive landscape for 6G. For CIOs, the key will be to develop data pipeline infrastructure, talent strategy, and other supporting activities for an AI-centric world well in advance of the arrival of commercial 6G deployment.
AI Agents for Operations and Customer Experience
The impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on Network Infrastructure is significant, and it is also an emerging driver for Telecom Operations and Customer Engagement, driven by the rapid advances in AI Agent Technology. By 2026, we expect telecom companies to adopt AI agents more especially in Network Operations where AI Agents will help to identify Network Anomalies, initiate Remediation, Coordinate the Maintenance of Teams in many locations and ensure Compliance with Legal and Security Constraints. AI Agents will also serve as diligent Digital Coworkers to Engineers, helping them to reduce Mean-Time-To-Repair (MTTR) and eliminate Operational Bottlenecks. AI Agents will also enhance Client Experiences through Hyper-Personalization, Operations Optimization and Anticipation of Consumer Demand, Service Lifecycle Management and Omnichannel Experience Support. Telecom Companies will be able to shift Human Resources into Increased High Value Work, while increasing Service Reliability and Customer Satisfaction at Scale, as more AI Agent Capabilities become available. Successful deployment of AI Agents requires the establishment of Robust Governance Frameworks and the Re-examination of Process Workflows; however, the operational efficiencies and enhancements to the Client Experience will be transformative.
Cloud-Native, AI-First BSS/OSS Modernization
Cloud-native architectures and AI-first business operations (BSS) and operations support systems (OSS) are rapidly changing how companies operate and will drive additional change throughout the industry. Cloud-native technologies, microservices, and automation provide the necessary flexibility, agility, and data density for AI-native businesses. Telecommunications operators are migrating to cloud-native, microservices-based platforms to enhance network and IT systems coordination, support continuous deployment, and create an elastic scaling environment. This migration will enable operators to deliver digital services faster, automate tedious processes (e.g., provisioning, billing), and bring together disparate data from multiple sources (e.g., billing, service, network, etc.) using cloud-native BSS/OSS solutions based on AI-first principles. Through cloud-native solutions, companies will be able to create entirely new business models, including network as a service, multi-cloud interworking, dynamic slicing markets, and more. The agility offered by cloud-native technology will soon be a requirement for telecommunications operators as they move into business digital transformation, Private 5G, Internet of Things (IoT), and edge computing. To enable these changes, CIOs must establish a plan for migration to cloud, a roadmap for implementing AI-enabled workflows, and a plan to redesign data architecture.
Space-Based and Non-Terrestrial Networks
Space-Based and Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) will transform how we view Telecom. Over the next few years, space-based networks will evolve from simply being extensions of a telecom company’s capacity (i.e., satellite phones) to being fully integrated components of the globe’s telecom communication infrastructure. There will be a seamless experience for consumers, businesses, and mission-critical applications with the combination of low-earth-orbit (LEO) satellite constellations, high-altitude platform systems, and terrestrial networks providing global coverage. As the 6G standards continue to evolve, NTNs will be utilized as native parts of the overall Network to enable the ability to manage mobility across multiple types of networks, manage spectrum between them seamlessly, and create consistency in quality of service across both terrestrial and non-terrestrial domains. Additionally, these new types of services will allow for resilient connections with autonomous systems that operate outside of traditional coverage areas, as well as the ability to provide global IoT telemetry. The combined technologies of space networks and AI-Native terrestrial systems will usher in a new age of intelligent and pervasive networking, capable of supporting a globally scalable infrastructure for digital.
The five trends outlined represent a momentous change in the telecommunications industry due to their combination of several elements situated within both the terrestrial and non-terrestrial environments creating a connected, highly intelligent, and fully automatic network. As these trends develop and mature over the next few years, they will provide new opportunities for agility and innovation in services on the part of telecom providers. Because of this, CIOs have a clear responsibility to prepare their partners, their technological stack and organisational framework for the forthcoming era.