Telefónica and the technology company Mavenir Systems Limited signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to create a joint innovation center in artificial intelligence (AI) that will accelerate the integration of this technology into the network core, the core that manages traffic, services and the operating logic of telecommunications.
“This collaboration represents a significant leap towards a new era of intelligent, autonomous and self-optimized telecommunications networks, systems that learn, anticipate and adapt continuously in real time,” Telefónica explains.
The new AI Innovation Hub will function as a real test bed where both companies will be able to develop and validate advanced capabilities before their massive commercial deployment. Among them stand out:
- Autonomous network orchestration powered by AI.
- Intent-based services, capable of translating business needs into automatic network configurations.
- New AI-enabled monetization frameworks.
The lab will replicate real traffic patterns in a controlled environment, allowing both companies to rigorously test solutions before going into production. This approach reduces technical risks and accelerates the time to market of new services.
From operator to autonomous digital platform
The initiative fits into Telefónica’s strategy to transform its network into a “highly autonomous” and “intent-aware” digital platform, that is, capable of anticipating the needs of business customers and consumers and translating them into automatic actions.
Cayetano Carbajo, director of Core, Transport and Ecosystems at Telefónica’s CTIO, emphasizes that the integration of the network core with cloud-native platforms will allow “rapidly operationalizing AI-powered services, ready for commercial deployment.”
Mavenir, a provider specialized in cloud-native telco software, provides its experience in core, voice and messaging platforms already deployed in different operators of the group. According to its president and CEO, Pardeep Kohli, exposing network capabilities through open interfaces will allow the AI turn the network into a “programmable service platform.”
“Mavenir’s cloud-native platform is what makes this AI Innovation Center real. With a long history of providing core, voice and messaging platforms in several Telefónica operators, we provide proven innovation deployed at scale in productive environments,” says Kohli.
The agreement also contemplates the development of advanced practices in data security and regulatory compliance, a critical aspect in an environment of increasing regulatory scrutiny over the management of critical infrastructure and sensitive data.
In addition, both companies will collaborate on technical leadership initiatives, joint marketing and participation in international forums, seeking to position themselves as leaders in the next generation of smart networks.