Telecom Leaders Struggle to Scale AI Despite Revenue Hopes

The Telecom Pulse Survey Report, conducted by HCLTech and Mobile World Live, highlights a stark disconnect between strategic intent and technical capability. While leadership views AI as a vital revenue driver, internal obstacles—specifically aging legacy infrastructure and a persistent skills shortage—hinder the shift from traditional connectivity to autonomous, cloud-native services.

Traditional business models face mounting pressure as connectivity services become increasingly commoditized. Nearly 70% of the 200 surveyed executives acknowledge this shift, yet innovation remains sluggish. Nearly 80% of companies launched fewer than five new digital products over the past year, reflecting deeper issues in product engineering and speed-to-market. Currently, internal success metrics remain tethered to cost optimization rather than long-term digital growth, though half of the respondents now view partnerships with hyperscalers and software vendors as the only viable path to accelerate monetization.