Four of the most notable telcos, SK Telecom, Deutsche Telekom, e& and Singtel, have joined forces to form the ground-breaking Global Telco AI Alliance, which aspires to use the power of AI technology to transform customer experiences and improve the lives of consumers around the world.
The four founding member organizations have committed to driving the AI transformation of their existing telecommunications operations while also exploring new growth prospects through novel AI-powered business models.
During a signing ceremony in Seoul, Korea, key executives from the telcos signed a Multilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for cooperation in the AI market, marking a significant step toward this ambition. Present at the event were: Claudia Nemat, board member, technology and innovation at Deutsche Telekom; Hatem Dowidar, group CEO of e&; Yuen Kuan Moon, group CEO of Singtel; Chey Tae-won, chairman of SK Group; and Ryu Young-sang, CEO of SKT.
“The launch of the Global Telco AI Alliance is meaningful in that it marks the beginning of a new journey to innovate our business models while growing together with our global partners,” said Ryu Young-sang, CEO of SKT.
The alliance's main objective will be the creation of the Telco AI Platform, which will be developed by merging each member company's own technological experience and skills. The Telco AI Platform is expected to serve as the foundation for a wide variety of new AI services, including those designed to improve existing telco services, digital assistants and super apps that offer a wide range of services.
A joint working group will be formed, which will include in-depth discussions about co-investment opportunities and co-development of the Telco AI Platform. Furthermore, the alliance will also discuss the idea of appointing a C-level officer from each company to properly oversee and coordinate the overall relationship.
"In order to make the most of the possibilities of generative AI for our customers and our industry, we want to develop industry-specific applications in the Telco AI Alliance. I am particularly pleased that this alliance also stands for bridging the gap between Europe and Asia and that we are jointly pursuing an open-vendor approach. Depending on the application, we can use the best technology. The founding of this alliance is an important milestone for our industry,” said Claudia Nemat of Deutsche Telekom.
Khalifa Al Shamsi, CEO of e& life highlighted the immense potential of AI in reshaping the telecommunications landscape and beyond, saying, "The alliance signifies a strategic commitment to driving innovation and fostering collaborative efforts. Our shared goal is to redefine industry paradigms, establish new growth drivers through AI-powered business models and pave the way for a new era of strategic cooperation, guiding our industry towards an exciting and prosperous future."
Meanwhile, Yuen Kuan Moon of Singtel shared the company’s advantage with an advanced 5G network and their readiness to leverage AI for innovation: "This alliance will enable us and our ecosystem of partners to significantly expedite the development of new and innovative AI services that can bring tremendous benefits to both businesses and consumers.”
The establishment of the Global Telco AI Alliance is expected to start a new wave of revolutionary AI applications in the telco industry, improving the customer experience and encouraging innovation across the global AI ecosystem.
