Feature
The Gist
- AI-powered networks are reshaping CX. MWC 2025 showcased AI-native telecom infrastructure, with networks that self-optimize, personalize experiences, and enhance efficiency.
- Generative AI is driving hyper-personalized interactions. From Google’s AI-powered Android tools to AI-driven customer service agents, enterprises are leveraging AI for more intuitive customer engagement.
- 6G and cloud-native telecom are the next frontier. With telecom giants launching AI-integrated platforms and advancing cloud-RAN technology, the industry is moving toward seamless, intelligent connectivity.
The Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2025 in Barcelona brought together the biggest names in telecommunications, AI and emerging technologies. As the world’s premier mobile industry event, MWC serves as a launchpad for groundbreaking innovations, industry-shaping announcements and discussions on the future of conectivity.
This year, all eyes were on advancements in 6G, AI-driven network automation and the convergence of telecom and cloud ecosystems.
Next-generation mobile devices, smart infrastructure and AI-powered enterprise solutions were unveiled last week, as MWC 2025 continues to define the next phase of digital transformation.
For CX leaders, MWC 2025 signals a future where AI-driven, self-optimizing networks redefine customer experiences. From AI-powered service agents to hyper-personalized connectivity, the telecom industry’s latest innovations offer critical insights into how enterprises can elevate engagement, efficiency and customer loyalty in an increasingly intelligent digital ecosystem.
Table of Contents
- AI Everywhere: Transforming Telecom, Networks and Customer Experiences
- 5G & Beyond: AI-Driven Networks, Cloud Innovation and the Future of CX
- New Devices & Innovations: AI, Security and the Next Generation of Mobile Tech
- The Future of Mobile Tech
- Wrapping Up Mobile World Congress 2025 Highlights
AI Everywhere: Transforming Telecom, Networks and Customer Experiences
Thomas Husson, Forrester VP, principal analyst, told CMSWire, "AI will not just be embedded in devices; it will be everywhere. We will continue to see deals where telecom operators leverage their distribution channels to strike deals with various AI players (e.g, LLMs such as DeepSeek, OpenAI, Gemini as well as other players including Perplexity) but most of the discussions will be about the role of AI in transforming telcos.”
Huawei Announces AI Core Network
In arguably one of the most significant enterprise-focused announcements at MWC, Huawei’s AI Core Network marks a pivotal shift from AI-powered to AI-native telecom infrastructure, introducing autonomous generative networks that self-optimize and self-maintain—a critical move for scaling 5G-A and future 6G networks.
At its core are AI agents, including Calling Agents that turn traditional dialpads into intent-driven service managers, Personalized Experience Agents that dynamically adjust network resources for customized user experiences and Digital Expert Agents that enhance O&M efficiency through natural language processing (NLP) and AI inference.
Telecom Giants Launch Open Telecom AI Platform
In a significant collaboration, Jio Platforms Limited (JPL), AMD, Cisco and Nokia announced plans to develop an Open Telecom AI Platform. This initiative aims to create a multi-domain intelligence framework that integrates AI and automation across all layers of network operations, enhancing efficiency, security and reducing total cost of ownership. The platform will be agnostic to Large Language Models (LLMs) and use open APIs, enabling end-to-end network intelligence.
By taking advantage of agentic AI, domain-specific Small Language Models (SLMs), and other machine learning (ML) techniques, the platform aspires to transform networks into self-optimizing, customer-aware ecosystems.
However, some industry experts remain cautious about the extent of AI’s role in telecom. "The idea that telcos could become AI factories seems a premature idea, and it will be more relevant to discuss how AI can help networks become more autonomous and energy efficient, while combined with edge and IoT technologies," said Husson.
Google Introduces New AI-powered Features for Android
Google introduced two new AI-powered features for Android, enhancing how users interact with their devices. The Live Video function, first previewed at Google I/O 2024, allows users to share their phone’s camera feed with Gemini and ask the AI questions about what it sees. Similarly, a new screen-sharing feature enables users to get real-time insights from Gemini about whatever is displayed on their phone or tablet. These tools could significantly improve accessibility by making it easier to get contextual information and assistance.
ServiceNow Announces AI Agents for the Telecommunications Industry
ServiceNow unveiled AI agents specifically designed for the telecommunications industry, developed in collaboration with NVIDIA. These agents aim to enhance productivity across the service lifecycle by autonomously managing tasks such as network repairs, service disruptions and customer inquiries. Built on NVIDIA's AI Enterprise software and DGX Cloud platform, these agents use advanced reasoning to address common, labor-intensive workflows in customer service and network operations.
Oppo Focuses on AI-Driven Smartphone Photography
In a move designed to position itself as a leader in AI-powered mobile imaging, Oppo unveiled new tools to enhance smartphone photography at MWC 2025. The company’s AI features allow users to erase unwanted objects from photos, enhance live images and correct issues such as closed eyes in group shots. As competition among AI-driven smartphone brands intensifies, Oppo aims to differentiate itself through advanced imaging capabilities and AI-powered productivity tools.
Related Article: Mobile World Congress 2024: Unveiling Innovation and Insights
5G & Beyond: AI-Driven Networks, Cloud Innovation and the Future of CX
Qualcomm Unveils 5G and AI Innovations
Qualcomm introduced several advancements in connectivity and AI, including the world’s first 5G Advanced fixed wireless access platform and new industrial IoT modem-RF systems. The company also announced a collaboration with IBM to accelerate innovation in these areas, reinforcing its influence in wireless and AI-driven technologies. As AI continues to evolve in telecom, its role is expanding beyond network optimization to broader applications in customer experience and enterprise productivity.
“They [telecom operators] have leveraged AI technology for quite some time to improve network operational efficiency and predictive maintenance, improve efficiency and quality of voice calls, but with generative AI, there will be more discussions on how AI can transform customer experience and boost internal productivity," said Husson.
At #MWC25, we are showcasing how agentic #AI technology can streamline processes, optimize efficiency, and enhance productivity. Watch how we are pushing the boundaries of intelligent systems: pic.twitter.com/aOiRSzYUsx
— Qualcomm (@Qualcomm) March 6, 2025
Telefónica’s 5G SA Call Using AWS & Nokia Cloud RAN
Cloud-native Radio Access Networks (RAN) represent the final frontier for telecom cloudification, and Telefónica has taken a major step forward by completing Europe’s first 5G Standalone (SA) call using a hybrid cloud architecture. The collaboration with Nokia and AWS enables Telefónica to use on-premises AWS services and AWS public cloud infrastructure to optimize latency, bandwidth and workload placement across its network.
By running Nokia’s RAN Distributed Unit (DU) on AWS Graviton-powered EC2 instances, Telefónica is testing containerized network functions that improve resilience, automation and scalability while reducing operational complexity.
NTT & Nokia’s Announce 6G Hardware Collaboration
NTT, DOCOMO and Nokia showed off its In-network Service Acceleration Platform (ISAP)—a key component of NTT’s Inclusive Core Architecture—designed to merge computing and networking for low-latency, AI-driven applications. The platform uses In-network Computing (INC) to offload application-layer processing directly into network data transfers, boosting service performance while reducing latency and device power consumption. A demonstration applied ISAP to real-time AI video analysis, improving accuracy from 57% to 90% by minimizing fluctuations in data exchange.
While these advancements highlight the industry's push toward next-generation networks, some experts caution that true 6G deployment remains far off. “6G technology may be pitched but that’s pure speculation since it won’t be commercially available before the end of the decade," said Husson.
Related Article: AI Is Rewriting the Rules of CX Metrics — Are You Ready?
New Devices & Innovations: AI, Security and the Next Generation of Mobile Tech
IBM and Vodafone Team Up to Protect Against Quantum Security Risks
Vodafone and IBM have partnered to develop a proof of concept using IBM's Quantum Safe technology, enhancing Vodafone's Secure Net service to protect against future quantum security risks. This initiative involves implementing new post-quantum cryptography standards, aiming to future-proof smartphone security against potential threats posed by advancements in quantum computing.
T-Mobile Showcases Flying Base Station (Primoco One 150)
A UAV-based flying base station with high-speed connectivity is an intriguing step for disaster recovery, remote enterprise connectivity and event-based network expansion. While not as impactful as some of the AI-driven telecom shifts that were unveiled, it’s still an innovative use case that combines differing technologies. The Primoco One 150 drone, used in this initiative, is designed and manufactured in the Czech Republic. It features a built-in base station capable of connecting "air-to-ground" to terrestrial backhaul or "air-to-space" via satellite.
Unitree Robotics Showcases Quadruped and Humanoid Robots
AI-powered robotics took center stage at MWC 2025, with Unitree Robotics showcasing quadruped and humanoid robots that integrate advanced AI for enhanced mobility, responsiveness and task automation. These innovations have driven down costs, making robotics more accessible to industries such as logistics, security and maintenance.
Vinod Khosla, founder of Khosla Ventures, said in the 2025 Rise of the Humanoid Robots report from Abundance360, "By 2040 there could be a billion bipedal robots doing a wide range of tasks, freeing humans from ... the bottom 50% of really undesirable jobs like assembly line and farm workers. This could be a larger industry than the auto industry."
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Cisco Expands Network Visibility With ThousandEyes Connected Devices
Cisco announced the expansion of its ThousandEyes network observability platform with Connected Devices, designed to provide service providers with greater visibility into home and mobile networks. By embedding monitoring agents into consumer devices, the solution helps detect and address performance issues in real time. This update broadens Cisco’s ability to manage network reliability beyond traditional infrastructure, enhancing service quality and regulatory compliance.
The Future of Mobile Tech
Microsoft Introduces Telecommunications-specific Data Model for Fabric
Microsoft introduced a telecommunications-specific data model within Microsoft Fabric, designed to unify diverse data sources for networks and telecom operators. This model encompasses network performance metrics and customer interactions, providing a comprehensive analytics environment tailored for the telecom industry. The goal is to streamline data ingestion, modeling and analysis, optimizing operations and processes for telecom companies.
At #MWC25, Microsoft is spotlighting how AI, cloud, and network innovation are converging to power the next generation of telco transformation. From AI-driven automation to CX to Azure they’re enabling operators to modernize networks, optimize operations & unlock new revenue… pic.twitter.com/3BXaZhaAcY
— Evan Kirstel #B2B #TechFluencer (@EvanKirstel) March 4, 2025
Deutsche Telekom Introduces AI-Powered Smartphone
Deutsche Telekom revealed its upcoming AI phone, powered by the Perplexity chatbot and running on the company’s Magenta AI platform. Set for release this year, the device will offer AI-driven features like real-time translation, task automation and virtual assistant capabilities for email, scheduling and media playback. For those not ready to upgrade, certain AI functionalities will be available through an app starting this summer.
Google Wins Two GLOMO Awards
Google received two Global Mobile (GLOMO) Awards at MWC 2025, recognizing its impact on the mobile and digital industry. Judged by over 200 industry experts, the GLOMOs celebrated 30 years of innovation in mobile technology. Google’s Pixel 9 Pro was named "Smartphone of the Year," marking back-to-back wins for Google after the Pixel 8 Series took the title in 2024. In addition, Gemini earned the "Breakthrough Device Innovation" award, recognizing Google's leadership in AI-driven mobile experiences.
Wrapping Up Mobile World Congress 2025 Highlights
MWC 2025 showcased how AI is impacting telecommunications, from Huawei’s AI Core Network and the Open Telecom AI Platform to Google’s AI-driven innovations and the emergence of 6G. As AI, 5G-Advanced and cloud technologies converge, the industry is shifting beyond traditional connectivity toward intelligent self-optimizing networks.
With advancements in automation, security, and user experiences, telecommunications is now defined by greater efficiency, personalization and resilience.
