Converged Voice Networks Key to Unlocking AI Innovation in Telecom

At MWC 2026, Andy Hicks, Senior Principal Analyst at GlobalData, unveiled a new white paper titled Reinventing Voice: A Converged, AI-Enabled, and Multimodal Voice Core for the Next Generation of Telecommunications. The report explores how, in the AI era, telecom operators can harness fully converged voice networks to drive service innovation and redefine the role and value of voice.

Fully Converged Voice Networks: A Strategic Imperative

As 5G-Advanced (5G-A) deployment accelerates, global network evolution remains uneven. While legacy 2G and 3G systems are being phased out, many operators must still support them for critical use cases such as M2M communications and international roaming. In this environment, a fully converged voice network—capable of supporting 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G—has become essential. It not only addresses operational complexity across multiple generations but also lays a scalable foundation for future network evolution.

In parallel, the industry’s shift toward cloud-native architectures is gaining momentum. A converged voice core simplifies the transition from virtual machines to containers, helping operators reduce total cost of ownership (TCO) while enabling continuous service innovation and faster, more agile updates.

AI + Voice: Unlocking New Value in Three Phases

The paper outlines a three-stage roadmap for integrating AI into voice services:

• Stage 1: Enhancing Core Experiences
  AI improves fundamental call quality and user experience, enabling features such as intelligent noise cancellation and immersive spatial audio—helping operators compete more effectively with OTT services.

• Stage 2: Enabling Intelligent Audio Services
  AI-powered capabilities like real-time translation and automated call summarization are introduced directly into voice channels. These features require no changes to end-user devices, allowing for rapid deployment and early competitive differentiation.

• Stage 3: Expanding to Multimodal Innovation
  AI extends beyond voice into video and data channels, enabling multimodal services such as interactive customer support and digital healthcare assistants. This evolution brings the concept of Call-as-a-Service closer to reality.

Andy Hicks emphasized that operators must act now to capitalize on AI-driven opportunities. By building on a fully converged voice network and leveraging the combined momentum of 5G-A and AI, operators can reinvigorate voice services and unlock new growth potential.

Source: GlobalData

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