MWC 2025: AI, Telcos & The Reality Check

Day 1 at MWC 2025, and AI is everywhere. Every keynote, every booth, every conversation—it’s all about how AI is transforming industries. But as always, the real question is: what’s genuinely changing, and what’s still aspirational? The queues to get into the Gen AI in Telco sessions and the mentisation of 5G sessions were out the door... literally.

Some of it is already delivering real-world impact. Some of it is a few years away from scaling. Here’s what stood out.

AI & Telcos: More Than Just Hype?

Telcos aren’t just talking about AI as a tool to optimise networks—they’re positioning themselves as AI platforms. The vision? Networks that don’t just connect people, but actively power AI workloads, automate operations, and deliver AI-driven customer experiences.

“Can a network just be a network, or can a network also be an AI network?” was the question posed in a panel discussion. The consensus? AI is no longer just about cost savings—it’s about turning networks into intelligent, revenue-generating platforms.

One of the most tangible applications is AI-driven automation in network management. Telcos are integrating Graph Root Cause Analysis (RCA) to pinpoint service disruptions in minutes instead of hours. Intel showcased how AI-powered CDNs (Content Delivery Networks) running on Intel Xeon 6 SoCs are improving video streaming quality while reducing energy costs—a critical factor as demand for high-bandwidth content like 4K, VR, and AI-powered applications surges.

Another promising shift is the rise of AI-native services for customers. Real-time translation, AI-powered IoT insights, and AI-driven personalization in customer experience are no longer just concepts—they are starting to appear in differentiated data plans and enterprise AI offerings.

The real challenge? Scaling beyond pilots and ensuring ROI. The ambition is clear, and telcos have a genuine opportunity to become AI enablers rather than just infrastructure providers.

Gen AI at the Edge: The Most Tangible Shift

While telcos are embedding AI into their networks, the biggest immediate AI transformation is happening at the edge. Qualcomm, Intel, and Nvidia showcased how on-device AI processing is rewriting the economics of AI—and it’s happening now.

For years, AI workloads have relied on the cloud, leading to high network egress costs, latency issues, and concerns around data privacy. Now, with AI running directly on smartphones, wearables, and even in networks themselves, we’re seeing a fundamental shift in how AI is deployed and consumed.

• AI-powered devices like smart glasses and noise-canceling headphones are now capable of real-time voice translation, gesture recognition, and adaptive audio without needing a cloud connection.
• Edge AI in networks is allowing telcos to optimize bandwidth dynamically, reduce congestion, and improve energy efficiency. Intel and Ericsson highlighted how AI-powered RAN solutions can automate traffic allocation in real-time, reducing power consumption and improving network responsiveness.
• AI-enhanced media streaming is optimizing content delivery, with AI-driven CDNs predicting congestion patterns and preloading content to improve user experience.

The shift is not just technological—it’s economic. If less AI processing happens in the cloud, telcos may see changes in data consumption patterns, while cloud providers will need to rethink their business models. One thing is clear: AI at the edge is not theoretical—it’s commercial, scalable, and already reshaping the industry.

Sports Analytics: AI as a Competitive Edge

Beyond enterprise applications, AI is transforming elite sports in a way that feels far more sophisticated than just tracking fitness data. FC Barcelona’s Center for Sports Excellence gave a masterclass in how data, AI, and sports science are merging into a holistic athlete performance model.

“Performance is a combination of identity, preparation, lifestyle, and context,” FC Barcelona’s team explained. Their Barce Talents Program is more than just fitness tracking—it’s an AI-driven athlete optimisation system.

• Automated video analysis is reducing the time coaches spend tagging footage, allowing them to focus on tactical adjustments instead of manual data entry.
• AI-driven player profiling integrates nutrition, psychology, and game performance to create customized training programs that improve both individual and team performance.
• Predictive analytics for scouting is emerging as a serious tool. Barcelona is using AI to analyze historical performance data and identify young talent before they peak, helping clubs make smarter recruitment decisions.

It’s clear that in elite sports, AI is no longer a nice-to-have—it’s a must-have. The clubs and organizations embedding AI into their performance models now will have a significant competitive advantage over those who wait.

The AI Takeaway: Who’s Moving Fastest?

AI has dominated MWC 2025, but the real takeaway is this: adoption is uneven.

? Gen AI at the Edge? Tangible, investable, and already reshaping the device and network landscape. ? AI in sports? A real competitive advantage for those embracing it now. ?? AI in telcos? Progressing fast—genuine network automation, AI-native services, and AI-enhanced CDNs are emerging—but scalability remains the next hurdle.

The next 12 months will be crucial in determining which companies move from AI ambition to AI execution at scale.

AI is not just a technology story anymore—it’s an economic and business model transformation.

Are telcos ready to turn AI into a true growth engine, or will hyperscalers continue to dominate AI infrastructure?