The
GSMA and IBM have announced a new collaboration to support the adoption and
skills of generative artificial intelligence (AI) in the telecom industry
through the launch of GSMA Advance’s AI Training program and the GSMA Foundry
Generative AI Challenge and program.
The AI training program,
the first in a new series of courses by GSMA Advance, seeks to prepare telco leaders for the AI-era
and bridge skills gaps in the telecom industry, by equipping members with
skills and knowledge to help effectively leverage Gen AI technologies utilizing
watsonx, IBM’s AI and data platform with AI assistants.
The training program,
designed for telecoms leaders, will span a wide range of topics, from
fundamental AI principles to specialized Gen AI applications in telecoms. To
ensure a wide-range of participants can benefit, GSMA Advance AI Training
sessions will take place at IBM offices in five locations around the world in
2024, including Dubai, London, Mexico, New York and Seoul, and an online
training program will be available in multiple languages.
A digital version of the
program will be available to help address both the business strategy and
technology fundamentals of Generative AI. This program will leverage IBM
watsonx to deliver hands-on training designed to equip architects and
developers with in-depth practical Gen AI knowledge.
The GSMA Foundry
Generative AI program will provide GSMA members with access to IBM’s watsonx. This platform is intended to help telecom industry
players explore innovative industry-specific use cases of Generative AI,
enabling members to improve cost leadership, revenue growth and enhance
customer experience. As part of the ongoing collaboration GSMA Foundry and IBM
will drive a series of Gen AI industry programs and challenges to investigate
the use of Generative AI in various functional areas of a telecom
provider.
Bridging The AI Adoption Gap
Through both the GSMA
Advance AI Training and Foundry Gen AI programs, the GSMA and IBM will help
address the gap in AI skills, training and tools, supporting GSMA’s commitment
to operators of all sizes across the world.
IBM’s latest AI Adoption Index found
40% of telecoms surveyed are exploring or experimenting with generative AI, and
45% have accelerated the rollout of AI. Research from GSMA Intelligence also
shows that while 56% of operators surveyed are actively trialing generative AI
solutions – at a rate higher than any other priority technology – adoption this
is less prevalent amongst mid-sized and smaller operators surveyed.
Through this initiative,
the GSMA and IBM aim to allow operators, including those supporting the world’s
least connected communities, to benefit from AI technology, and develop new
innovative and inclusive solutions to help connect those in society who are not
yet online.
Generative AI holds
tremendous potential to help improve all manner of operations and customer
engagement. Specifically, generative AI can help transform customer care, IT
and network optimization —all areas in which automation can notably help
increase agility and efficiency. Through their commitment to developing
generative AI skills and training for the telecom industry, the GSMA and IBM
want to enable mobile operators to provide better services and, ultimately,
help more people benefit from digital connectivity.
“Artificial Intelligence provides the telecoms industry, and
the societies it serves, with huge opportunities to launch new services,
improve connectivity and customer experience. Overall, it’s estimated that AI
could contribute $15.7 trillion1 to the global economy by 2030,” said Alex Sinclair, Chief Technology
Officer at the GSMA. “However, it’s
critical that AI is democratized to ensure that all parts of the connectivity
industry and their customers, wherever they are in the world, benefit. Bringing
operators access to AI tools and knowledge, alongside the necessary skills,
access and training, is key to achieving this.”
“As a world leader in AI for business, IBM will provide
critical support to this training for the telecom industry through this
collaboration with the GSMA,” said Stephen Rose, GM, Global Industries, IBM. “Generative AI can create massive
opportunities for communication service providers as they look to optimize
current processes, and like the GSMA, our goal is to offer this technology
within the industry, which we’re making possible through watsonx.”
GSMA Advance Training Launched to Tackle Telco Industry Skills Gap
The AI Training program is
the first in a series of courses to be announced by GSMA Advance, the GSMA’s
training organization, which also launched today. GSMA Advance aims to bridge
skills gaps, foster innovation, and champion workforce diversity so that
industries and societies thrive. With a focus on next-gen learning and
cutting-edge technologies, working in partnership with Award Solutions, IBM and
Mpirical, the GSMA Advance’s range of courses spans diverse areas such as AI,
cybersecurity, spectrum, policy, GSMA Open Gateway, and beyond.
With Mobile World Congress around
the corner, the GSMA will share more on the future of the program and
additional initiatives to address the AI skills gap.