Sustainable Telecom Transformation Strategies

6G Should Be Disruptive—Otherwise, Let’s Not Do It Disruption isn’t about flying cars or telepathic calls—it’s about 10× efficiency improvements. If 6G doesn’t make networks 10× cheaper, faster, or easier to manage, it’s just another incremental “G.” Today, 80% of Telco costs are in the network, and 5G triples power consumption vs. 4G. Scaling 5G isn’t sustainable. 6G will require us to rethink networks from the ground up. -Five Disruptive Research Areas for 6G I like- 1. AI-Native Networks (More Efficient Operations) 6G should be AI-native at the radio (PHY), network (MAC), and core layers: ✅ AI-generated waveforms that optimize spectrum in real time. ✅ Self-learning RAN that eliminates manual configuration. ✅ Predictive AI for real-time resource allocation. We need to think about how AI-native networks can cut OPEX by 50% and double spectrum efficiency. 2. Cell-Free Massive MIMO (More Spectrum Efficient) 6G should replace fixed cells with a distributed MIMO system, where devices connect to multiple antennas simultaneously: ✅ No handovers, no inter-cell interference. ✅ Each device uses multiple access points dynamically. Cell-free networks can increase spectrum efficiency by 10×. 3. Integrated Non-Terrestrial Networks (Cheaper Rural Connectivity) Instead of satellites being a separate backhaul, 6G should natively integrate LEO satellites, HAPS, and UAVs: ✅ Rural areas get gigabit speeds at 10× lower cost. ✅ Global, seamless coverage—including aerial and space IoT. NTN could reduce rural network deployment costs by 70% . 4. Zero-Power IoT (More Energy Efficient Sensors) 6G should eliminate batteries in IoT devices using: ✅ RF backscatter (devices reflect signals instead of transmitting). ✅ Energy harvesting from ambient radio waves. Zero-energy IoT could cut network power consumption by 50%, making 6G carbon-neutral. 5. AI-Generated Waveforms & Semantic Communications (Less Data Overhead) Instead of transmitting raw bits, 6G should only send "meaning" using AI-driven compression: ✅ AI reconstructs content dynamically, reducing data loads drastically. ✅ Instead of streaming every pixel, 6G transmits scene elements, reconstructed via AI. Semantic compression will triple spectrum efficiency. 6G Must Be 10× cheaper, efficient and/or easier to be managed—Not Just an Incremental “G”. If 6G isn’t an "X times" improvement, what's the point? We need a fundamental shift in how networks are built and operated. What do you think about it? How could 6G disrupt the industry in a positive way?

🇵🇰 Pakistan’s Telecom Shake-Up: 5 Transformations to redefine who wins After years of cautious investment, sector is entering rapid transformation. 5G on the horizon, nationwide fiber rollouts, and the digital economy expanding fast. The upcoming Ufone 4G –Telenor merger adds another realignment and will reshape market dynamics. Here are my five key transformations and actions. 1️⃣ 5G and Fiber Convergence Next generation of connectivity will depend on how well operators combine 5G radio networks with fiber backhaul. Pakistan’s 5G readiness is improving, but success hinges on affordability, backhaul density, and enterprise adoption. ACTION:
• Prioritize fiber-to-site expansion and urban 5G pilots.
• Focus on enterprise use cases like IoT and smart cities.
• Work with government on pricing and rollout. 2️⃣ National Fiberization & Broadband Growth The National Fiberisation Plan (Nov 2024) aims to connect millions, creating the backbone for digital inclusion. ACTION:
• Partner with infrastructure funds and ISPs for shared builds.
• Offer value-added bundles — managed Wi-Fi, OTT, cloud backup — to grow ARPU.
• Simplify rollout through low-cost installs and municipal cooperation. PTCL.Official, the largest fiber owner, can evolve into a neutral-host and wholesale provider (like BT WHOLESALE) — monetizing its network while driving industry growth. 3️⃣ Mobile Money & Digital Ecosystems Telcos are becoming digital lifestyle and fintech platforms. JazzCash and easypaisa digital bank dominate payments, but competition from banks and startups is heating up. ACTION:
• Treat fintech as core business, not a side venture.
• Expand APIs and merchant ecosystems for everyday payments.
• Use transaction data (with consent) for micro-credit and insurance. 4️⃣ Infrastructure Sharing & Energy Efficiency Rising energy costs and capital pressure are driving operators to share and monetize infrastructure. ACTION: • Monetize towers and dark fiber to unlock capital.
• Invest in green power and energy-efficient radios.
• Pursue shared rural coverage for sustainable expansion. 5️⃣ Enterprise Focus (Cloud, IoT & Cybersecurity) Enterprises are demanding secure connectivity, private cloud, and managed services. Telcos must become digital transformation partners. ACTION:
• Partner with cloud providers for hybrid solutions.
• Bundle connectivity + cloud + security for SMEs.
• Build data centers meeting local compliance and cybersecurity standards. PTCL.Official and Jazz already have enterprise footprints — both can evolve into digital service leaders. The Road Ahead The Ufone–Telenor merger will reshape Pakistan’s telecom landscape. The next few years will decide who leads Pakistan’s digital decade — those who act boldly on fiber, 5G, fintech, and enterprise services will capture not just customers, but ecosystems.

In past years, I had the opportunity to work on data science and autonomous network projects with the telecom companies. While the industry buzzes with talks of self-healing systems and intent-based architectures, most operators are still stuck in neutral. In these projects, (good) data is the fuel of choice for meaningful results. However, data is scattered across many siloed organizations. These organizations have their own goals, and often, there's a lack of thoughtful cross-alignment between them. Significant cultural and organizational hurdles persist, as many companies struggle with "kingdom building" by stitching several legacy systems, and lack granular data on the high costs of manual operational tasks. To bridge this gap, telcos must prioritize building robust knowledge graphs and digital maps from their own single source of truth, rather than simply purchasing automation as a pre-packaged product. Here are a few things I learned: 1) Stop repairing the past: investing capital to modernize 30- to 40-year-old legacy OSS/BSS systems is throwing good money after bad. Instead of "repairing" the past, the most viable strategy is a "Clean Slate" approach: build new products on autonomous platforms and migrate customers to them. 2) Autonomous networks work best with slim teams: We have seen better outcomes with smaller teams (6 to 8 contributors-data, AI, and domain experts), but there's a catch; They must have the ownership and the authority from the broader organization to implement their efforts, otherwise it's just a nice PoC. 3) Opex reduction bonus: As telcos decommission legacy infrastructure, real estate, and energy will deliver Opex savings. We have seen some telcos drastically reduce their footprint in buildings they can't leave for strategic reasons, while reducing power consumption or reusing it for GPUaaS. Telecom executives want stability and not change. Change is a means to an end. Unfortunately, autonomous networks are a change management journey that will take several years to deliver outcomes. The industry must prevent buying into marketing hype and start addressing the systemic obstacles—from data hygiene to organizational rot—that prevent true autonomy.

Driving sustainability from compliance to business transformation 🌎 The progression from compliance to sustainability transformation defines distinct stages of strategic maturity. Compliance focuses on adherence to regulatory frameworks and mitigates exposure to legal, financial, and reputational risks. This foundational stage ensures operational continuity within increasingly complex regulatory environments and aligns sustainability with the enterprise risk appetite. Sustainability optimization introduces more integrated practices aimed at improving resource efficiency, reducing emissions, and strengthening brand credibility. Organizations enhance operational processes by embedding sustainability criteria across procurement, production, and service delivery. This phase requires clear governance structures, data integrity, and active collaboration across business units to achieve measurable improvements and maintain stakeholder confidence. Transformation establishes sustainability as a fundamental element of business strategy and a catalyst for long-term value creation. Enterprises develop new products, services, and business models designed for low-carbon, circular, and socially inclusive markets. Strategic leadership from the CEO and board is essential at this stage, ensuring that sustainability objectives are fully embedded within corporate governance, investment planning, and growth strategies. Advancing through these stages requires continuous assessment of external and internal change drivers, including regulatory developments, capital market expectations, and shifts in consumer and societal priorities. Strategic ambition must remain adaptable, allowing companies to recalibrate their approach in response to emerging risks and opportunities across markets and value chains. Positioning sustainability as a strategic growth lever demands a disciplined approach, robust accountability mechanisms, and investment in technology and data systems. Enterprises that achieve full integration of sustainability into core operations are better equipped to enhance resilience, access new capital, and secure competitive advantages in evolving economic landscapes. Source: Gartner #sustainability #sustainable #business #esg

1️⃣ AI is Central, Not Supplemental 🔷 MNOs must prioritize holistic AI integration across business models, operations, infrastructure. Moving quickly beyond PoC toward scalable production deployments is critical 2️⃣ Balancing Ambition with Sustainability & Scalability 🔷 Scaling AI increases energy & architectural complexity. Efficient AIOps, edge AI inference, standardized modular design are essential to sustainable AI growth 3️⃣ Culture & Trust 🔷 Organizational culture, transparency, psychological safety, trust underpin successful AI adoption & scaling 4️⃣ Interoperability & Standardization Will Decide Winners 🔷 To avoid vendor lock-in & fragmentation, open, interoperable, standardized AI frameworks across cloud, core, RAN, edge domains are imperative 5️⃣ AI-Native Thinking is Foundational for 6G 🔷 6G network design sees AI as a foundational principle — requiring active participation in stds development to embed AI deeply into network architecture 6️⃣ Cloud, Data, Ecosystems Enable AI Ambitions 🔷 Modern cloud architectures, coherent data strategies, strong partner ecosystems are critical foundations for moving from experiments to industrialized AI 7️⃣ 3 Types of AI in Telco: Predictive, Generative, Agentic 🔷 Predictive AI is widely mature & supports AIOps 🔷 Generative AI enhances human interaction with data 🔷 Agentic AI enables autonomous workflows & is in early PoC stages 8️⃣ AI in RAN: AIOps Today, GPUaaS Tomorrow 🔷 Hybrid CPU/GPU platforms are emerging for AI RAN. GPUs necessary in dense urban networks for AI workloads 🔷 AIOps is broadly adopted to reduce OPEX 9️⃣ Real-World Deployments Focus on Customer Experience & Network Efficiency 🔷 Operators like VEON & TELUS illustrate AI use to enhance customer engagement, localize AI for specific markets & languages, foster employee AI adoption safely 🔟 Sustainability & Energy Efficiency Are Priorities 🔷 AI deployment strategies must consider energy consumption. Techniques: lightweight models, federated learning, edge inference can reduce the power footprint 1️⃣1️⃣ 6G Stds & Architecture to Be AI-Native 🔷 3GPP Rel 20 & beyond will embed AI in 6G specs with focus on spectrum sharing, network orchestration, AI lifecycle management 1️⃣2️⃣ AI-Driven New Revenue Streams & Services 🔷 Beyond cost savings, MNOs are exploring AI-enabled services such as sovereign AI, AI marketplaces, AI-powered APIs, monetizing excess GPU capacity ✅ Subscribe to #global5gevolution newsletter (https://lnkd.in/ge9gsyjE) ✅ Or subscribe #global5gevolution YouTube (https://lnkd.in/g8M7YvKq) ✅ Follow us Kaneshwaran Govindasamy & Global 5G Evolution Your support helps us continue delivering the latest insights, research, & conference discussions. Every contribution enables us to sustain & grow this platform for the benefit of all members 𝗖𝗵𝗼𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 👉Small monthly recurring donation of $10: https://lnkd.in/e4MAD7pN 👉One-time donation: https://lnkd.in/eitCeewX

Proud to share that, together with the leadership team of the Next G Alliance Sustainable Development Working Group, we’ve published a blog about embedding sustainability in 6G development. Key highlights👇🏾 ✅ Environmental – Redesigning 6G for energy efficiency, lower emissions, and smarter resource use. ✅ Societal – Bridging the digital divide by ensuring equitable access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities. ✅ Economic – Building new models where sustainability fuels competitiveness, investment, and long-term growth. This holistic framework positions North America to lead in shaping a 6G future that is sustainable, equitable, and resilient. 📢 Call to Action: The future of wireless is being written now. We invite stakeholders across the telecom ecosystem to join the Next G Alliance Sustainable Development Working Group and help shape 6G that works for people, planet, and prosperity. 🔗 Read more: https://lnkd.in/gRrNYTqq Joseph Schumacher | Gagandeep Singh Bhatti | Ian Deakin | Jaydee Griffith | @Allie Lailas | Steve Barclay | Havish Koorapaty | Amir Gomroki | Danielle Francis | Gregoire Phillips Kershbaum | Shruti Bothe | Kumar Balachandran | Maya Rodriguez | Pamela Araico | Carina Martins Ueta | Mariana Barreto #NextGAlliance #SustainableDevelopment #6G #TelecomLeadership #InnovationWithImpact

From Just-in-Time to Just-in-Case: The New Reality of Telco Procurement In today’s permacrisis world, telecom procurement can no longer assume global supply chains will hold firm. Pandemics, geopolitics, trade shifts, and natural disasters have exposed just how fragile hardware supply has become — stretching lead times from weeks to quarters and driving up costs. For telcos racing to meet 5G and fiber rollout targets, the challenge is clear: deployment must be faster, more agile, and less dependent on a single supply route. That’s why procurement is shifting: 🔹 From just-in-time to just-in-case sourcing 🔹 Stockpiling and diversifying suppliers 🔹 Embracing modular builds and edge deployments 🔹 Leveraging refurbished and surplus equipment for speed and resilience The rise of the circular economy is central to this. Reuse, refurbishment, and resale are no longer niche sustainability plays — they’re strategic tools to reduce supply risk, cut emissions, and accelerate rollouts. In this new environment, procurement isn’t just a back-office function. It’s a strategic advantage — and the operators who thrive will be those who build flexibility and circularity into their sourcing models from the start. #supplychain #telecom #circulatory #procurement #risk