To embed our video on your website copy and paste the code below:
<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TxeLYjK93zA?modestbranding=1&rel=0" width="970" height="546" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Anita Döhler, NGMN Alliance (00:25):
We are an operator-driven alliance focusing on technology requirements level, embracing the entire value chain in our membership, and focusing on the industry's main opportunities and challenges.
Andrea Calvi, TIM (00:41):
Everything is becoming software. With the exception of antennas, fibres, lasers, everything is becoming software, and all the software is running on top of cloud infrastructure. So cloud native is an enabler for everything.
Anita Döhler, NGMN Alliance (00:57):
We are focusing on main three pillars, and they are all interlinked with each other. So the first one is how to master the route to disaggregation. This is including cloud native networks, moving into agentic AI-based operating models, network automation, green future networks, everything around sustainability. And then last but absolutely not least, our biggest focus, especially now in '26, is providing requirements on 6G.
Arash Ashouriha, Deutsche Telekom (01:26):
We are seeing with AI a sort of efficiency paradox, and we need to carefully balance that all the AI-driven network efficiency are not turning on the other side, the overall energy consumptions up. So we must adopt AI in a way that's energy conscious, carbon accounted, and responsible governed to ensure real sustainability.
Eric Hardouin, Orange (01:51):
AI brings a lot of uncertainty in the network. That calls for the future 6G design to be highly flexible, highly modular in order to allow us to adapt to any development in terms of use case needs or technology, AI related, that we would have not foreseen at the time of standardisation.
Saima Ansari, Deutsche Telekom (02:11):
In 2026, we are focusing on three key elements. So the first one is resilient network, how we as an industry are able to manage our networks through the natural hazards, through the power failures. The second piece, sustainable AI in telecom networks. We are currently defining some key use cases, some metrics, measurement methods to give a guidance to the industry on how to approach such an important topic. Last but not least, we are also going to talk about cooling strategy. It is going to become one of the critical questions, especially across the globe. So please watch out for these three.
Saima Ansari, Deutsche Telekom (02:50):
Major recommendation, let us please move away from spend-based emissions. If we as an industry want to reduce our scope 3 emissions, we need to collaborate, we need to work together.
Laurent Leboucher, Orange (03:01):
6G will support AI workloads or how we address adaptation to climate or cooling and so on, of course, will feed the way we will create the future networks and especially 6G.
Laurent Leboucher, Orange (03:15):
I think it's important also to recognise that within NGMN, we try as much as possible to come up to consensus, to leverage a service-based architecture, and then on top, we will add agentic behaviours on top. And I think what is important is that within NGMN, we show the pros and cons.
Bernard Bureau, TELUS (03:39):
The next decades won't be about only new antenna technology and incremental upgrades. It's going to be a lot about intelligence, resilience, and making sure that every investment delivers value. A top priority and a major focus area is to transition to true cloud-native solutions and agentic AI-based operating models.
We are an operator-driven alliance focusing on technology requirements level, embracing the entire value chain in our membership, and focusing on the industry's main opportunities and challenges.
Andrea Calvi, TIM (00:41):
Everything is becoming software. With the exception of antennas, fibres, lasers, everything is becoming software, and all the software is running on top of cloud infrastructure. So cloud native is an enabler for everything.
Anita Döhler, NGMN Alliance (00:57):
We are focusing on main three pillars, and they are all interlinked with each other. So the first one is how to master the route to disaggregation. This is including cloud native networks, moving into agentic AI-based operating models, network automation, green future networks, everything around sustainability. And then last but absolutely not least, our biggest focus, especially now in '26, is providing requirements on 6G.
Arash Ashouriha, Deutsche Telekom (01:26):
We are seeing with AI a sort of efficiency paradox, and we need to carefully balance that all the AI-driven network efficiency are not turning on the other side, the overall energy consumptions up. So we must adopt AI in a way that's energy conscious, carbon accounted, and responsible governed to ensure real sustainability.
Eric Hardouin, Orange (01:51):
AI brings a lot of uncertainty in the network. That calls for the future 6G design to be highly flexible, highly modular in order to allow us to adapt to any development in terms of use case needs or technology, AI related, that we would have not foreseen at the time of standardisation.
Saima Ansari, Deutsche Telekom (02:11):
In 2026, we are focusing on three key elements. So the first one is resilient network, how we as an industry are able to manage our networks through the natural hazards, through the power failures. The second piece, sustainable AI in telecom networks. We are currently defining some key use cases, some metrics, measurement methods to give a guidance to the industry on how to approach such an important topic. Last but not least, we are also going to talk about cooling strategy. It is going to become one of the critical questions, especially across the globe. So please watch out for these three.
Saima Ansari, Deutsche Telekom (02:50):
Major recommendation, let us please move away from spend-based emissions. If we as an industry want to reduce our scope 3 emissions, we need to collaborate, we need to work together.
Laurent Leboucher, Orange (03:01):
6G will support AI workloads or how we address adaptation to climate or cooling and so on, of course, will feed the way we will create the future networks and especially 6G.
Laurent Leboucher, Orange (03:15):
I think it's important also to recognise that within NGMN, we try as much as possible to come up to consensus, to leverage a service-based architecture, and then on top, we will add agentic behaviours on top. And I think what is important is that within NGMN, we show the pros and cons.
Bernard Bureau, TELUS (03:39):
The next decades won't be about only new antenna technology and incremental upgrades. It's going to be a lot about intelligence, resilience, and making sure that every investment delivers value. A top priority and a major focus area is to transition to true cloud-native solutions and agentic AI-based operating models.
Please note that video transcripts are provided for reference only – content may vary from the published video or contain inaccuracies.
Experts from the NGMN Alliance, Orange, TIM, Deutsche Telekom and TELUS discuss cloud-native network evolution, the need for flexible and modular 6G design, and the AI efficiency paradox where network optimisation must be balanced against increased energy consumption. They also emphasise the importance of collaboration when it comes to Scope 3 emissions reduction and the transition to agentic AI-based operating models for sustainable network operations.
Recorded March 2026
Email Newsletters
Sign up to receive TelecomTV's top news and videos, plus exclusive subscriber-only content direct to your inbox.
