10 Telecom Trends Shaping AI-Assisted Modernization in 2026 and Beyond
Naresh Babu
Telecom is entering a period where rising expectations for real-time, intelligent connectivity are colliding with the limits of legacy OSS/BSS, manual testing, and siloed operations. As AI shifts from basic automation to true AI-assisted engineering, operators now have a path to modernize faster, safer, and with greater precision. In this article, Naresh Babu, AI Technology Leader and Digital Transformation Specialist, explores that shift and outlines the ten trends shaping AI-assisted modernization in 2026 and beyond, from autonomous networks and composable IT to AI-enhanced CX, cloud-edge convergence, and workforce transformation. In it, he also lays down the clear business impact of AI-assisted modernization for the telco industry, and guidance for telecom leaders preparing for the next wave of modernization.