AI and Automation Set the Pace at FutureNet World

FutureNet World 2026 returned to London, with close to 1,000 attendees convening to discuss deployment trends and challenges with AI, cloud and automation.

A central theme throughout FutureNet World 2026 in London was the juxtaposition of rapid AI innovation compared to the more measured pace of many telecom operators. While the broader technology landscape continues to accelerate at breakneck speed, operators are advancing within the constraints of legacy systems, regulatory complexity and capital discipline. Against this backdrop, discussions emphasized that meaningful progress is being made, particularly in embedding AI into network operations and evolving toward more autonomous, intelligent infrastructure.

Monetization of AI emerged as the defining priority across keynotes and panels, with operators showcasing early but tangible examples of revenue generation. These included leveraging cloud and edge assets for AI workloads, enhancing existing services with embedded intelligence and using automation to accelerate service delivery. While less flashy than consumer AI breakthroughs, these initiatives signal a pragmatic shift toward sustainable, enterprise-grade value creation.

Real-World Deployments Drive Efficiency, Positive Business Outcomes

Netcracker was actively represented in two major panel discussions, bringing both strategic vision and practical expertise to the forefront. In a session “Re-imagining OSS/BSS: Driving Efficiency and Innovation with AI,” Ari Banerjee Netcracker’s Chief Strategy Officer, joined leaders from UK operators BT and VodafoneThree, along with Portuguese operator MEO, to explore how AI is transforming operational and business support systems. The discussion focused on driving efficiency through automation, reducing operational complexity and enabling faster innovation cycles, with a strong emphasis on aligning OSS/BSS evolution to business outcomes.

Netcracker AVP Strategy Susan White participated in a panel on “Autonomous Networks: Separating the Myth from the Reality,” joining executives from Swisscom, Liberty Global and BT. This session tackled the gap between industry ambition and operational reality, addressing what it truly takes to achieve higher levels of autonomy. Netcracker’s perspective highlighted the importance of closed-loop automation, cross-domain orchestration and the role of AI-driven decisioning in moving from assisted operations to fully autonomous networks.

Capping its participation, Netcracker was recognized with a major industry accolade, winning the FutureNet Award for Autonomous Network Operations with customer Swisscom. The award honors the best example of large-scale automation and intelligent operations. This recognition underscores Netcracker’s ability to deliver production-grade solutions that drive measurable outcomes, reinforcing its leadership in helping operators transition from incremental automation to truly autonomous network operations.

Looking ahead, the themes emerging from FutureNet World 2026 suggest that the industry’s success will hinge on balancing ambition with execution, with operators moving at various speeds to capture AI-driven opportunities while remaining grounded in operational realities.