The Execution Trap: Ericsson Study Reveals Critical Implementation Gap in CSPs” AI and 5G Ambitions
A new global study by Ericsson has uncovered a significant "implementation gap" that threatens the telecom industry’s ability to monetize the next generation of digital services. Despite 90% of senior telecom executives expressing confidence in capturing new revenue streams, the research reveals that the majority of Communication Service Providers (CSPs) have yet to deploy the foundational technologies required for success. Specifically, 70% of respondents have not commenced implementation of critical growth-enabling technologies, creating a bottleneck between corporate ambition and market reality.
The study identifies Private 5G (49%) and Tailored Digital Services (44%) as the top growth opportunities. However, execution remains stagnant, with 66% of CSPs yet to adopt AI-driven network operations and 61% lagging in 5G Standalone and network slicing capabilities. Razvan Teslaru, Head of Strategy at Ericsson Cloud Software and Services, warns that this gap will distinguish the market leaders from the laggards, emphasizing the need for more flexible ecosystems and rapid experimentation to translate AI potential into commercial growth.