Telecom operators admit their networks are not ready for the coming wave of AI and streaming traffic, yet are failing to act on necessary upgrades, according to a new report from RtBrick. The industry-wide paralysis threatens to leave networks unprepared for future customer demands, with a staggering 81% of operators conceding their current architecture is not equipped for the future.
All talk, no action: The desire to modernize is not the issue. A Vanson Bourne survey of 200 telecom decision-makers found that more than 90% intend to invest in and deploy "disaggregated" networks within five years. However, execution is lagging dramatically, with only one in twenty operators currently in deployment, while nearly half are still mired in the "exploration" phase.
The call is coming from inside the house: The problem isn't technology or budget, but internal dysfunction. The biggest roadblock, cited by a massive 93% of leaders, is a lack of support from their own leadership. "The bottleneck isn’t capacity or budget, it’s decision-making,” said Pravin S Bhandarkar, CEO and Founder of RtBrick, in a statement about the findings.
The AI paradox: This inertia also threatens to derail the sector's AI ambitions before they even start. Despite nearly every leader planning to use AI for network operations, 93% say they can’t unlock its full potential without the real-time data that only a modern, disaggregated network can provide.
While most of the industry remains stuck in meetings, the gap between the talkers and the doers is widening. Major operators like AT&T, Deutsche Telekom, and Comcast are reportedly already building out disaggregated networks at scale, creating a widening competitive divide. Unless telco leadership moves past internal roadblocks, the industry risks falling behind not only its competitors but also the fundamental demands of the modern digital economy.
