Telecommunication firms – South Korea-based SK Telecom, Germany-based Deutsche Telekom, Abu Dhabi-based e& and Singapore-based Singtel – have on Thursday announced that they formed the Global Telco AI Alliance to create a new customer experience and make a difference in the lives of global citizens using artificial intelligence (AI) technology.

In a joint statement, the four members of the Global Telco AI Alliance said they have agreed to make joint efforts to accelerate AI transformation of the existing telco business, and develop new growth drivers through new AI-powered business models.

They signed a multilateral memorandum of understanding (MOU) for cooperation in the AI business.

The four telcos will jointly develop the Telco AI Platform by combining their respective technologies and capabilities.

The Telco AI Platform is expected to serve as the core foundation for new AI services, including those designed to improve the existing telco services, digital assistants, and super apps that offer a wide range of services.

To facilitate the cooperation, they will form the Global Telco AI Alliance Joint Working Group, which will have detailed discussions on issues such as co-investment opportunities and the co-development of the Telco AI Platform to reach a definitive agreement.

The issue of designating a C-level officer from each company to coordinate the overall collaboration will be discussed.

The four telcos also plan to support each other in operating AI services and apps in their respective markets and cooperate to build an ecosystem.

“The launch of the Global Telco AI Alliance is meaningful in that it marks the beginning of a new journey to innovate our business models while growing together with our global partners,” said Ryu Young-sang, Chief Executive Officer of SKT.

He said that through collaborative efforts, they will accelerate AI transformation of all industries, provide new value and experience to their customers, and lead the growth of the global AI ecosystem.

Meanwhile, Deutsche Telekom Technology and Innovation Board Member Claudia Nemat said that in order to make the most of the possibilities of generative AI for their customers and their industry, they want to develop industry-specific applications in the Telco AI Alliance.

She noted that this alliance stands for bridging the gap between Europe and Asia and that they are jointly pursuing an open-vendor approach.

“Depending on the application, we can use the best technology. The founding of this alliance is an important milestone for our industry,” she added.

E& life Chief Executive Officer Khalifa Al Shamsi said that the firm recognizes AI’s immense potential in reshaping the telecommunications landscape and beyond.

He said that the alliance signifies a strategic commitment to driving innovation and fostering collaborative efforts.

“Our shared goal is to redefine industry paradigms, establish new growth drivers through AI-powered business models, and pave the way for a new era of strategic cooperation, guiding our industry towards an exciting and prosperous future,” he added.

Singtel Group Chief Executive Officer Yuen Kuan Moon said that this alliance will enable them and their ecosystem of partners to significantly expedite the development of new and innovative AI services that can bring tremendous benefits to both businesses and consumers.

“With our advanced 5G network, we are well-placed to leverage AI to ideate and co-create and are already using it to enhance our own customer service and employee experience, increase productivity and drive learning,” he added.

Founded in 1984, SK Telecom is focusing on driving innovations in areas of telecommunications, media, AI, metaverse, cloud and connected intelligence to deliver greater value for both individuals and enterprises.

Deutsche Telekom is a telecommunications company which has an extensive customer base of 245 million mobile customers, 25 million fixed-network lines, and 21 million broadband lines.

Operating in more than 50 countries and with a dedicated workforce of approximately 206,800 employees as of December 31, 2022, the company achieved a revenue of 114.4 billion Euros ($125.6 billion) in 2022.

E& is a technology groups with footprint spans 16 countries across the Middle East, Asia, and Africa,

The firm achieved a consolidated net revenue AED 52.4 billion ($14.27 billion) and consolidated net profit of AED 10 billion ($2.72 billion) in 2022.

Singtel is a communications technology group providing a portfolio of services from next-generation communication, 5G and technology services to infotainment to both consumers and businesses.

The group has presence in Asia, Australia and Africa and reaches over 770 million mobile customers in 21 countries.

Its infrastructure and technology services for businesses span 21 countries, with more than 428 direct points of presence in 362 cities.

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