Telecom AI Starts with Openness

• • Operators invest in Open Cloud as the foundation for AI.
  • Operators agree on the relevance of AI for modernizing Telecom.
  • Operators are in different maturity stages.

The telecom industry’s journey toward disaggregated, open architectures has reached a decisive stage. Operators who have invested in open, cloud-native network transformation are not only modernizing their infrastructure — they are laying the essential foundations for AI competitiveness. This is no longer a theoretical connection: the data now proves it. Analysys Mason, in partnership with Dell, conducted Telco AI Readiness Index 2026, surveying 50 Tier 1 operators worldwide. While the study set out to measure AI readiness, one of its most powerful findings is the unmistakable link between open network maturity and the ability to adopt AI at speed and scale.

Open networks and AI readiness are converging

The Index reveals a clear positive correlation between open, cloud-native network maturity and AI readiness — both technologically and commercially. Operators further ahead in adopting disaggregated architectures and open operating models are structurally better positioned to embed AI across their networks and services. The logic is straightforward. Closed architectures limit programmability. Siloed operations fragment data. Legacy operating models slow experimentation. Open, cloud-native foundations solve all three — delivering the flexibility, data accessibility and automation that AI demands. This means that the investment operators are making in open platforms today is not separate from their AI strategy — it is their AI strategy.

Progress is real, but uneven

The findings show that openness adoption is accelerating, yet the operator base remains divided. AI visionaries — the top 10% — have built strong cloud-native foundations that give them a structural advantage. Meanwhile, 50% of operators remain at an early stage, held back by fragmented data ownership, closed architectures and risk aversion. There is, however, a silver lining for those lagging behind: operators deploying open and AI-ready infrastructure from scratch can progress faster by aligning both from the start, avoiding the integration debt that early movers had to work through.

Key trends shaping open platform adoption include:

AI RAN investment is concentrating on the Service Management and Orchestration (SMO) and Radio Interface Controller (RIC) layers, where open interfaces enable near-term value through closed-loop optimization, energy management and predictive maintenance — without requiring disruptive infrastructure changes.

Metro edge is emerging as the priority entry point for distributed AI workloads, with operators leveraging their connectivity assets and regional infrastructure to build sovereign, low-latency edge propositions.

Private cloud AI infrastructure is expanding, driven by sovereignty requirements and the need to reduce hyperscaler dependence — but operators must close the operational capability gap to fully capitalize on these investments.

Where Dell stands: Building open telecoms, together

At Dell, we don’t just advocate for open platforms — we engineer the infrastructure, validate the workloads and build the partnerships that make openness real and operational.

Workload validation across the ecosystem

Dell works directly with NEPs and CSPs to validate telecom workloads from multiple vendors on Dell servers, storage and connectivity solutions, running across different cloud software stacks defined by our customers. This vendor-neutral approach ensures operators retain choice and flexibility while gaining confidence that their open platforms will perform at production grade.

Deep partnerships with leading cloud platforms

Our close collaborations with Red Hat, Wind River and Canonical mean that operators can deploy open, cloud-native infrastructure on proven, validated foundations — whether they’re running containerized network functions in the core, orchestrating RAN workloads at the edge, or building hybrid AI environments.

Purpose-built infrastructure for telecom and edge

Dell’s portfolio includes servers specifically designed for telecom and edge deployments — ruggedized, space- and power-optimized, and architected for the unique demands of distributed network environments. Combined with our comprehensive infrastructure portfolio spanning servers, storage and connectivity, operators have an end-to-end foundation built for open, cloud-native operations.

Dell AI Factory with NVIDIA

As operators move to embed AI across their networks and launch new AI services, the Dell AI Factory with NVIDIA provides an integrated, validated architecture for AI training and inference — from centralized AI factories powering GPUaaS to distributed edge deployments. For operators whose open network journey is converging with their AI strategy, this is the natural next step. Dell’s unique position — working with NEPs, CSPs, hyperscalers, ISVs and AI model providers — allows us to serve as a neutral infrastructure partner, helping operators navigate multi-vendor complexity while accelerating time-to-value.

The calls to action are clear:

For CxOs charting their open network and AI strategies, the Index points to decisive next steps:

• • Treat open network transformation and AI readiness as a single, unified strategy — they are inseparable.
  • Invest in a new wave of AI-specific data transformation — model-ready datasets, common data models and unified platforms across domains.
  • Close the operational capability gap in private clouds to maximize sovereign AI infrastructure investments.
  • Start with SMO/RIC-layer AI for near-term RAN value and build toward AI-native Baseband Unit (BBU) functions as 6G approaches.
  • Establish metro edge as the near-term priority for distributed AI, leveraging connectivity and sovereignty as differentiators.
  • Choose partners who span technology, operations and commercial strategy — not just point solutions.

Read the full report

The full Open Network Index 2026 — produced by Analysys Mason in partnership with Dell — contains detailed benchmarking, correlation analysis and actionable recommendations across every dimension of AI and open network readiness. The operators who invest in open, AI-ready infrastructure today will lead the autonomous, AI-native networks of tomorrow. Dell is ready to build that future with you. To learn more about how Dell is powering open network transformation, contact your Dell account team or click here.