Telco Transformation Is Coming - But People, Not AI, Will Decide Which Enterprises Win The Race
siliconANGLE, Wednesday, March 4th, 2026
Telecommunication companies are entering a new phase as artificial intelligence pushes networks toward software-driven architectures - but telco transformation may struggle more with internal change than with the technology itself.
With all the enthusiasm around AI, there is also a recognition that while much is changing, telecom's fundamental purpose - reliable, ubiquitous connectivity - remains the same, according to Chris Lewis (pictured), managing director of Lewis Insight Ltd., an independent telecom industry advisory firm. The bigger obstacle to transformation may well be organizational rather than technical.
'The biggest challenge is people at the moment, because breaking down the silos and talking about how, within a telco organization . they've built themselves up, focused on building the network and eventually they offer a service to the customer,' Lewis told theCUBE. 'The relationship between the engineering 'side' . and then the lines of business who make the products and sell the products and the channel, it's a massive change.'