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The Next Generation Mobile Networks Alliance (NGMN) today published new guidance outlining how mobile network operators (MNOs) can evolve their cloud-native network operations towards Agentic AI-based and increasingly autonomous operating models. The publication “Cloud Native Next Chapter – Agentic AI-based Operating Models” provides a framework for Mobile Network Operators to support the adoption of Agentic AI in telecom network operating models, helping operators navigate the transformation across technology, processes, skills, and organisational culture.

Building on NGMN’s Cloud Native Manifesto and established cloud-native frameworks such as the Cloud Native Computing Foundation’s (CNCF’s) Cloud Native Maturity Model (CNMM), the publication introduces a structured approach to integrate Agentic AI-based capabilities into telecom operations. It defines five progressive AI adoption levels and maps them to the CNCF Cloud Native Maturity Model (CNMM) stages, enabling operators to assess their readiness and required next steps to gradually evolve towards more intelligent and autonomous network operations. For each AI adoption level, the document also provides guidance on what is required across technology, people, skills and organisational culture. It further emphasises the importance of defining clear transformation targets and measuring business outcomes as operators progress along this journey.

Through this publication, NGMN shares guiding principles, architectural guidelines and strategic insights to help operators’ transformation and to navigate different levels of autonomy and AI adoption in cloud-native network environments.

“Agentic AI has the potential to fundamentally change how telecom networks are operated, but only if telecom operators build on the right foundations. AI adoption doesn’t happen in isolation; it depends on cloud-native maturity and a clear path to integrate autonomy without sacrificing reliability or control. That’s exactly what NGMN’s framework delivers: practical guidance to help operators embrace AI-driven operations with confidence,” said Laurent Leboucher, Chairman of the NGMN Alliance Board and Orange Group CTO and EVP Networks.

The publication highlights how cloud-native maturity forms the foundation for AI-driven operations. While early stages focus on controlled experimentation and AI-assisted workflows, more advanced stages enable increasingly autonomous network management through closed-loop automation and intelligent orchestration. By aligning cloud-native maturity with AI readiness, operators can adopt AI technologies in a phased and responsible manner while balancing innovation with operational stability.

“Cloud-native adoption provides the essential foundation for integrating advanced AI into telecom operations,” said Bernard Bureau, NGMN Board Member and VP Wireless Technology & Services at TELUS. “By mapping cloud-native maturity levels to AI adoption stages, NGMN offers operators a practical framework to gradually introduce AI-enabled automation — from early experimentation to increasingly autonomous network operations.”

The publication also emphasises that the transition towards AI-driven operating models is not solely a technological shift. Successful adoption requires organisational transformation across people, processes and culture, including new skillsets, responsible AI governance and redesigned operational workflows. AI-enabled tools can support tasks such as network troubleshooting, capacity planning, and predictive operations, enabling more efficient and resilient network management.

“As Agentic AI-based technologies evolve rapidly, NGMN provides operators practical guidance on how to lever them on the transition to Agentic AI-based network operations, in a responsible and scalable way,” said Anita Döhler, CEO of the NGMN Alliance. “By outlining 5 specific stages, this publication provides a roadmap for mobile network operators to evolve their cloud-native platforms towards Agentic AI-enabled operating models, whilst setting clear objectives and measuring business outcomes.”

The full publication “Cloud Native Next Chapter – Agentic AI-based Operating Models” is available for download here.

Collaboration is key to driving the industry’s most important topics such as NGMN’s strategic pillars: Mastering the Route to Disaggregation, Green Future Networks, and 6G. NGMN therefore invites all parties across the entire value chain to join the Alliance in this important endeavour.

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FutureNet World 2026

📅 21–22 April 2026
📍 InterContinental London – The O2, London, UK
🔗 https://futurenetworld.net/events/futurenet-world-2026/

NGMN Track: Network Evolution

📅 22 April (Day 2)
🧭 Track C: The Path to 6G & Sustainable AI
⏰ 11:20–13:00

Agenda

Network Evolution – The Path to 6G & Sustainable AI

NGMN Speakers:
Laurent Leboucher · Andrea Calvi · Konstantinos Chalkiotis · Anita Döhler

Guest Speaker:
Itsuma Tanaka, DOCOMO Euro-Labs

Moderators:
Philip Laidler, STL Partner
Ray Le Maistre, TelecomTV

Session Highlights:

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We’re proud to partner with FutureNet World, the premier event where telecom network automation, AI-driven operations, and autonomous networks take centre stage. Join 1,000+ telco professionals, CSP leaders, and technology innovators as we explore the future of intelligent networks.

🔍See the full agenda here.

Don’t miss out — 👉 register today.

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The summit combines keynote sessions and high-level panels featuring international experts alongside regional leaders, unpacking the topics shaping the global agenda: artificial intelligence, 5G, 6G, automation, and new business models.

NGMN Alliance CEO ‌Anita Döhler will participate in the summit, sharing NGMN’s latest guidance on the #6G roadmap and the growing role of AI in future networks.

The session ‘AI and the 6G Horizon’, taking place on 19 March at 12:20 PM (GMT-3), will explore how the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence is shaping the next generation of mobile networks, including:

✅How operators are progressing from cloud-native maturity to AI-powered models;

✅The latest operator analysis from NGMN on the evolution of AI-driven traffic;

✅The need for a flexible network architecture;

✅The key principles guiding the future standardisation of 6G.

You can register and visit the full summit agenda here.

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This week, NGMN Alliance will join FierceNetwork’s AI-driven wireless: From 5G to 6G virtual summit for a key panel exploring how AI is set to redefine the next generation of networks.

🎤AI will take 6G by storm
📆31 March | 01:00 PM ET | 07:00 PM CET

The panel, moderated by Joe Madden (mobile Experts, Inc), will feature the participation of Eric Hardouin, NGMN Board Member and VP Network and Infrastructure Research at Orange, who will share NGMN’s latest operator-led guidance on 6G, alongside fellow industry experts Sylvia Kechiche (opensignal) and Alain Mourad (interdigital).

NGMN looks forward to contributing to this discussion on how AI could fundamentally reshape the scope, architecture and capabilities of 6G. Eric Hardouin will also be interviewed at the event.

For more information and to register for the event, visit: https://www.fierce-network.com/fiercenetworkcom/ai-driven-wireless-networks-5g-6g

Make sure to check out NGMN’s latest guidance on 6G here: https://www.ngmn.org/publications/ai-surge-and-its-implications-for-6g.html

Join our endeavour: https://www.ngmn.org/membership.html

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Bernard Bureau, NGMN Board Director and VP, Wireless Technology & Services, TELUS, outlined NGMN’s upcoming ‘Cloud Native Next Chapter’ publication on agentic AI-based operating models to James Pearce, Editor at TelecomTV.

During the interview, Bernard discussed the strategic importance of network simplification and how AI can be used as the foundation for end-to-end automation across planning, deployment and daily operations.

The post NGMN’s AI-driven approach to network simplification appeared first on NGMN.

Laurent detailed the main themes of NGMN’s Press and Industry Briefing at #MWC26, including frameworks for network simplification, guidance on cloud-native and AI-based operating models and the Alliance’s recommendations for sustainable networks.

The impact of AI on network traffic and 6G standardisation was also discussed, as well as why flexibility and interoperability would be crucial in the years ahead.

The post NGMN’s AI and 6G priorities for the mobile industry appeared first on NGMN.

In its latest publication, AI Surge and its Implications for 6G, the Next Generation Mobile Networks Alliance (NGMN) outlines an operator-driven view on how AI-related requirements should be addressed in the evolution towards 6G. The publication consolidates mobile network operators’ perspectives on how AI may impact 6G standardisation and provides guidance to support ongoing 6G studies within 3GPP. It examines three key dimensions: the impact of AI-driven traffic on networks, network capabilities required to support AI-based services, and the role of AI as an enabler for future network architecture evolution. 

“As 6G standardisation enters a critical phase, the rapid growth of AI and AI agents presents both opportunities and challenges for mobile network operators,” said Laurent Leboucher, Chairman of the NGMN Alliance Board and Orange Group CTO and EVP Networks. “Given the variety of future AI use cases and applications, it is essential that 6G standards enable adaptability without forcing disruptive architectural changes. Flexibility will be critical to accommodate evolving AI use cases across devices, networks and regions.” 

The publication emphasises that, while AI will play a central role in future networks, 6G should not be treated as a clean-slate redesign. Instead, NGMN advocates an evolutionary approach that builds on existing 5G architectures, ensuring interoperability, operational simplicity and long-term investment protection. 

“The rapid evolution of large-scale AI models is driving a shift towards an increasingly AI-native environment,” said Takki Yu, NGMN Board Director and VP Head of Network Tech Office at SK Telecom. “To support this transformation, networks will need to progressively introduce AI-enabled capabilities such as intent-driven programmability, autonomous operation and dynamic compute distribution across edge and central domains. By aligning early on key standardisation priorities, the industry can ensure that 6G evolves in a flexible, sustainable and value-driven manner.” 

To guide this evolution, NGMN outlines key 6G objectives and architectural design principles that balance innovation with operational and business realities. These include flexibility, sustainability, trustworthiness, cloud-native design, automation, smooth migration from existing networks, and a disaggregated, multi-vendor ecosystem. 

“The proliferation of AI use cases, particularly those with autonomous, task-driven capabilities, is rapidly reshaping how networks are built and operated,” said Anita Döhler, CEO of the NGMN Alliance. “As the industry accelerates toward the next era of connectivity, NGMN is sharpening its focus on future network evolution emphasising flexibility to accommodate AI-driven evolution for 6G.” 

NGMN will further present and discuss its operator-led guidance during its annual Press & Industry Briefing at MWC Barcelona 2026, taking place on Tuesday, 03 March 2026, from 02:00 –03:00 pm CET at the Orange booth.

The publication can be downloaded here.

Collaboration is key to driving the industry’s most important topics such as NGMN’s strategic pillars: Mastering the Route to Disaggregation, Green Future Networks, and 6G. NGMN therefore invites all parties across the entire value chain to join the Alliance in this important endeavour. 

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