#MWC 2026 #GlobalData #Voice Evolution

Insights from GlobalData on Voice Evolution

At the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2026, industry leaders gathered to discuss the future of telecommunications and AI's role in shaping voice services. A standout presentation came from Andy Hicks, Senior Principal Analyst at GlobalData, who presented a thought-provoking white paper titled Reinventing Voice: A Converged, AI-Enabled, and Multimodal Voice Core for the Next Generation of Telecommunications.

The Importance of a Fully Converged Voice Network

Hicks emphasized the necessity for operators to adopt a fully converged voice network. This advancement comes at a pivotal time as the telecommunications industry transitions from older technologies like 2G and 3G to newer, more efficient systems. While many traditional networks are fading as standards update, some operators continue to maintain these outdated services to manage ongoing demands like machine-to-machine communication and international roaming.

A fully converged voice network is crucial — it supports mixed environments involving 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G technologies. This approach not only caters to current needs but also prepares operators for future upgrades, mitigating the challenges posed by the lifecycle of various network generations. As the industry leans into containerization for operational efficiency, this modern architecture promises smoother transitions from Virtual Machines (VMs) to containers, thereby potentially reducing total cost of ownership (TCO).

Transforming Voice Services with AI

As the capabilities of AI technology accelerate, there are significant opportunities to enhance voice services. Hicks outlined a strategic framework involving three stages that reveal how AI can reshape the telecommunications landscape.

1. Enhancing Call Experiences: The first stage involves deploying AI to refine the basic calling experience, creating an edge over over-the-top (OTT) services. Innovations like intelligent noise suppression and improved spatial audio are just the beginning, elevating the quality of communication.

2. Introducing New Features: The second stage focuses on integrating AI into the audio channels, leading to advanced features such as real-time translation and intelligent call summaries. These enhancements can be rolled out without burdening end-user devices, allowing operators to pivot quickly and capture a competitive advantage in the burgeoning AI realm.

3. Advancing to Multimodal Services: The final stage is a leap from single-modal functions to multimodal capabilities, which involve AI integration in video and data streams. This evolution opens the door to interactive services such as customer support and telehealth solutions, embodying the concept of