GlobalData Unveils White Paper on Voice Service Evolution Driven by AI at MWC 2026

GlobalData’s Insight on Next-Gen Voice Services at MWC 2026

At the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2026 held in Barcelona, Spain, Andy Hicks, the Chief Analyst at GlobalData, introduced a pivotal document titled "Reinventing Voice: A Converged, AI-Enabled, and Multimodal Voice Core for the Next Generation of Telecommunications." This white paper outlines vital strategies that telecommunications operators can adopt to redefine voice services through the integration of artificial intelligence (AI).

The Necessity of a Fully Converged Voice Network

The need for a fully converged voice network has never been more critical, especially with the ongoing shift towards 5G-Advanced (5G-A). As 2G and 3G technologies reach the end of their lifecycle, operators are compelled to maintain these networks due to the critical services they support, such as Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communications and international roaming. The white paper emphasizes that a completely converged network can support services across all generations, including 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G, allowing operators to maintain operational efficiency while preparing for future technological advancements.

GlobalData's vision advocates that by moving towards a fully converged architecture, operators can effectively manage the lifecycle challenges associated with various technologies, paving the way for seamless evolution in the telecommunications landscape.

Embracing Containerization for Operational Efficiency

Aligned with the global trend towards containerization, the suggested architecture simplifies the transition from virtual machines (VMs) to containers. This shift significantly lowers the total cost of ownership (TCO) while enabling continuous innovation and agile updates to voice services. The ability to streamline operations will be instrumental for operators who seek to capitalize on rapidly evolving technologies.

AI and Voice Technology: Transforming Value Proposition

The integration of AI into voice services is expected to unfold in three key phases, as described by Hicks. This strategic evolution can vastly enhance the value proposition of voice services:

1. Fundamental Quality Enhancements: The first phase focuses on using AI to enhance basic call quality, providing a competitive edge over over-the-top (OTT) applications. Features like intelligent noise suppression and advanced spatial audio can dramatically uplift the quality of voice communications, elevating user experiences to a new height.

2. Innovative Features Integration: The next phase incorporates AI into audio channels, introducing groundbreaking features such as real-time translation and intelligent call summarization. These additions do not impose additional requirements on user devices, allowing operators to rapidly deploy AI-driven voice services and gain first-mover advantages.

3. Multimodal Expansion: Finally, the third phase sees the integration of AI into video channels and data paths, expanding the development of voice services from a single-modal to a multimodal framework. This opens avenues for interactive customer support, digital health assistants, and the evolution of the "Call-as-a-Service" concept.

Hicks emphasized the urgency for operators to leverage AI capabilities actively. By establishing a fully converged voice network as their foundation, they can propel innovations within their service offerings and reestablish the core value of voice communication, especially with the double progression seen in 5G-A and AI technologies.

For those interested, the full technical document is available via GlobalData's official website. The insights shared at MWC 2026 could very well shape the future of voice services in a landscape increasingly dominated by artificial intelligence.