Network operators are stepping up investment on Artificial Intelligence

A new study from Juniper Research has found that wireless and infrastructure network carriers spend on Artificial Intelligence (AI) solutions will exceed $15 billion by 2024. One factor fueling investment in AI and other digital transformation initiatives is the rise of over-the-top (OTT) applications that directly compete with the operators' traditional business. Voice and messaging services such as WhatsApp, Skype, Telegram, and WeChat in China have transformed the way most users communicate, making a dent in voice and SMS revenues. Juniper Research believes that "the lack of regulation in this sector has enabled the staggering rise of OTT messaging and voice services, making it attainable for players such as WhatsApp, Line, WeChat and others to maintain low pricing business models and fast-paced nature of offerings." "Digital transformation has significantly changed operators' business models, which only a decade ago relied predominantly on SMS, MMS and voice calls for revenues."