GSMA and IBM have collaborated to support the adoption and skills of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) in the telecom industry through the launch of GSMA Advance’s AI training program and the GSMA Foundry GenAI program.

The AI training program, the first in a new series of courses by GSMA Advance, seeks to prepare telco leaders for the AI-era and bridge skills gaps in the telecom industry, by equipping members with skills and knowledge to help effectively leverage GenAI technologies utilising watsonx, IBM’s AI and data platform with AI assistants.

The training program, designed for telecoms leaders, will span a wide range of topics, from fundamental AI principles to specialised GenAI applications in telecoms. To ensure a wide-range of participants can benefit, GSMA Advance AI training sessions will take place at IBM offices in five locations around the world in 2024, including Dubai, London, Mexico, New York and Seoul, and an online training program will be available in multiple languages.

A digital version of the program will be available to help address both the business strategy and technology fundamentals of GenAI. This program will leverage IBM watsonx to deliver hands-on training designed to equip architects and developers with in-depth practical GenAI knowledge.

The GSMA Foundry GenAI program will provide GSMA members with access to IBM’s watsonx. This platform is intended to help telecom industry players explore innovative industry-specific use cases of GenAI, enabling members to improve cost leadership, revenue growth and enhance customer experience. As part of the ongoing collaboration GSMA Foundry and IBM will drive a series of GenAI industry programs and challenges to investigate the use of GenAI in various functional areas of a telecom provider.

Through both the GSMA Advance AI training and Foundry GenAI programs, GSMA and IBM will help address the gap in AI skills, training, and tools, supporting GSMA’s commitment to operators of all sizes across the world. Through this initiative, GSMA and IBM aim to allow operators, including those supporting the world’s least connected communities, to benefit from AI technology, and develop new innovative and inclusive solutions to help connect those in society who are not yet online.

Through their commitment to developing GenAI skills and training for the telecom industry, GSMA and IBM want to enable mobile operators to provide better services and, ultimately, help more people benefit from digital connectivity.

Commenting on the collaboration, Alex Sinclair, chief technology officer (CTO), GSMA, said, “AI provides the telecom industry, and the societies it serves, with huge opportunities to launch new services, improve connectivity and customer experience. Overall, it is estimated that AI could contribute $15.7 trillion to the global economy by 2030. However, it is critical that AI is democratised to ensure that all parts of the connectivity industry and their customers, wherever they are in the world, benefit. Bringing operators access to AI tools and knowledge, alongside the necessary skills, access and training, is key to achieving this.”

Meanwhile, Stephen Rose, general manager, global industries, IBM, said, “As a world leader in AI for business, IBM will provide critical support to this training for the telecom industry through this collaboration with the GSMA. GenAI can create massive opportunities for communication service providers as they look to optimise current processes, and like the GSMA, our goal is to offer this technology within the industry, which we are making possible through watsonx.”