At the Mobile World Congress 2025, leaders from Pure Storage, Red Hat, and Virgin Media O2 gathered to chat about a hot topic: AI in network automation. They all agreed that while investments in network automation have been around for a while, AI is now taking center stage. It’s clear that a strong cloud and data infrastructure is a must.
Alex Boyd, who oversees telco core infrastructure and cloud at Virgin Media O2, described their massive network overhaul as akin to “open heart surgery.” He put it simply: “We replaced everything from one end to the other. That’s done, effectively. We’ve got those platforms in. Now we can actually leverage the capabilities that are in there.” With the infrastructure ready, the next step is building an automated system to boost operational efficiency.
Andy Douglas from Pure Storage emphasized that AI is a fundamental piece of future network strategies. He pointed out, “AI is key. It’s part of everyone’s strategy.” To make AI work, you need a solid data management system that can handle various network domains and complex tech stacks. This is where the industry is focusing its energy.
Mark Longwell from Red Hat talked about automation platforms like Ansible. These platforms help networks self-optimize and adapt, setting the stage for AI-driven operations. He explained, “AI is a broad subject. You have to slice it into something serviceable and manageable.” It’s not just about having lots of data; it’s about having the right data that you can act on.
The panelists also noted that small language models (SLMs) are offering more immediate benefits in network automation compared to their larger counterparts. SLMs are more targeted and manageable, making them a practical entry point for AI deployment. Boyd put it well: “LLMs are something you buy. SLMs are something you can run internally and train on your expertise.”
To sum it up, the success of AI in network automation really depends on having a solid foundation. Boyd concluded, “We see a lot of that network slicing, network-as-a-service, private 5G…are coming to the fore now. We’ve been talking about them probably for too long, and now we’re starting to put our money where our mouth is.”
