Why Conversational AI in the Network is a Monetization Imperative
*Blog by Emmanuela Spiteri, VP of Marketing, Mavenir
At Mobile World Congress this year, one reality became impossible to ignore: AI is no longer optional for operators. It’s moved from promise to pressure and the operator’s need to monetize has never been more urgent. Operators are no longer asking if AI can create value, but where it can deliver real differentiation and new revenue.
Voice remains one of the most powerful and underutilised assets operators own. Trillions of minutes are consumed globally each year because speaking is still the most natural way humans communicate. By augmenting voice with AI at the IMS layer, operators can turn everyday calls into intelligent services, from real‑time language translation to AI receptionists, fraud detection, and security, without changing user behaviour or adding friction. No apps. No downloads. No ecosystem dependency. Just intelligence, delivered natively through the network. Making it easy to consume and use in-turn makes it easier for the operators to monetize and sell.
This is where network‑embedded AI fundamentally differs from app‑based approaches. Intelligence delivered through the native dialler removes dependency on devices, apps, or ecosystems, while giving operators control over latency, quality, privacy, and compliance. In regulated and enterprise environments, that control translates directly into trust and differentiation (😊 👍 🤑).
Monetization however depends on discipline. The industry has learned that usage‑based “per‑minute” pricing discourages adoption. Sustainable models will need to be bundled into a flat‑rate, enterprise‑led, and aligned with how operators already sell and scale network services. That, in turn, is driving a shift toward bringing AI into the operator domain, where costs and sovereignty can be managed predictably.
The window for action is narrow. Hyperscalers, device players, and OTTs are moving quickly. Operators that hesitate risk ceding yet another layer of value.
Conversational AI in IMS is not a futuristic concept. It is a practical, deployable evolution of the network, and one of the clearest paths operators have today to reclaim relevance and unlock new revenue in the AI era.
Conversational AI in the network is not a future concept. It is a practical, monetizable evolution of assets operators already own. The opportunity is real, the technology is ready, and the market is moving. Mavenir is working closely with operators globally including recently announced partnerships with Telefonica,Turkcell and Etisalat, to redefine the future of AI‑driven network evolution, with cloud‑native intelligence embedded into every layer of connectivity.
For more on this topic watch panel discussion, recorded live from the MWC26 show floor, “Monetizing AI: How Operators Unlock New Service Revenue with Conversational AI in IMS,” here Deniz Celik, Associate Director, Enhanced Voice Services Planning at Turkcell, and Amy Cameron, Managing Director, Research at STL Partners, joined Mavenir’s Brandon Larson, SVP, Cloud, AI & IMS Business Strategy, to share practical insights on how operators can generate additional service revenues from their IMS investments. Watch the session, hosted by David Pringle of Mobile World Live, to hear directly from the subject matter experts. Monetizing AI: How Operators Unlock New Service Revenue with Conversational AI in IMS
Highlights from the Monetizing AI Panel Session
