03/10/2026
Telcos built the infrastructure (so heavily demanded by AI-startups) - but capture not so much of the value.
At Mobile World Congress 2026 many industry discussions pointed to the same uncomfortable number: telcos may be getting less than ~0.02% of the AI boom.
Operators build the networks, fiber, and data infrastructure - while the real money goes to companies like Microsoft, Google, and the AI platform ecosystem.
The fastest way for telcos to move back into the value chain is launching digital VAS - quickly and with low investment - using platforms like Cloudike, Inc.
I wrote a short piece on how operators can start capturing the value they actually deserve.
https://medium.com/cloudike-inc/telcos-built-the-ai-infrastructure-so-why-are-they-getting-0-02-of-the-money-2486fc5b731f
At Mobile World Congress 2026 a quiet but uncomfortable consensus emerged in many industry discussions: