ETRI Paper: AI Networks Could Cut Telecom Costs 7.1% by 2037
ETRI researchers estimate AI-based automation and virtualization could trim 7.1% from operators' total cost of ownership, with the AI network equipment market reaching $95.6 billion.
Researchers at ETRI have published a paper estimating that adopting AI networks could cut telecom operators' total cost of ownership by 7.1%. The study appeared in the October issue of ETRI's journal Electronics and Telecommunications Trends, according to ZDNet Korea.
The paper estimates that network construction and operations costs, assumed to be about 40% of a telecom operator's total costs, could fall by 17.75% through AI-based automation and equipment virtualization. Virtualization of radio access network and mobile core equipment accounted for more than half of the estimated cost reduction.
Among individual contributors, AI-based energy optimization was estimated to save 2.25 percentage points, while AI-based automation of transport network equipment and operations staff was estimated to save 2 percentage points each. AI-based predictive maintenance was estimated to save 1.5 percentage points.
Market projections
The study projected the global AI network equipment market would grow from $13.8 billion in 2030 to $95.6 billion in 2037, a compound annual growth rate of 31.9%. Within that, AI-RAN equipment was estimated at $6.6 billion in 2030 and AI autonomous network equipment at $7.2 billion.
The transport and backbone network equipment market was projected to grow from $5.8 billion in 2030 to $41.2 billion in 2037, while the telecom-specific edge infrastructure market was estimated to grow from $10 billion in 2030 to $29.9 billion in 2037.
In a March 2026 related article, Nvidia was reported to be creating a $1 trillion market with AI-RAN.
Quick answers
How much could AI networks cut telecom operators' costs?
ETRI researchers estimated a 7.1% reduction in total cost of ownership, with network construction and operations costs falling 17.75%.
How big will the AI network equipment market be?
The study projected growth from $13.8 billion in 2030 to $95.6 billion in 2037, a compound annual growth rate of 31.9%.
Where was the ETRI paper published?
It appeared in the October issue of ETRI's journal Electronics and Telecommunications Trends.