Foreword Three years after ChatGPT reshaped the global landscape, industries are racing to reinvent themselves for an AI-powered future. Being tech- native, telecommunications companies (telcos) are ahead of many other industries in adopting the technology across different functions, mainly to increase efficiencies. Our white paper, Artificial Intelligence in Telecommunications, launched in early 2025, describes how AI has become a central feature in telecommunications (telecom) operations. This is just the beginning. Strategic investments in artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure and governments’ strategies towards digital sovereignty are propelling telcos towards becoming potential architects of tomorrow’s AI services. Though dependent on market dynamics and national strategies across regions, the opportunity for telcos is clear – diversify offerings, capture new growth and redefine the industry’s trajectory.The World Economic Forum has again partnered with Accenture to develop this paper and help the industry frame these AI opportunities. We have worked closely with a community of telecoms across regions, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and other ecosystem partners and industry associations to highlight the various strategic plays and enablers needed to capture them. Our findings are clear: to defend and expand their core business, telcos must invest in robust, AI- native connectivity. On this foundation, they can launch a new generation of AI-powered products and services – whether fuelled by digital sovereignty or not. In any case, success demands bold action: transforming technology, reimagining operating models and building future-ready teams. Together with the first paper, this paper is positioned as a high-level overview of what a future telco could look like, both in terms of business models and how it operates. We invite you to dive in, challenge assumptions and take the conversation forward among industry leaders.Boris Maurer Senior Managing Director; Communications and Media Industry Global Lead, AccentureBart Valkhof Head, Communications and Technology Industry, World Economic Forum The Strategic Role of Telecom Providers across the AI Value Chain March 2026 4 The Strategic Role of Telecom Providers across the AI Value Chain 4

The Strategic Role of Telecom Providers Across the AI Value Chain 2026