NETWORK INFRASTRUCTURE & MODERNISATION
SKILLS EVOLUTION AND SOFTWARE ENGINEERING FOCUS
Transitioning to AI-driven network operations means significantly shifting organisational skills and capabilities. Traditional telecoms focus on physical infrastructure, but AI-enabled networks demand software engineering, data science and cognitive computing expertise. Wayne explains:“ We’ ve been shifting our skillsets toward software and AI to control the network better.” It reflects a broader move from hardware-centric to softwaredefined network management.
Network engineers must now understand machine learning, algorithm optimisation and automation platforms. Operations teams must manage intent-based systems and digital twins, while customer-facing teams must translate business needs into AIdriven service configurations.
The shift challenges traditional telecom recruitment.“ People associate telecoms with physical networks in buildings and streets,” says Wayne. The industry must now attract software developers, data scientists and AI specialists to complement traditional engineering roles.
66 July 2025