India, Oct. 9 -- Telecom operators are increasingly turning to open AI models as they move from AI experimentation towards network automation, autonomous operations and AI-enabled services. The shift is not only about reducing model costs; it also gives operators greater control over how models are adapted, deployed and governed across telecom infrastructure.

The trend is reflected in Nvidia's State of AI in Telecommunications: 2026 Trends survey of more than 1,000 telecom professionals globally. According to Nvidia, 89% of respondents consider open-source models and software important to their AI strategy. The survey also found that 65% of telecom operators said network automation is being driven by AI, while 89% expect their organisati...