Eighty-four percent of more than 1,000 respondents said AI features in the growth strategy of their organization, while 62 percent are directing at least 20 percent of ICT capex budgets toward the technology.
However, the equation is not yet balanced.
Three-quarters state that current telecom infrastructure limits the ability to deliver on those ambitions, while 45 percent suggest these limitations would delay, constrain or entirely limit investments.
There is clearly a disconnect between the ambition and the ability to deliver. At present, Europe lags the United States and parts of Asia in areas such as network deployment, related investment levels and scale.
What we must remember primarily is that AI does not happen without advanced, trusted and future-proofed networks. Infrastructure is not a ‘nice to have’, it is a fundamental element. Simply put, today’s networks in Europe require more investments to power the AI dream we all have.
If AI does not reach its full potential, EU competitiveness will suffer, economic growth will have a ceiling, the creation of new jobs will have a limit and consumers will not see the benefits.
