At MWC Shanghai 2026, global telecommunications leaders highlighted how new AI use cases are transforming consumer services and driving operational growth.
Carl Cruz, CEO and president of Globe Telecom, outlined the company’s journey in adopting artificial intelligence across its operations. The initiative began in 2024 when the operator established a dedicated group and appointed Anton Bonifacio as Chief AI Officer, a role that later expanded to Chief Intelligence and Trust Officer.
Globe Telecom Expands AI Use Cases
According to Cruz, the operator has integrated AI into 90% of its business practices, spanning over 260 active projects. Notably, employees have developed more than 80 citizen-led AI use cases using a hub-and-spoke operating model.
“Our goal was simple: democratise technology so innovation could come from anywhere. We see AI not as a threat but as a tool for power and growth.”
Carl Cruz, CEO of Globe Telecom
Operational Efficiency and Consumer Products
The company focused its efforts on hyper-personalization, customer experience, autonomous networks, and new product creation. For instance, a new AI-powered billing agent reduced reconciliation times from days to mere seconds.
Furthermore, the operator introduced “AI Fiesta,” a subscription platform bundling models like ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini Pro, Perplexity, DeepSeek, and Grok. Additionally, the company launched Globe Cloud, a personal storage app using Synchronoss technology that features image-editing tools.
China Mobile Promotes AI for All
China Mobile, the world’s largest operator, presented its “Mobile AI – AI for All” initiative at the event. Chair Zhongyue Chen emphasized that technology should serve everyone, showcasing an application that assists hearing-impaired individuals with daily tasks.
The company stated it remains open to partnerships rather than building a closed ecosystem. Meanwhile, its strategy targets consumer services, such as enhancing the FIFA World Cup viewing experience on TV, alongside industrial applications in steel manufacturing.
Infrastructure and Future Outlook
In addition to consumer and industrial applications, China Mobile uses AI to measure model power and platform capacity. Both operators demonstrated that scaling AI use cases is essential for unlocking new growth engines in the telecommunications sector.
