Capgemini has been chosen by the Canadian telecom service provider, TELUS, to help in a large-scale effort to transform the operations of telecommunications networks by leveraging the power of automation and intelligent systems. The partnership will help in developing TELUS’s in-house network platform into an autonomous telecom network that can identify problems, forecast failures, and self-optimize.
This strategic engagement is a significant milestone in the acceleration of the adoption of autonomous networks, which are intelligent and intent-based networks that are the future of the global telecom infrastructure. This is also a significant development in the Networks industry, as players look to transform their legacy infrastructure into more cost-effective and user-friendly solutions.
What the Partnership Entails
Under the new agreement, Capgemini in Canada will work closely with TELUS to modernize and automate TELUS’s existing network-automation platform. The goal is to shift away from traditional manual, rules-based processes toward intent-based, closed-loop autonomous operations – systems that can:
Detect anomalies and resolve issues in real-time
Predict equipment failures using analytics and AI-driven insights
Self-optimize performance across defined network domains
Reduce operational complexity and improve scalability and reliability
With the capacity to automate tasks and make better decisions with predictive intelligence, autonomous networks are supposed to be more resilient and efficient than the traditional telecom network. For TELUS, the modernization project is expected to offer faster software updates, improved network reliability, and overall improved customer experience.
Why This Matters for the Networks Industry
Autonomous networks are on the cusp of a revolution in the way telecommunications companies design, operate, and provide network services. The way networks have been operated up until now has been through manual configuration, rule-based management, and break-fix maintenance, which has been expensive, time-consuming, and no longer scalable.
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From Manual to Intelligent Network Operations
Autonomous networks represent the next wave of automation and utilize AI, real-time analytics, and closed-loop systems to react to changing conditions. As stated by the Capgemini Research Institute, “84% of telecom operators are currently at low levels of autonomy, but 61% of them aim to reach Level 3 or higher, which allows self-monitoring, self-optimization, and self-healing capabilities by 2028.”
This evolution from manual to autonomous systems enables operators to:
Reduce downtime caused by manual intervention or delayed responses
Improve energy and resource efficiency by optimizing network workflows
Deliver more consistent quality of service during peak usage or unexpected disruptions
In the context of the Networks industry, autonomous networks represent a key competitive differentiator – enabling faster rollout of services, better SLA performance, and stronger overall network resilience.
Business Impacts Across Telecom and Beyond
TELUS and Telecom Operators
For TELUS, this collaboration with Capgemini is an opportunity to lead the way in the commercialization of autonomous network technology. With the implementation of an autonomous network, TELUS will be able to reduce its operational costs and enhance the performance of its existing services, which is a great advantage in the competitive telecom industry.
Other telcos will also follow suit and realize that network automation through AI is not only a cost-cutting measure but also a means to differentiate themselves on the back of reliability, speed, and quality.
Capgemini and Systems Integration Firms
For consulting and technology service companies such as Capgemini, autonomous network transformation projects provide a new set of business opportunities, ranging from platform modernization and data integration to AI model development and predictive operations. Such projects involve inter-disciplinary knowledge, such as network transformation, software development, AI/ML, and change management. Companies that can provide end-to-end solutions will be poised to take advantage of the growing demand from telecom companies for digital transformation.
Network Equipment and Software Vendors
The vendors in the ecosystem of network equipment and software will also be able to benefit from the increased adoption of autonomous networks. With the increased investment in intelligent infrastructure by operators, there will be a corresponding increase in the demand for hardware and software solutions that will be able to support real-time analytics and automation. This will include AI-ready routers, 5G core solutions, edge computing solutions, and next-generation orchestration solutions that are compatible with autonomous network solutions.
Business Customers and End Users
The future-proof self-optimizing and self-healing networks will be able to provide even better reliability and performance, especially in light of the growing demands that come with new use cases such as extended reality, autonomous mobility, massive IoT, and cloud enterprise services. Those businesses that rely on high-quality connectivity, such as logistics companies, healthcare organizations, and media companies, will be able to take advantage of improved latency and a better digital experience.
Driving Innovation and Operational Efficiency
The TELUS-Capgemini initiative is a reflection of the broader trend in the telecom sector to develop AI-native networks that can be autonomously managed with minimal human intervention. As the traffic continues to grow due to the influence of 5G, cloud, and digital transformation, the level of complexity associated with managing the networks has continued to increase. Autonomous networks, powered by AI and analytics, are a strategic answer to address the complexity without necessarily increasing expenses.
Analysts believe that autonomous networks are already offering a high return on investment by eliminating repetitive manual tasks, preventing outages, and optimizing network planning and operations. In 2026, telecom operators are increasing their budgets for AI to support autonomous networks, and network automation is a leading use case for AI adoption by telecom operators.
Challenges and Considerations
Although the benefits of autonomous networks are evident, there are still some challenges that need to be addressed. These include:
Data security and governance: With the increasing use of AI and analytics in networks, data security and governance are now essential.
Preparing the workforce: The telecom industry will have to invest in up-skilling and change management to adapt to the new autonomous processes.
Integration with legacy systems: The transition from manual systems to autonomous systems will have to be carefully managed to integrate with the existing network infrastructure.
Conclusion
The Capgemini-TELUS collaboration is a harbinger of what the future holds for the Networks industry – a future of smarter, self-healing infrastructure that has the potential to lower costs, improve reliability, and enable more sophisticated digital experiences. As autonomous technologies evolve, those operators who adopt smarter networks will be well placed to deliver against customer demands.
Through the integration of AI, real-time analytics, and closed-loop automation, autonomous telecommunication networks are able to deliver the performance, efficiency, and agility that are needed in today’s rapidly changing digital world. This is expected to revolutionize the competitive landscape for telecommunication service providers and their customers.
