- February 2026
The European telecommunications industry is at a turning point
Rising cost structures, the demographic loss of expert knowledge, and the increasing complexity of historically grown IT and network landscapes are putting established operating models under pressure. Traditional efficiency programs are reaching their limits: they deliver only incremental improvements, while margins continue to decline and qualified specialists are becoming increasingly difficult to find.
The current BearingPoint white paper "Agentic AI: A Game Changer for European Telco Network Rollouts" outlines how telecom operators can successfully navigate this paradigm shift. Agentic AI makes it possible to significantly accelerate network deployment while simultaneously addressing cost pressures, complexity, and the shortage of skilled labor. Instead of passive tools, agentic AI introduces ‘digital workforces’—autonomous, collaborative, and self‑learning agents that handle routine and analytical tasks at machine speed, enabling experts to focus on strategy and oversight.
Why is agentic AI a game changer?
Agentic AI is revolutionizing network deployment by integrating “digital workforces” into operational processes. These intelligent agents take over tasks such as validation, approval, orchestration, and optimization—and collaborate closely with humans within multi‑agent systems. The result: automated workflows, faster decision‑making, and dynamic resource allocation. This enables 5G or fiber network rollouts to become not only faster and more precise, but also more agile and highly scalable.
Four building blocks for a successful implementation
To unlock the potential of agentic AI in a structured and rapid way, BearingPoint has developed a practice‑oriented framework. The following four building blocks provide a clear roadmap for companies:
Together, these building blocks enable a methodical, rapid, and sustainable integration of agentic AI – from strategy to operational execution.
Where do Europe’s telcos really stand?
Despite growing attention, most European telecommunications companies remain in the early stages of adopting and leveraging agentic AI. A BearingPoint benchmark study involving several telcos reveals that the average maturity level is only 8–9 out of a possible 24 points. Even the frontrunners achieve less than 50 percent of the total score across agentic AI maturity dimensions, while laggards remain below 25 percent. The industry has laid the groundwork but is still stuck in “pilot purgatory.” Those who act now will secure a decisive competitive advantage.
Rapid network deployment thanks to agentic AI
A recent BearingPoint pilot project demonstrates impressively how agentic AI accelerates network rollout: up to 90 percent of checks within HLD and LLD reviews were performed by intelligent agents, already delivering significant results:
When we talk about agentic AI, we mean digital employees that integrate into processes and work symbiotically with human staff. The potential is enormous, as every task taken over by an agent scales hundreds or even thousands of times in mass rollouts. AI agents typically pay off within just a few weeks. Yet despite these significant opportunities, the industry is still at a very early stage.
Julius Hafer, Partner at BearingPoint and Telecommunications expert
