Vodafone Approach to AI Driven Networks Built on APIs

At FutureNet World 2026 in London, one of the more thought-provoking sessions came from Víctor Fernández of Vodafone Group, who explored what it really means to enable AI to act at scale through APIs. While much of the industry conversation around AI still focuses on models and data, this talk shifted attention to a more practical layer. If AI agents are to move beyond insights and into action, they need structured, reliable and well-designed interfaces into the network and its capabilities.

The central idea was straightforward but important. AI agents cannot deliver value in isolation. They need access to systems, data and control points, and APIs are the mechanism that makes this possible. However, simply exposing APIs is not enough. If they are not designed with AI consumption in mind, they risk becoming bottlenecks rather than enablers.

A key theme was the need to rethink API design principles for an AI-driven environment. Traditional APIs have largely been built for human developers who understand documentation, constraints and context. AI agents operate differently. They require APIs that are easy to discover, clearly defined and consistent in structure. Standardisation becomes critical here, not just for interoperability across systems, but also to allow agents to reliably interpret and use them without ambiguity.

Closely linked to this is composability. AI agents are most powerful when they can orchestrate multiple services to achieve a goal rather than executing a single isolated task. This means APIs should not be designed as standalone endpoints, but as building blocks that can be combined into workflows. In a telecoms context, this could involve stitching together network data, policy controls and service exposure capabilities to enable more advanced automation scenarios.

Another important aspect discussed was scale. As AI agents begin to interact with APIs at a much higher frequency than human users, the load on systems will increase significantly. This introduces new challenges around monitoring, management and optimisation. It is no longer just about whether an API works, but how it behaves under continuous, automated usage. Observability, rate control and intelligent traffic management become essential to ensure reliability.

There is also a governance dimension. Allowing AI agents to take actions through APIs introduces risks if not properly controlled. Mechanisms are needed to define what actions are permitted, under what conditions, and with what level of oversight. This is particularly relevant in telecom networks where certain actions can have wide-ranging operational impacts. Ensuring that AI-driven interactions remain safe and predictable is as important as enabling them in the first place.

The session also highlighted the importance of a developer-friendly ecosystem. Even in an AI-centric world, developers remain central to creating and maintaining the underlying capabilities. Clear documentation, sandbox environments and consistent tooling are all necessary to support both human developers and the AI systems they build. In many ways, the goal is to create an environment where APIs are equally usable by humans and machines.

What stood out from this talk was how it grounded the AI discussion in something tangible. There is a growing recognition that the real challenge is not just building smarter models, but integrating them into operational systems in a way that delivers measurable outcomes. APIs sit right at that intersection.

For operators, this represents both an opportunity and a responsibility. By exposing network capabilities through well-designed APIs, they can enable a new class of applications and services driven by AI. At the same time, they need to ensure that these interfaces are robust, scalable and secure enough to handle the demands of automated consumption.

As the industry continues to explore the role of AI in telecoms, conversations like this help move the narrative forward. They shift the focus from what AI could do in theory to what it needs in practice to operate effectively at scale.

The video of the talk is embedded below:

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Afghanistan’s Telecom Market Between Stability and Control

When the US-backed government collapsed in August 2021, Afghanistan’s telecom sector entered an abrupt period of uncertainty. Two decades of investment had created one of the country’s few nationwide infrastructures. The expectation in many quarters was that this would quickly deteriorate. In reality, that collapse never fully materialised.

Instead, Afghanistan’s mobile sector has settled into something more complex. Networks remain operational and coverage remains relatively broad, but the conditions under which they function have fundamentally changed.

Afghanistan’s telecom market was never a typical emerging market success story. It was built during conflict, shaped by risk, and sustained by a combination of private capital and international donor support.

Operators including Afghan Wireless, Roshan, Etisalat Afghanistan, MTN Group and Afghan Telecom expanded aggressively through the 2000s and 2010s. By the time of the US withdrawal, population coverage had reached close to ninety percent by many estimates, supported by several thousand towers and a growing fibre backbone.

This expansion created a rare outcome in Afghanistan’s infrastructure landscape. Mobile connectivity became both widely available and economically indispensable.

The latest dataset from GSMA Intelligence offers a useful snapshot of where the market stands now.

At the end of 2025, Afghanistan had approximately 22.4 million cellular mobile connections. This is not the same as unique users, as many individuals maintain multiple SIMs for cost, coverage, or work-related reasons. Even so, overall penetration remains relatively modest.

Mobile connections were equivalent to around 50.7 percent of the total population in October 2025. This places Afghanistan well below saturation levels seen in more developed markets, and also below many regional peers.

Growth has slowed significantly. Between the end of 2024 and the end of 2025, the total number of connections increased by only around 101 thousand, representing growth of roughly 0.5 percent. In practical terms, the market is approaching stagnation.

At the same time, the technological profile of the market continues to improve. Around 84 percent of connections are now classified as broadband, meaning they operate on 3G or 4G networks. This reflects years of network upgrades and spectrum investment.

However, this figure requires careful interpretation. A broadband-capable SIM does not necessarily translate into active mobile internet usage. Many users remain on low-cost plans focused on voice and SMS, even if their device and network technically support data.

The result is a market where infrastructure capability has advanced faster than actual digital adoption.

The main mobile operators in Afghanistan as of early 2026 are Afghan Wireless (AWCC), Roshan, Etisalat Afghanistan, MTN Afghanistan, now in transition to ATOMA, and Afghan Telecom’s Salaam Network.

Reliable operator level data is scarce, but a composite view from industry reports and historical benchmarks provides a reasonable indication of market structure. These estimates should be treated as indicative rather than precise.

Roshan remains the leading player, with an estimated share in the range of 35 to 45 percent. Etisalat Afghanistan follows with roughly 25 to 30 percent. Afghan Wireless is typically placed in the 15 to 25 percent range, while the former MTN operation accounts for around 10 to 20 percent. Afghan Telecom and its Salaam brand hold a smaller share, generally below 10 percent.

This distribution reflects a gradual shift over time. Earlier in the market’s development, shares were more evenly balanced. The exit of MTN Group and the ongoing transition to ATOMA have weakened the middle tier and reinforced the position of the leading operators.

What emerges is a structure defined less by intense competition and more by relative stability at the top and fragmentation below.

Each operator occupies a distinct role within this environment.

Roshan continues to act as the reference network. Its scale, investment history, and balanced urban and rural footprint allow it to maintain leadership even in a constrained economic environment. They have over 6.5 million active subscribers across all 34 provinces. Founded in 2003, it is the country's single largest private investor and taxpayer. Their network covers over 387 districts, cities, and towns, reaching approximately 91% of the population. It offers 2G, 3G, and high-speed 4G LTE services.

Etisalat Afghanistan has strengthened its position in urban markets. Its focus on data services and higher value customers reflects a broader shift in where telecom value is generated, particularly as disposable income becomes more concentrated in cities. Launched in August 2007, since then the operator has invested more than $400 Million in Afghanistan and revenue growth has doubled every year. They claim to be the fastest-growing mobile phone company in Afghanistan. Etisalat is providing voice and data services in 34 provinces and 182 districts with more than 12,000 retail outlets. It was the first operator to introduce eSIM technology in Afghanistan, allowing users to switch accounts without physical SIM cards.

Afghan Wireless retains importance through its extensive rural coverage. In many less accessible areas, it effectively functions as the backbone of connectivity, even if its commercial share is lower than the leading operators. It operates a nationwide network providing 4G LTE, 3.75G+, 3G, and 2G services, to  approximately 5 million subscribers across all 34 provinces.

ATOMA, following the exit of MTN Group, represents a disrupted middle tier. While it inherits infrastructure and spectrum, it does not automatically inherit customer trust or brand strength. Its long term position remains uncertain.

Afghan Telecom (Salaam Network)  operates on a different axis. Its market share is limited, but its strategic importance has increased significantly. As a state linked operator, it plays a central role in infrastructure, rural coverage obligations, and increasingly, sector oversight.

However the growing use of shutdowns and network restrictions by the Taliban has introduced a new and defining constraint on Afghanistan’s telecom sector. The nationwide disruption in September 2025, which saw fibre links deliberately cut and connectivity fall to a fraction of normal levels, demonstrated how quickly both internet and mobile services can be curtailed through centralised infrastructure control. 

Reporting from The Guardian described a near total communications blackout in which mobile and internet services were effectively disabled across the country, disrupting everything from banking to basic communications . These interventions have immediate economic and social consequences, but more importantly they redefine the sector’s risk profile. Network performance is no longer determined primarily by coverage, investment, or spectrum, but by political discretion. 

For operators, this complicates long-term planning and weakens incentives to invest. For users, it turns connectivity into something conditional rather than guaranteed.

In that sense, the central challenge facing Afghanistan’s mobile market is no longer how to extend networks, but how to operate them in an environment where they can be partially or entirely switched off at any time.

Telefónica Germany Pushes IoT Beyond Terrestrial Limits

The growing convergence of satellite and cellular connectivity is beginning to reshape how operators approach IoT, and a recent presentation by Miguel Rodriguez, Product Manager IoT at Telefónica Germany, offered a useful perspective on how this shift is playing out in practice.

Speaking at the “5G NTN and Satellite IoT” webinar hosted by Global 5G Evolution, Rodriguez outlined how Telefónica Germany is positioning itself to take advantage of non-terrestrial networks within its broader 5G IoT portfolio. Rather than viewing satellite as a disruptive threat, the company sees it as a natural extension of its connectivity capabilities, enabling it to address use cases that have traditionally remained out of reach.

Telefónica Germany has already built a comprehensive 5G IoT portfolio spanning high performance use cases with standalone and non-standalone 5G, as well as mid and low tier connectivity with RedCap, LTE-M and NB-IoT. The addition of narrowband NTN effectively extends this portfolio beyond terrestrial limitations, particularly for massive IoT deployments that require low power and wide coverage.

A key theme from the presentation was the idea of hybrid connectivity. The goal is not to replace terrestrial networks but to complement them, creating a seamless experience where devices can switch between cellular and satellite depending on availability. This approach is particularly relevant in areas where terrestrial coverage is patchy or economically unviable, such as remote infrastructure, agricultural land, transport corridors and maritime environments.

Rodriguez highlighted that even in mature markets like Germany, there are persistent coverage gaps. These are often in locations where investment in terrestrial infrastructure does not make commercial sense, yet where IoT data can be highly valuable. Satellite connectivity provides a practical way to fill these gaps, ensuring continuity of service and enabling new types of deployments.

On a global scale, the limitations become even more apparent. While low power wide area networks such as NB-IoT and LTE-M have achieved significant reach, there are still many regions without coverage or with limited roaming agreements. Satellite IoT offers a way to achieve truly global deployments, including in regions such as parts of Africa, Latin America and across oceans.

Telefónica Germany’s strategy involves working with multiple satellite partners to address different connectivity needs. For geostationary connectivity, it collaborates with Skylo, focusing on consistent availability and a well-developed device ecosystem. For low Earth orbit connectivity, it partners with OQ Technology, enabling intermittent but cost-effective communication suitable for periodic data transmission. On the broadband side, solutions involving Starlink are being integrated to support higher throughput use cases.

An important aspect of this approach is how it is packaged for customers. Telefónica Germany is aiming to simplify what could otherwise become a complex multi-network environment. The operator acts as a single contracting partner, providing one interface for connectivity management, data access and billing. This abstraction is critical in making hybrid connectivity accessible, particularly for enterprises that do not want to manage multiple providers and technologies.

Affordability also plays a central role. The ambition is to make satellite IoT viable for large scale deployments rather than niche applications. By integrating satellite usage into existing tariffs and enabling opportunistic connectivity, Telefónica Germany is attempting to lower the barrier to entry and support the expansion of massive IoT.

Beyond connectivity, the challenge of integrating satellite data into cloud platforms was also addressed. Narrowband satellite communication typically relies on lightweight protocols that are not directly compatible with standard cloud interfaces. Telefónica Germany’s Kite platform acts as a bridge, converting data into formats suitable for hyperscaler environments such as Microsoft Azure and Amazon Web Services. This allows devices to remain efficient in terms of power and bandwidth while still enabling seamless cloud integration.

The energy sector emerged as a particularly strong use case for hybrid connectivity. From generation to distribution and consumption, there are numerous points where reliable data collection is critical. Satellite connectivity can support both primary communication in remote areas and fallback scenarios during outages, enhancing the resilience of energy infrastructure.

What becomes clear from this presentation is that non-terrestrial networks are not being treated as a separate domain but as an integral part of the overall connectivity fabric. The combination of terrestrial and satellite networks, supported by unified platforms and commercial models, is moving the industry closer to the idea of ubiquitous coverage.

For operators, this represents both a technical and strategic shift. The ability to offer global, seamless connectivity across multiple access technologies could become a key differentiator, particularly in enterprise and IoT markets. For customers, it opens up new possibilities for deploying connected devices in places that were previously considered unreachable.

The evolution of 5G into a truly integrated terrestrial and non-terrestrial ecosystem is still in its early stages, but the direction is becoming increasingly clear. Hybrid connectivity is no longer just a concept. It is starting to take shape as a practical and scalable solution for the next phase of IoT growth.

The talk is embedded below:

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