e& UAE sets out path to self-running networks
Blueprint developed by e& UAE and TM Forum targets Level 4 autonomy by 2030
#UAE #telecom - National telco e& UAE has released a white paper with global connectivity industry alliance TM Forum setting out its roadmap for AI-driven autonomous networks. Unveiled at industry event DTW Ignite 2026 in Copenhagen, the The Path to Full Autonomy whitepaper outlines how the operator plans to move from manual network operations to self-optimising, self-healing systems built on five pillars: cross-domain intelligence, AI-native operations, agentic and open-source enablement, closed-loop automation and customer-centric AI. The strategy targets Level 4 Autonomous Networks by 2030, with groundwork for Level 5 self-evolving networks beyond that.
SO WHAT? - Telecom networks are getting more complex and more expensive to run manually, with multiple vendors, rising energy costs and customers expecting instant service. e& UAE is betting that AI agents and automated decision-making, rather than added headcount, are the only way to keep pace. Aligning the roadmap with TM Forum’s industry framework also means this isn’t just an internal plan; it’s designed to be copied by other operators globally, putting e& UAE in a position to help shape how the wider telecoms industry defines autonomy.
National telco e& UAE has released a white paper in collaboration with global connectivity industry alliance TM Forum called The Path to Full Autonomy: e& UAE’s Strategic Blueprint for Network Transformation in the AI Era.
Announced on the sidelines of DTW Ignite 2026 in Copenhagen, the blueprint sets out e& UAE’s roadmap to shift network operations from manual and reactive models to AI-native, intent-driven, closed-loop systems, while keeping human governance and policy controls in place.
It is structured around five pillars described as e& UAE’s Autonomous Network “DNA”: cross-domain intelligence, AI-native and vendor-agnostic operations, agentic and open-source enablement, end-to-end closed-loop automation, and customer-centric AI.
The roadmap targets four business outcomes: improving operations and maintenance efficiency, enhancing customer experience, reducing energy consumption, and accelerating service delivery.
e& UAE aims to progress toward Level 4 Autonomous Networks by 2030, while laying groundwork for Level 5 self-evolving networks beyond that date.
The paper aligns e& UAE’s implementation plan with TM Forum’s Autonomous Networks architecture, high-value scenarios and effectiveness measurement framework, rather than building a standalone internal model.
It details how AI agents, digital twins, data platforms, intent-driven orchestration and open APIs can enable autonomy across RAN, Core, Transport, IP and Fixed network domains.
[Written and edited with the assistance of AI]
Source: Khalifa University, GSMA, MEAIN
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