NaaS as a Business Strategy for 5G Monetisation

Why It Matters

NaaS and AI together create scalable, revenue‑rich services, essential for telcos to capture 5G value and prepare for 6G‑driven Industry 5.0 markets.

Key Takeaways

• NaaS shifts from tech to revenue driver
• AI enables autonomous, self‑optimizing 5G networks
• 6G will blend AI with human intelligence
• Industry 5.0 use cases demand flexible network slicing
• Telcos must adopt NaaS to stay competitive

Pulse Analysis

The rise of network‑as‑a‑service reflects a broader industry pivot from capital‑intensive infrastructure to outcome‑based offerings. By decoupling hardware from services, operators can package connectivity, edge compute, and security into modular bundles that align with enterprise digital transformation goals. This shift reduces time‑to‑market, improves margin visibility, and opens cross‑selling opportunities with cloud and SaaS providers, positioning NaaS as a cornerstone of 5G monetisation strategies.

Artificial intelligence is the engine that powers autonomous networks, enabling real‑time traffic steering, predictive maintenance, and dynamic slice allocation. Machine‑learning models ingest massive telemetry streams to anticipate congestion and automatically reconfigure radio resources, slashing operational expenditures while enhancing user experience. For carriers, AI‑driven automation translates into lower staffing costs, higher network reliability, and the ability to launch premium services—such as immersive AR/VR or massive IoT—without proportional cost increases.

Looking ahead, the transition to 6G will embed human intelligence components, creating a hybrid intelligence layer that supports Industry 5.0 use cases like collaborative robotics and digital twins. This convergence demands ultra‑low latency, pervasive edge compute, and highly programmable network slices—capabilities that NaaS frameworks are uniquely positioned to deliver. Telcos that invest now in AI‑enabled NaaS platforms will not only extract remaining 5G value but also secure a strategic foothold in the emerging 6G ecosystem, where flexibility and intelligence become the primary differentiators.

Original Description

Speaking at MWC26, Virtusa’s global telco industry consulting and solutions leader, Niladri Dutta, discusses how network-as-a-service (NaaS) has evolved from a technology strategy to a business imperative for global telcos. He also explores the role of AI in autonomous networks and how the transition from 5G to 6G will incorporate human intelligence components to enable Industry 5.0 use cases.

Recorded March 2026

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