O2 Telefónica develops AI assistant for network operations “NOA” is a digital sparring partner for network engineers
NOA (illustrative image) supports the network teams in their day-to-day operations with network analysis and troubleshooting for O2 Telefónica (Credits: iStock / gorodenkoff)
- Network Operations Agent helps O2 Telefónica network experts analyze outages, improve network availability, and build expertise
- “NOA provides precise answers and suggests concrete steps for analysis and troubleshooting,” says Mallik Rao
- AI Agent is part of O2 Telefónica’s Autonomous Network Journey, which aims to operate network functions in a largely automated manner by 2030 (Level 4)
Artificial intelligence is now part of the team at O2 Telefónica's network operations. As a digital sparring partner, the Network Operations Agent “NOA” supports network engineers and service managers in network operation and maintenance. Humans and machines work together to ensure that the O2 Telefónica network runs even more stably, quickly, and efficiently.
NOA is based on state-of-the-art GenAI technology and analyzes the available data relating to the network. On this basis, engineers receive precise recommendations for action to rectify faults and improve network availability. O2 Telefónica developed the AI agent independently.
"Artificial intelligence significantly reduces the time between detection and action for our network engineers. The Network Operations Agent NOA shows how humans and artificial intelligence can work together successfully to ensure stable network operation for consumers and businesses. With the help of AI, we are taking a big step closer to our goal of a highly automated network by 2030," says Mallik Rao, Chief Technology and Enterprise Business Officer at O2 Telefónica.
Mallik Rao
AI assistant provides knowledge and recommendations
O2 Telefónica expects NOA to increase productivity: The proportion of tickets that can be processed fully automatically is set to increase with the help of NOA. For network engineers, this means a noticeable reduction in workload.
“Our network experts can ask the AI specific questions. NOA provides precise answers and suggests concrete steps for analysis and troubleshooting. The system highlights what to look out for, which diagnoses are useful, and which solutions have proven successful in similar cases in the past. NOA is like an all-knowing colleague who is available day and night for advice,” says Mallik Rao.
NOA provides answers in a way that everyone can understand, regardless of their level of knowledge. At the same time, NOA serves as a valuable training partner for new colleagues, who can ask specific questions and thus further expand their knowledge, in a variety of languages.
Artificial intelligence supports network operation and expansion
The AI agent is part of O2 Telefónica's Autonomous Network Journey. The company is gradually automating its network with the stated goal of reaching Level 4 status by 2030. This level represents extensive autonomy in normal operation: the system monitors, analyzes, and fixes faults itself – from ticket processing to concrete solution proposals. Network experts intervene in particularly complex or novel cases.
AI-supported applications are used in many areas of O2 Telefónica's network. These include the digital network twin, which maps the current network status and supports analyses and optimization measures. AI and automation tools also help to identify and prioritize faults more quickly and plan technician assignments and maintenance routes more efficiently. The Traffic Forecasting Engine also reliably forecasts customer data usage at individual mobile phone locations so that technicians can plan capacity expansion even better.
In addition, AI optimizes energy use in the network by controlling frequency bands and capacities according to demand. The AI-based energy saving features enable O2 Telefónica to reduce electricity costs in the antenna network by around ten percent.
NOA builds on these approaches and expands them with a digital sparring partner that supports the network teams in their day-to-day business with analysis and troubleshooting.
About Telefónica Germany
| Telefónica Germany is a leading full-service provider of telecommunications services for residential and business customers. The portfolio of the core brand O2 and various secondary and partner brands includes not only traditional telephone and Internet connections, but also innovative digital services in the areas of the Internet of Things, security, entertainment, and data analysis. In mobile communications, Telefónica Germany serves over 35 million mobile connections (as of December 31, 2025). The company is a leading mobile communications provider in the consumer market and in the market for innovative partner offerings, as well as a rapidly growing provider in the solutions business for corporate customers. The company's powerful and award-winning mobile network reaches more than 99 percent of the population. In the fixed-line network, Telefónica Germany offers its customers leading technological diversity and geographical availability in Germany. In fiscal year 2025, the company generated revenue of €8.2 billion and employed 7,650 people at the end of 2025. The company is majority-owned by the Spanish telecommunications group Telefónica S.A., based in Madrid, one of the world's largest telecommunications groups. |
