Mobile networks in Southeast Asia are changing quickly. Data use is rising; more services are moving online while businesses are asking for better and more reliable connectivity. To keep up, telecom operators are upgrading both their networks and the way they manage them. Across the region, operators are using artificial intelligence (AI), automation and new 5G features more actively. These technologies are becoming central to how networks are planned, built and run, from day-to-day operations all the way to new services for customers.
Together, these moves offer a key view into how the sector’s technology is evolving. They show how Southeast Asian operators are shifting towards smarter, flexible and more efficient mobile networks that can support future digital services and new business demands.
Singapore
In Singapore, operators are using AI and automation to move towards more intelligent, software-driven networks.
Singtel, the country’s largest operator, is positioning itself as an “AI-first” telco by overhauling internal operations and services with automation and analytics. It already uses AI in call centres and network operations to anticipate faults and improve response times, and has built a digital twin of its network for advanced monitoring and planning. M1 is concentrating on network automation and next-generation Wi-Fi. In mid-2025, it partnered with Ericsson to deploy an AI-powered transport network controller, which brings advanced automation and analytics to its 5G backhaul for better visibility, control and self-optimisation.
More recently, M1 was chosen to integrate a high-density Wi-Fi 7 network at the Singapore Sports Hub, the first such deployment for a sports venue in the country. Using Cisco’s AI-driven wireless platform, the system applies AI for radio resource management and offers a conversational AI assistant for network operations. This highlights M1’s role in combining AI with modern mobile and Wi-Fi infrastructure for large and high-traffic sites.
Malaysia
In Malaysia, operators are making fast progress in 5G and automation despite changes in the policy and ownership framework.
The state-run wholesale network Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB) achieved a world-first “Level 4” network autonomy certification in October 2025. Using Ericsson’s AI-powered intent-based operations, DNB’s 5G network can predict issues and self-optimise in near-real time, delivering highly automated service assurance. This degree of autonomy allows the network to handle many routine tasks on its own and provides a strong base for advanced services such as network slicing and 5G-Advanced features.
Leading private carriers are also stepping up. CelcomDigi is pioneering AI in wider public and enterprise use cases. In September 2025, it announced Malaysia’s first AI-powered traffic intelligence platform in partnership with government agencies. Using neural networks and 5G connectivity, the platform will help the city of Petaling Jaya optimise traffic light timing, predict congestion and support urban planning. This is a clear example of telecom networks acting as enablers for smart city solutions.
Similarly, on the mobile network side, CelcomDigi is working with Ericsson to develop more autonomous operations. The operator is deploying AI tools for predictive maintenance, automated fault detection and energy optimisation, with the long-term goal of moving towards “zero touch” networks that can manage most functions with limited manual intervention.
Taken together, these developments show that Malaysian operators are preparing for the next phase of 5G evolution. They are combining AI-driven network assurance with new 5G capabilities and are starting to convert these investments into smarter services for cities, enterprises and consumers.
Thailand
In Thailand, the two main operators, AIS and True Corporation, are using AI and next-generation technologies as they extend 5G coverage and capacity.
In October 2025, AIS introduced its latest 5G services that integrate AI directly into the user experience. One flagship example is its AI-powered calling service, launched with Huawei, which provides real-time English-Thai voice translation during phone calls. This allows callers to speak in their own language while the system translates on the fly, which is useful for both local users and the country’s large tourist base. The service shows how AI can be layered on top of existing voice and data networks to create new value without requiring special devices.
True Corporation is placing more emphasis on AI in operations through its Business and Network Intelligence Centre. During major events and emergencies, the company uses AI-powered monitoring to oversee its mobile network. For instance, at a large provincial festival in October 2025, True deployed temporary 5G cell sites and used AI-based network tools to adjust parameters in real time and maintain service quality as crowds moved around. True has also been recognised for reaching “Level 4” autonomy in service assurance and energy efficiency, similar to Malaysia’s DNB. This points to a regional push towards self-healing, self-optimising networks that can respond quickly to changing conditions.
Indonesia
Indonesia’s mobile market is in a transition phase, with operators still expanding 4G networks while laying the groundwork for wider 5G and more AI in their systems.
Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison, the second largest operator, is actively infusing AI into both its network and customer protection tools. In August 2025, it rolled out SATSPAM, an AI-based spam and scam filtering system that sits inside its 4G and 5G network. As of November 2025, SATSPAM has already blocked hundreds of millions of fraudulent calls and messages, automatically protecting users from phishing and other scams at the network level. Indosat has also moved key business support systems to a cloud-native platform through partnerships with Ericsson and Google Cloud. This shift supports AI-driven operations and gives the operator more flexibility and scale for new 5G services in the future.
XL Axiata, the third largest operator, has likewise been preparing for wider 5G while using AI inside the network. The company expects 5G adoption to accelerate once additional spectrum is released and has been readying its radio and core network to handle that growth. In the meantime, XL has expanded 5G coverage on a limited basis, becoming the third provider to launch 5G in selected areas, and has outlined plans to reach more regions beyond Java.
Overall, Indonesian operators are aiming to make both their networks and their teams AI- and 5G-ready, even though 4G still carries most of the traffic.
Outlook
Operators across Southeast Asia are moving from basic 5G roll-out towards more intelligent networks that rely heavily on AI, automation and software. In markets such as Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand, AI is already being applied not only in the back-end for network monitoring and optimisation, but also in visible services like translated voice calls, traffic management and differentiated slices for specific applications.
Looking ahead, Southeast Asian networks are likely to become even more autonomous, with higher levels of self-healing and self-configuration. Operators will still need to support widespread 4G use, but their recent moves show a strong focus on future network models that are smarter, more programmable and more closely linked to AI.
