Telecom companies eye AI as new growth engine

Telecom giants KT, SK Telecom and LG Uplus are sharpening their focus on artificial intelligence (AI) as the next big catalyst for growth, with all posting first-quarter earnings from doubling down on AI-centered digital transformation (AX) strategies to redefine their future business. The three companies released their first-quarter earnings in the past week. KT, which recorded an operating profit of 688.8 billion won ($485.85 million) in the first quarter, saw a 10.2 percent rise in AI and IT-related revenue compared to the same period last year, with the company strengthening its AI contact center and IT-related build-out projects. LG Uplus saw a 15.6 percent increase in its operating profit at 255.4 billion won with the scaling up of its AI-powered business-to-business (B2B) infrastructure service. It shared that since launching AX, it has been showing steady growth, recording a 0.4 percent increase at 118.9 billion won revenue from its solution businesses, such as smart mobility and the AI contact center. Meanwhile, SK Telecom's operating profit jumped 13.8 percent to 567.4 billionWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times