Swedish telecom giant Ericsson has announced a strategic partnership with French startup Mistral AI to develop advanced artificial intelligence tools tailored for telecom networks. The collaboration is set to focus on enhancing network automation and resilience, while paving the way for the development of 6G technology.
A Strategic Push For AI-Driven Networks
The partnership brings together Ericsson’s deep expertise in network infrastructure with Mistral AI’s powerful large language models (LLMs). The core objective is to co-develop specialised AI agents designed to solve complex telecom-specific challenges.
Key focus areas include automating the translation of legacy code, accelerating research and development for 6G, and deploying customised AI agents to optimise day-to-day network operations. By bringing operational data closer to sophisticated AI models, the companies aim to build software that enhances decision-making and shortens innovation cycles, ultimately improving performance and reliability across global telecom infrastructure.
Redefining Telecom From The Ground Up
The collaboration signals a move to fundamentally reshape how telecom networks are managed and evolved.
Marjorie Janiewicz, Chief Revenue Officer at Mistral AI, emphasised the transformative potential of the partnership. “This partnership with Ericsson isn’t just about applying AI to telecom, it’s about transforming networks from the ground up. By combining our frontier models with Ericsson’s expertise in radio, cloud and carrier-grade systems, we’re customising models with deep domain knowledge that accelerate modernisation. Together, we’re setting a new standard for what AI can achieve in telecom.”
Dag Lindbo, Head of AI & Emerging Technologies in Ericsson’s Business Area Networks, highlighted the practical and results-driven nature of the initiative. “At Ericsson, AI for networks is about precision, not hype. With Mistral AI, we’re applying advanced models where they matter most — from accelerating code migration and supporting 6G research to building trustworthy AI agents. This collaboration helps improve time to value for customers while strengthening network performance and resilience.”
Implications For The MENA Telecom Landscape
While this partnership is between two European entities, its impact is poised to ripple across the global telecom industry, with significant relevance for the MENA region. Telecom operators across MENA, such as e&, stc, and Zain Group, are among the world’s most aggressive adopters of 5G and are already planning for the 6G future.
The AI-driven tools developed by Ericsson and Mistral AI could provide regional operators with the solutions needed to manage increasingly complex networks, automate operations to reduce costs, and accelerate their own innovation cycles. As countries in the region pursue ambitious digital transformation agendas, like Saudi Vision 2030 and the UAE’s digital economy strategy, the ability to deploy more efficient, intelligent, and resilient network infrastructure will be a critical enabler of future growth.
About Ericsson
Ericsson is a Swedish multinational networking and telecommunications company headquartered in Stockholm. It is one of the leading providers of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to service providers, offering services, software, and infrastructure in mobility, broadband, and the cloud.
About Mistral AI
Mistral AI is a French artificial intelligence company founded in 2023. The Paris-based startup develops and sells open-source and proprietary large language models, positioning itself as a European competitor to major American AI firms like OpenAI and Google.
Source: MEA TechWatch
