LG Uplus announced on Tuesday that it will collaborate strategically with global telecom equipment giant Ericsson to develop network-based voice artificial intelligence (AI) solutions, expand global operations, and advance AI-native networks.
This partnership will merge LG Uplus’s commercial experience with its AI call agent, Ixi-O, and Ericsson’s global network technology expertise. The two companies aim to transform networks from simple voice and data conduits into intelligent platforms that understand user intentions and seamlessly connect appropriate AI functions.
Their joint efforts will focus on developing technology and integrating systems for network-based voice AI, jointly promoting voice AI solutions globally, designing and implementing AI-native network architectures, and pre-validating voice AI solutions for various global cloud environments.
The companies aim to complete technology validation this year and implement next-gen communication services where AI functions as a core element of telecom networks.
LG Uplus plans to integrate AI into its network infrastructure to enhance voice AI capabilities. This integration will create an environment where customers can easily access AI functions they need, backed by the telecom provider’s high-quality voice network.
The collaboration will also extend to AI-native networks. The goal is to use AI to enable networks to self-monitor operational conditions, optimize performance and energy usage, and automate responses to outages and service quality management.
LG Uplus Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Hong Bum-sik, speaking at Ericsson’s Swedish headquarters on July 14, stated by combining the Ixi-O voice AI service experience with Ericsson’s global network expertise, it’ll introduce network-based voice AI that offers smarter, more convenient communication to the global market. It’s committed to expanding voice AI globally and leveraging AI-native network technology for LG Uplus’s long-term growth and customer experience innovation.
Ericsson’s incoming president, Per Narvinger, commented that AI-native networks will be crucial in driving new growth in the telecom industry. The partnership aims to enhance customer experiences, boost operational efficiency, and explore new business opportunities through network-based voice AI solutions and AI-native networks.
Ixi-O, LG Uplus’s proprietary AI call agent, offers features like call answering, real-time voice phishing detection, call recording and summarization, and visual phone (real-time call captioning). Notably, it implements most AI functions on-device, ensuring call data isn’t transmitted to servers.