Telcos want future-ready disaggregated networks but can’t deliver 

There’s a telecoms sector-wide ambition to build future-ready disaggregated networks, yet an inability to execute on that vision. It’s not due to a lack of technology or investment, but the result of a human failure of leadership and a fear of change.

According to the ‘State of Disaggregation’ report by RtBrick, the industry is caught in a paradox: it knows exactly what it needs to do to survive, but is struggling to take the first step.

It’s not for a lack of trying. The desire to modernise by disaggregating networks – breaking them down into more flexible, software-driven components – is certainly apparent. Almost all (94%) of the operators plan to deploy these new architectures within the next five years, and 91% are willing to put their money behind it. 

These plans are backed by urgency, with 90% feeling the transition needs to happen sooner than planned. They are chasing a clear set of goals: 57% rank automation and agility as their top priority, followed closely by the desire for greater vendor flexibility at 55%.

However, ambition for these future-ready networks is colliding with a harsh reality. For all the talk, only one in twenty operators is actually in the deployment phase today. Almost half (49%) of the operators are still stuck in the earliest stages of exploration, with another 38% languishing in planning. This is the “Disaggregation Paradox” in action: “Operators want to deploy disaggregation. Most are unable to adapt”.

The roadblocks aren’t technical; they’re cultural. The report found the biggest barrier to disaggregated networks is a lack of decisive leadership, cited by 93% of respondents. Progress is being “held hostage to legacy systems, rigid processes, and leadership that’s too comfortable with the status quo.” This is compounded by fears over operational complexity (42%) and a shortage of skilled staff (38%) needed to manage these next-generation networks.

While operators hesitate, a “Bandwidth Time Bomb” is ticking. Customer expectations are soaring, with 87% of leaders expecting demands for higher broadband speeds by 2030. Yet 84% admit that what customers want is already outpacing what their networks can deliver.

This feeling of unpreparedness has led to a crisis of confidence, with 81% conceding their current networks are simply not built for the future demands of AI and streaming.

Pravin S Bhandarkar, CEO and Founder of RtBrick, said: “Senior leaders, engineers, and support staff inside operators have made their feelings clear: the bottleneck isn’t capacity, it’s decision-making. Disaggregated networks are no longer an experiment. They’re the foundation for the agility, scalability, and transparency operators need to thrive.”

The rise of AI only adds to the pressure. While all of the operators are using or planning to use AI, 93% agree that it’s useless without the real-time network data that only modern, disaggregated architectures can provide.

Zara Squarey, Research Manager at Vanson Bourne, warned “the data shows that without support from leadership, specialised expertise, and modern architectures that open up real-time data, disaggregation deployments may risk further delays.”

While many telcos are stuck in ‘exploration mode,’ industry giants like AT&T, Deutsche Telekom, and Comcast are already “racing ahead,” proving the benefits of faster rollouts and greater control. Their progress sends a clear signal as the rest of the industry pressures their own vendors for change, with 90% demanding disaggregated options within three years.

The gap between the leaders and the laggards when it comes to future-ready disaggregated networks is widening, leaving those who fail to act at risk of being left behind.

See also: Mobile messaging shift: AI and rich media take over

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Tags: ai, artificial intelligence, automation, cloud, connectivity, infrastructure, networks, Operators, report, research, telecoms