Microsoft unveils AI-powered tools benefitting telecom firms AT&T, Ericsson, Nokia as it takes on Amazon

Microsoft has unveiled previews of an AI-enabled cloud platform for telecoms companies, named Azure Operator Nexus, which could benefit its telecom partners AT&T Inc., Ericsson, and Nokia Oyj.

The new Nexus service is an all-in-one platform that allows operators to manage their networks from the cloud and two different "AIOps" services.

According to Yousef Khalidi, a corporate vice president at Microsoft, Azure Operator Nexus has already been released to their flagship customer, AT&T.

Jason Zander, executive vice president of strategic missions and technologies at Microsoft, said they’re making their native cloud work specific to this telecom operator network space.

Monica Zethzon, a vice president at Ericsson, said the developments would allow operators to "transform their core networks while improving customer experiences".

Microsoft’s AI-powered service draws on the same capabilities used to manage the tech giant's Azure cloud platform.

Microsoft is taking on Amazon Web Services as it looks to expand its market share in cloud-computing services for telecoms.

Last week, Amazon announced the launch of its AWS Telco Network Builder, which it claims would make it easier for telecom companies to build their operations in the cloud.