AI investment in telecom networks is finally starting to catch up with the hype. This was one of the conclusions from a new report from analyst firm and Light Reading sister company Omdia, "2021 Trends to Watch: Telecoms Operations and IT." According to Omdia's research, nearly 80% of service providers see the use of AI and analytics, when it comes to the automation of network activities, as an "important" or "very important" IT project for 2021. Nearly 60% of them are planning to increase investment in AI tools. Automation of service fulfillment and assurance and creating highly prized "closed loops" where the need for human intervention is minimal are usually seen as some of the main drivers for AI investment, as a way to improve operational efficiencies.