Nokia is advocating for the establishment of global standards for artificial intelligence within the telecommunications sector, warning that a fractured regulatory landscape could stifle innovation and create unnecessary complexity. The Finnish telecommunications giant suggests that without a unified approach, the industry risks mirroring the early days of electricity, where incompatible systems created lasting inefficiencies.
The company points to the long history of international cooperation in telecommunications, which began in 1865 with the International Telecommunications Union, as a successful model to emulate. As artificial intelligence becomes more deeply integrated into network operations, especially with the development of 6G, Nokia argues that a common set of governance principles is necessary. These standards would ensure responsible and trustworthy AI development, addressing key areas like risk management, transparency, and accountability across different markets and regulatory environments.
Fragmented Global AI Regulations
The current state of AI governance is a patchwork of different national and regional approaches. The European Union has adopted the AI Act, which categorizes AI systems based on risk levels, while the United States lacks federal legislation, leaving individual states to create their own rules. Other countries, including Brazil and China, are also developing their own distinct regulatory frameworks. This divergence creates significant challenges for multinational companies that must navigate a complex and sometimes contradictory web of compliance requirements.
Nokia experts highlight that this regulatory fragmentation forces companies with global operations to reconcile these evolving and potentially conflicting legal landscapes. The firm argues that international standards bodies can serve as a crucial bridge, creating consensus-based guidelines that inform national laws without replacing them. These organizations can act as translators between different regulatory systems, fostering a more coherent and predictable environment for innovation and responsible AI adoption.
A Call for Governance Over Technicals
Nokia’s proposal emphasizes the need for governance standards rather than purely technical specifications. According to company experts, these standards should guide the trustworthy development and deployment of AI, focusing on non-application-specific elements like terminology and management frameworks. This approach would address the “how” of AI implementation, covering critical aspects such as risk management, transparency, and accountability, which are essential for building and maintaining trust with both regulators and consumers.
This focus on governance is particularly important as the industry prepares for the transition to 6G, which is expected to embed AI more deeply into the core functions of telecommunications networks. By establishing clear governance frameworks early in the process, individual companies can avoid the need to reinvent compliance strategies for each new market they enter. This proactive stance would streamline development and ensure a consistent approach to responsible AI across the globe.
Expanding the Conversation Beyond Telecom
Nokia is encouraging telecommunications firms to engage with a broader range of standards organizations beyond those traditionally associated with the industry. The company specifically mentions global, multi-stakeholder bodies like the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and European standards organizations such as CEN/CENELEC. The goal is to ensure that the telecommunications industry’s perspective is included in the wider conversation about AI governance, not just in narrow, technical discussions.
This broader engagement is critical because telecommunications networks form the backbone of the entire digital economy. The way the telecom sector manages AI governance will have far-reaching implications for numerous other industries that rely on these networks. Proactive participation in these discussions will not only benefit the telecommunications industry but also help ensure that AI is harnessed responsibly for the entire digital ecosystem.
Learning from a History of Collaboration
A Legacy of Standardization
The telecommunications industry has a long and successful history of international cooperation that predates the invention of the telephone. The establishment of the International Telecommunications Union in 1865 laid the groundwork for a globally interconnected system, preventing the kind of fragmentation that plagued other industries, such as the incompatible electrical sockets and voltages that still exist today. This history of collaboration provides a powerful precedent for the development of global AI standards.
The Path to 6G
As the industry moves toward the development of 6G, the role of AI is set to become even more critical. AI will be deeply embedded in the core operations of next-generation networks, making the need for a unified governance framework more urgent than ever. Nokia’s push for global standards aims to avoid a future of “fragmented chaos” and instead follow a path of “collaborative success,” ensuring that the transformative power of AI is harnessed in a responsible and cohesive manner.
The Role of International Bodies
International standards organizations are positioned to play a pivotal role in harmonizing AI regulations. Bodies like the ISO and the International Electrotechnical Commission, in conjunction with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, can develop consensus-based standards that bridge the gap between different national laws. These organizations provide a neutral forum for stakeholders from industry, government, and civil society to collaborate on a common set of principles for trustworthy AI.
By contributing to these multi-stakeholder bodies, the telecommunications industry can help shape the future of AI governance. Nokia’s advocacy underscores the belief that these organizations represent the “missing link” for the innovative and responsible adoption of AI. This collaborative approach can help create a stable and predictable environment, fostering continued investment and advancement in AI technologies while mitigating potential risks.