Cisco @ Mobile World Congress 2025: Accelerating Service Provider Growth in the Age of AI

Rhea-AI Summary

Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) has unveiled new networking innovations at Mobile World Congress 2025, launching Agile Services Networking to help service providers compete in the AI marketplace. The announcement introduces two key innovations for enhanced network visibility:

1. ThousandEyes Connected Devices: Extends visibility across subscriber experiences from home to off-network services

2. Provider Connectivity Assurance: Delivers AI-powered 'User Experience' capability for improved mobile network performance

The architecture combines Silicon One routing, unified software, and converged IP and optics in a single network. Early adopters including Arelion, Lumen, and Reliance Jio have reported improved network performance, cost reduction, and enhanced customer experience. Virgin Media O2 and Odido are already utilizing these assurance capabilities for increased customer satisfaction and better service delivery.

Positive

• New revenue opportunities through AI-ready network services
• Enhanced network visibility capabilities for proactive issue resolution
• Early adopters reporting improved network performance and cost reduction
• Integration with existing infrastructure without additional hardware requirements

Negative

• None.

Insights

Network Infrastructure Analyst

Cisco's Agile Services Networking announcement represents a strategic expansion of its service provider portfolio, specifically targeting the AI-driven transformation of telecommunications infrastructure. The company is introducing two critical visibility innovations that could significantly alter how service providers compete:

First, ThousandEyes Connected Devices extends visibility into last-mile performance, enabling proactive issue mitigation before customer experience deteriorates. Second, the Provider Connectivity Assurance with AI-powered 'User Experience' capabilities delivers real-time traffic insights for mobile operators to dynamically optimize network resources.

These offerings address a fundamental shift in competitive dynamics: service providers can now differentiate based on experience quality rather than just raw speed metrics. For operators like Virgin Media O2 and Odido who are already implementing these solutions, the value proposition centers on reduced customer churn and improved Net Promoter Scores through proactive service assurance.

What's particularly notable is Cisco's evolving business model through its Mobility Services Platform, which now includes an application ecosystem and API marketplace. This "Innovation as a Service" approach enables Cisco to participate more directly in operators' monetization strategies while creating recurring revenue opportunities beyond traditional equipment sales.

The timing aligns perfectly with service providers' urgent need to find differentiation beyond commoditized connectivity as AI applications drive unprecedented network demands. By embedding itself deeper into service providers' customer experience management, Cisco strengthens its strategic position in the telecommunications value chain.

Telecommunications Industry Strategist

This announcement reveals Cisco's calculated move to reposition itself within the service provider value chain at precisely the moment when AI is forcing network architecture evolution. The company clearly recognizes that service providers face an existential challenge: they've invested billions in networks yet struggle to capture value beyond basic connectivity.

What makes this strategic shift significant is how Cisco is targeting the experience assurance gap that has long plagued telecommunications providers. By extending visibility from subscriber devices through the core network and into cloud services, Cisco addresses the accountability problem that has traditionally undermined service provider-customer relationships.

The real innovation here is making invisible network performance visible and actionable. For decades, service providers have operated with visibility into the actual customer experience, particularly at the edge, where most problems occur. ThousandEyes effectively transforms this liability into a competitive differentiator.

The early adoption by tier-one operators like Reliance Jio and Lumen indicates market validation. Virgin Media O2's implementation of ThousandEyes to power their Smart Support service demonstrates how these technologies can create tangible customer-facing value propositions.

What's particularly compelling is Cisco's approach to fixed wireless access (FWA) optimization through Provider Connectivity Assurance. As operators increasingly deploy FWA as a cost-effective last-mile solution, optimizing spectrum efficiency becomes critical to maintaining margins while scaling subscriber bases. This positions Cisco to benefit directly from the accelerating convergence of fixed and mobile infrastructure.

News Summary:

• Cisco launches Agile Services Networking innovations to help service providers compete in the AI marketplace with simplified, resilient, and intelligent networking.
• New assurance capabilities include real-time visibility into on-network and off-network connectivity, allowing service providers to build resilient, profitable AI-ready home and mobile subscriber experiences.
• Early adopters are already delivering secure, competitive AI-connected experiences, improving networking, business performance, and customer outcomes.

BARCELONA, March 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- MOBILE WORLD CONGRESS -- Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO), the worldwide leader in networking and security, today announced networking innovations that empower service providers to introduce differentiated services and deliver assured, AI-connected experiences at scale.

Cisco's Agile Services Networking fundamentally evolves how service providers build and operate their networks—opening new ways to monetize the services needed to compete in the AI marketplace. A blueprint for growth, the architecture combines high-speed, feature-rich Silicon One routing, a unified software experience, and converged IP and optics within a single, seamless network. Early adopters of Cisco Agile Services Networking, including Arelion, Lumen, and Reliance Jio, have already vastly improved the performance of their network to cut costs, generate new business, and improve the customer experience.

"The pace of innovation in AI is astounding. Technical breakthroughs are just beginning to translate into new experiences for consumers and applications for businesses that will reshape how the world works and connects," said Jeetu Patel, Executive Vice President and Chief Product Officer, Cisco. "This shift presents massive opportunities for service providers to grow their businesses and reduce costs by modernizing their infrastructure for AI. Cisco is perfectly positioned to help service providers monetize these new revenue streams, and our Agile Services Networking delivers the silicon, systems, and software innovation they need to thrive."

Cisco Agile Services Networking: End-to-end Assurance for Differentiated Subscriber Experiences

Today, Cisco expands Agile Services Networking with two new innovations that deliver real-time visibility into both on-network and off-network connectivity for true end-to-end assurance. Combined, these solutions enable visibility from home- and mobile-connected users through to service provider core networks and off-net cloud-delivered services.

• ThousandEyes Connected Devices: Extends the power of the Cisco ThousandEyes platform to service providers with enhanced visibility across subscriber experiences, from home to off-network services. Now, with insight into last-mile network performance, service providers can mitigate issues before users are impacted and compete on experience, not just speed.
• Provider Connectivity Assurance: New AI-powered 'User Experience' capability enhances mobile service provider network performance. With real-time traffic insights and predictive demand intelligence, service providers can enhance user experience, reduce congestion, maximize speed, and dynamically adjust spectrum usage.

With enhanced visibility and AI-powered insight, service providers like Virgin Media O2 and Odido are leveraging assurance for increased customer satisfaction and net promoter scores (NPS), uncovering new opportunities for differentiated services and reducing churn.

"In an industry that's fast consolidating around the same network type and service, we take pride in accelerating all the ways in which we deliver better service and more value to the millions of customers that rely on us," said Gareth Lister, Director of Customer Products, Virgin Media O2. "Virgin Media O2 has long been recognized for ultrafast speeds and now, with ThousandEyes Connected Devices powering our Smart Support service, we're uniquely able to see and proactively measure our customers' connection and experience in their home in real time." 

"At Odido, delivering an exceptional customer experience is our highest priority. Cisco's Provider Connectivity Assurance User Experience application can provide deeper insights—into network throughput and latency and into real application performance," said Juan Alberto Brescoli, Head of Access Network, Odido Netherlands. "The ability to deploy the solution directly onto existing infrastructure eliminates the need for additional hardware or network reconfiguration, making implementation seamless. As demand for our Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) product continues to soar, having a precise, real-time understanding of user experience is more critical than ever."

Unlocking 'Innovation as a Service' for Mobile Network Operators
Cisco is introducing new capabilities to its Mobility Services Platform to accelerate revenue growth for service providers, including an application and API ecosystem, and advanced network services for people, spaces, and things—all delivered as a service. Read more here.

Additional Resources 

• AI-ready Connectivity with Cisco Agile Services Networking
• Blog: AI is Reshaping Global Secure Connectivity
• Blog: Transforming Mobile Networks: The Promise of Programmable Platforms
• Blog: ThousandEyes Connected Devices: Extending Service Provider Visibility into the Last-mile Network
• Blog: Transforming Assurance for AI Connectivity: The Power of Network Intelligence

About Cisco
Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide technology leader that is revolutionizing the way organizations connect and protect in the AI era. For more than 40 years, Cisco has securely connected the world. With its industry leading AI-powered solutions and services, Cisco enables its customers, partners and communities to unlock innovation, enhance productivity and strengthen digital resilience. With purpose at its core, Cisco remains committed to creating a more connected and inclusive future for all. Discover more on The Newsroom and follow us on X at @Cisco.

Cisco and the Cisco logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Cisco and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. A listing of Cisco's trademarks can be found at http://www.cisco.com/go/trademarks. Third-party trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners. The use of the word 'partner' does not imply a partnership relationship between Cisco and any other company.

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SOURCE Cisco Systems, Inc.

FAQ

What new innovations did Cisco (CSCO) announce at Mobile World Congress 2025?

Cisco announced Agile Services Networking innovations, including ThousandEyes Connected Devices for home-to-off-network visibility and Provider Connectivity Assurance for AI-powered mobile network performance optimization.

Which companies are early adopters of Cisco's (CSCO) Agile Services Networking?

Arelion, Lumen, and Reliance Jio are early adopters, while Virgin Media O2 and Odido are specifically utilizing the new assurance capabilities.

How does Cisco's (CSCO) ThousandEyes Connected Devices benefit service providers?

It provides enhanced visibility across subscriber experiences from home to off-network services, allowing providers to mitigate issues proactively and compete on experience rather than just speed.

What is the purpose of Cisco's (CSCO) Provider Connectivity Assurance feature?

It provides real-time traffic insights and predictive demand intelligence to enhance user experience, reduce congestion, maximize speed, and dynamically adjust spectrum usage in mobile networks.