A new survey suggests Indian telecom and network providers are highly optimistic about artificial intelligence as a revenue driver. The study, conducted by research firm Censuswide on behalf of Ciena, found that 67% of Indian respondents strongly agree that AI-driven network services will be a primary source of new revenue over the next three to five years. Another 27% said they somewhat agree, meaning 94% of Indian respondents hold at least some expectation of AI-driven revenue growth.

India was one of the most bullish of the 12 markets covered in the survey. The research was conducted between July 13 and July 23, 2026, across 1,200 telecom providers, wholesale fibre network operators, and regional service providers. The Indian sample consisted of 100 respondents.

The survey also identified three clear priorities among Indian providers: modernising network infrastructure, delivering more dependable enterprise performance, and developing business models around edge computing and cloud connectivity. The findings indicate that while providers see AI as a major business opportunity, they also stress the need for network upgrades to support these services.