Breakout 1
The convergence of AI, automation, and advanced robotics is fundamentally transforming manufacturing into an intelligent, self-optimising capability. This shift towards cognitive production leverages data, machine learning, and autonomous systems to accelerate decision-making, eliminate inefficiency, and achieve precision at scale.
In the physical domain, this intelligence is driving rapid deployment of robotic systems and autonomous production cells, ensuring consistent quality and continuous throughput. This evolution is leading to the concept of dark factories (or lights-out manufacturing), which are fully automated facilities operating 24/7 without human presence.
While connectivity underpins autonomous production, dark factories require a broader portfolio of services to function effectively. Real-time data processing, edge and cloud platforms, AI orchestration, cybersecurity, digital twins, and secure integration with logistics and supply chains are all essential components of autonomous manufacturing operations. For telcos, this shift presents a significant opportunity to move beyond connectivity and play a central role in delivering the platforms and managed services that enable the next generation of industrial production.