Vodafone UK and Ericsson trial network level mobile AI language translation UPDATE

Mobile operator Vodafone has revealed that they’ve joined forces with strategic supplier Ericsson to conduct a new trial, which embedded AI technology into a test mobile network to deliver instant language translation during standard voice calls. The network-level implementation meant this works without the need for a special app or modified Smartphone.

Engineers from both companies were able to instantly translate conversations between people speaking in English, Spanish, Italian, French and German (this can easily be expanded to support additional languages). Suffice to say, this could come in very handy when you need to arrange overseas travel, accommodation, restaurant bookings, conduct international business or need to communicate more effectively in emergencies.

The successful trial demonstration also featured “live noise cancellation“, which alongside the language translation feature helped to improve call clarity for mobile phone users in busy or noisy locations such as train stations.

Both the noise-free calls and the AI translation service used Vodafone’s application server and in-house AI platform in conjunction with Ericsson’s AI gateway and core network technology. Applications Programmable Interfaces (APIs) were then used to “seamlessly bridge” the telecom and AI domains.

Marco Zangani, Director of Network Strategy and Architecture, Vodafone, said:

“AI is giving the mobile network back its voice. More than 50 years after the first mobile call, innovation is accelerating and shifting back into the network. Over the past few years, we have built the infrastructure, data capabilities and safeguards needed to unlock AI for our customers to converse more clearly.”

The operator states that they don’t intend this to “replace specialist services“, but they do acknowledge that delivering such services through the network rather than individual apps or devices makes them available by default to customers on any handset. Such capabilities would surely be quite attractive to customers and can could be deployed across multiple countries at the same time.

At present it’s not known whether or when Vodafone might begin deploying this to their live commercial mobile network or whether it would attract an additional cost (i.e. would it be a default or a paid add-on), but the successful demonstration is a big step toward that.

UPDATE 11:01am

Vodafone has informed ISPreview that they haven’t yet made a commercial decision to launch, although they are working on possible applications for next year.

In addition to offering the service themselves, the operator is also looking at potentially offering it to third-party businesses, such as for use by travel companies or a multi-national organisation with employees located in different countries.