LG Uplus aims to become a "global AI software corporations." We will move beyond the domestic market and enter the global market through technological competitiveness and global collaboration.
Hong Bum-Shik, CEO of LG Uplus, on the 4th (local time) at MWC 2026, the world's largest mobile exhibition in Barcelona, Spain, emphasized the high margins of software, saying, "We will sell AI software like the AI agent 'ixi-O' to global corporations and more than double operating profit growth over revenue," adding, "While telecom averages 5% to 11% in operating profit, the software business averages 25%." He said the goal is to go beyond expanding services to overhaul the fundamentals of the telecom core business.
Hong said, "I know it is difficult for telecom companies to expand overseas, but I feel obligated to generate returns on investment to raise shareholder value," adding, "The AI era has instead opened the path to overseas markets."
Hong explained that while the existing telecom industry focused on building and operating large-scale infrastructure, going forward it will target the global market with software based on AI technology and data. ixi-O is currently in export-related talks with telecom operators in 13 countries across Asia, Europe and South America. He said, "After discussions with one or two operators within this year, full-fledged exports will be possible with greater speed starting in 2027."
LG Uplus will soon unveil "ixi-O Pro," an advanced version of its existing service. ixi-O Pro not only identifies speakers but also analyzes tone, conversation flow and emotional state to proactively propose tailored information to customers. Hong also emphasized voice data, a point he highlighted in his MWC keynote. He said, "Based on roughly 50 million call records a day, we can advance voice analysis and generation technologies," adding, "The only field where telecom operators can gain an edge over big tech is voice." He noted there is a shared view that global telecom operators must also cooperate, because if telecom operators only provide data and leave the rest of the technology to big tech, they could lose the market.
Of course, challenges are expected. Hong said, "It is true that differences in national technological self-reliance and regulatory environments make it difficult to export ixi-O," adding, "Once we have the first case, we expect to be able to move at speed thereafter."
Investment must also back this up. Hong said, "We will invest across all infrastructure, including AI data centers, semiconductors and models," adding, "Even if astronomical sums are required, it is an essential step to create differentiated revenue streams."