AI is transforming telecoms, but not as a solution in itself – it’s a business opportunity for real, long-term change. At MWC Barcelona 2025, Andriy Zhylenko, CEO of PortaOne, spoke to TechAfrica News about how AI monetization can transform the industry. While AI agents are advancing rapidly, Zhylenko highlights that innovation alone isn’t enough – telcos and startups need to focus on sustainable revenue models to succeed.
Everyone is racing to build AI-powered agents, but few are thinking about the next step: How will they ensure profitability? How will they charge customers seamlessly without losing control of costs?
Andriy Zhylenko, CEO, PortaOne
AI agents are rapidly evolving in telecommunications, moving beyond simple chatbots to intelligent tools that can interact with real-world systems – think getting customer account information, troubleshooting issues, or managing services in real-time. This shift opens up new opportunities for efficiency and customer engagement, but it’s the next step that really matters: turning these capabilities into a profitable reality.
How PortaAIM Enables AI Monetization for Telecoms
That’s where PortaOne’s PortaAIM comes in, enabling telcos to effortlessly turn AI innovation into revenue with flexible AI pricing models, automated AI billing, and real-time AI cost optimization.
PortaAIM is a fully automated AI billing platform that enables usage-based AI billing, AI cost tracking, and AI-powered revenue generation with zero manual effort.
Andriy mentioned that many startups focus on building great products, but often overlook the critical step of monetization. Without a clear revenue model, even the most innovative AI solutions can struggle to survive. At the same time, telcos have a unique opportunity to use AI-driven automation not just to reduce costs, but to create entirely new revenue streams.
If you don’t establish profitability early, even a high-growth AI startup can collapse—selling services for $10 per month while spending $11 on API costs is a guaranteed failure.
Andriy Zhylenko, CEO, PortaOne
Watch the full interview above, read it here, or find it on the PortaOne YouTube channel.
