LG Uplus CEO Hong Bum-shik has announced a strategic shift for the company, aiming to transform it from a traditional telecom provider into a global software powerhouse specializing in voice AI solutions.
During a press conference held Wednesday at Mobile World Congress 2026 in Barcelona, Hong detailed the company’s vision to become “an AI-driven software company” leading the convergence of telecom and AI technologies.
“We will pursue overseas expansion by leveraging capabilities developed in telecom-adjacent areas and through strategic partnerships with global operators,” Hong stated.
This strategic pivot reflects LG Uplus’s ambition to convert its capital-intensive telecom infrastructure into scalable software assets driven by AI and data, enabling the company to compete effectively in international markets.
A central element of this plan is the global launch of its AI agent service, ixi O. LG Uplus is set to release an enhanced version, ixi O Pro, designed to operate as a comprehensive AI agent rather than a simple, task-specific tool.
The upgraded service will possess the ability to identify individual speakers, analyze conversational nuances, understand dialogue flow, and recognize emotional states, allowing it to provide highly personalized suggestions tailored to the user’s specific needs.
Hong emphasized that telecom operators possess a significant advantage in the development of voice AI due to their access to extensive call data.
“With approximately 50 million calls processed daily, we have a unique opportunity to further refine our voice analysis and generation technologies,” he explained.
LG Uplus’s objective is to evolve ixi O into a context-aware AI agent capable of interpreting voice tone, recognizing dialogue patterns, and understanding emotional cues, while delivering responses adapted to individual users.
Looking ahead, the company envisions ixi O as a platform connecting physical AI, connected devices, and smart appliances through seamless voice interfaces, creating what Hong termed a “people-centered” service ecosystem.
LG Uplus is currently engaged in discussions with telecom operators in 13 countries regarding the potential deployment of the ixi O solution.
Regarding monetization, Hong adopted a measured approach, suggesting that international expansion is likely to gain momentum in the coming years.
“Following discussions with one or two operators this year, we anticipate being able to export more comprehensively and at an accelerated pace from 2027 onwards,” he commented.
Southeast Asia is emerging as the most promising initial market for LG Uplus’s global ambitions.
“From a regulatory perspective, we are considering Europe, but from a technological standpoint, Southeast Asia is our primary focus,” Hong stated, adding that the region could serve as a crucial reference market for the company.
“It’s a market where the challenges are significant,” he concluded.
yeeun
