Telecom and utilities

Telecom, energy and water operators use AI to serve millions of customers, manage networks and decide on disconnections, billing or prioritization. They are essential services and critical infrastructure, so human-agent, cybersecurity and incident-reporting duties combine with high-risk rules for safety components of infrastructure.

Relevant sector rules

EU: safety components of critical infrastructure (electricity, gas, water, traffic and digital infrastructure) are high-risk from Dec 2, 2027; AI interaction notices apply from Aug 2, 2026. Spain: Law 10/2025 requires basic services (telecom, energy, water) to offer a human agent, with adaptation until Dec 28, 2026. Peru: Law 31601 on human service; critical infrastructure is high-risk under the AI regulation, with a 2028 deadline for energy. Chile: Law 21,663 requires operators of vital importance to report incidents to ANCI. Ecuador: data breaches are reported to the SPDP and ARCOTEL. US: the FCC ruled in 2024 that AI-generated voices in robocalls are subject to the TCPA. Colombia, Mexico, Argentina and Brazil: sector quality and user protection rules plus data protection laws.

Typical AI uses

Sector regulators

European Union: Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC)
Spain: National Markets and Competition Commission (CNMC)
Ecuador: Telecommunications Regulation and Control Agency (ARCOTEL)
Colombia: Communications Regulation Commission (CRC)
Peru: Telecommunications Private Investment Supervisor (OSIPTEL)
Energy and Mining Investment Supervisor (OSINERGMIN)
Mexico: Digital Transformation and Telecommunications Agency
Chile: Undersecretariat of Telecommunications (SUBTEL)
National Cybersecurity Agency (ANCI)
Argentina: National Communications Agency (ENACOM)
Brazil: National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel)
United States (federal): Federal Communications Commission (FCC)