How AI and Resilient Networks Are Reshaping Internet Measurement: Key Insights from the 2025 Pulse Forum
According to Pulse Internet Society, the recent 2025 Pulse Internet Measurement Forum in Spain gathered over 50 experts to tackle some of the toughest challenges in measuring the evolving Internet landscape. The interactive sessions raised essential questions about artificial intelligence (AI), meaningful connectivity, and data transparency, driving critical insight into the future of resilient and open networks.
The 2025 Pulse Forum: Rethinking Internet Measurement
Hosted in Spain, the Pulse Internet Measurement Forum served as a think tank for multidisciplinary experts and researchers to propose fresh approaches to some of the Internet measurement field’s most pressing issues. Breaking past typical technical silos, participants addressed how emerging technologies like AI are challenging current Internet infrastructure and impacting everything from user experience to business models.
Particularly notable was the focus on AI’s transformative role. Two groups at the event underscored its rising impact and called for deeper investigation. The first suggested measuring how AI-generated content trends affect user preferences and how these preferences disrupt search engines and ad-driven Internet models. Meanwhile, the second group emphasized the broader implications of AI on society, urging unbiased measurement tools to track both positive and negative consequences.
Another dominant theme was the concept of ‘meaningful connectivity’—a nuanced metric for ensuring that Internet access extends beyond basic availability to include resilience and usability. A novel Internet Quality Barometer, developed through collaboration between Giga and Measurement Lab, was also unveiled at the event. This framework aims to evaluate Internet quality beyond speed, adding metrics such as data cost and user experience in underserved regions.
Market Context: Why This Matters for the Telecom Industry
The discussions around AI and meaningful connectivity have direct implications for the telecom sector. Recent ITU data highlights that 74% of the global population is now connected to the Internet, yet challenges persist regarding equitable quality of access. With e-commerce, telehealth, and online education underlining the criticality of robust connectivity, telecom operators are under pressure to ensure both scalable bandwidth and cost efficiency amidst rising demand.
AI, specifically, brings dual challenges. On the one hand, it introduces increased automation and traffic complexity that may overburden existing network infrastructures. On the other hand, by reshaping user behaviors, AI could impact broadband service tiers, forcing ISPs to rapidly adapt to new consumption patterns. Competitors investing in AI-driven traffic management and user analytics will likely gain a strategic edge in this evolving landscape.
Moreover, the push for transparent, community-oriented Internet measurement could spark debates within the telecom and cloud sectors, particularly on topics like data sharing from private networks like CDNs (Content Delivery Networks). As organizations rally for greater accountability, the industry might face calls for regulatory interventions to balance innovation with openness.
Future Outlook: Strengthening Internet Measurement for an Open Network
Experts like Michuki Mwangi, Distinguished Technologist at the Internet Society, stress the need for more comprehensive tools and partnerships to support Internet measurement. As he aptly put it, “If we want an Internet that serves everyone, we can’t just measure the network. We have to strengthen the people who measure it, share the data that powers it, and fund the questions that truly matter.”
One of the more provocative questions raised at the forum—“Do machines need the DNS and protocols we’ve built for humans?”—hints at where future research might venture. As AI increasingly bypasses traditional Internet paths, researchers face an urgent need to update methodologies and include machine-to-machine traffic in their frameworks.
On the resilience front, rural connectivity remains a significant hurdle. The Internet Society’s advocacy for collaborative frameworks like the Internet Quality Barometer signals a growing momentum toward inclusive solutions. Insights generated at the forum emphasize that achieving greater diversity, reducing centralization, and investing in open measurement will need to become shared priorities for policymakers and telecom stakeholders alike in the coming years.
As AI continues to evolve and societal reliance on the Internet escalates, the telecom industry must align innovation efforts with global equity goals. International forums such as the Pulse Internet Measurement Forum will be critical in ensuring comprehensive, data-driven solutions shape a trustworthy and connected future.
What Do You Think?
How should regulators, ISPs, and tech companies balance innovation with openness in the age of AI? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
