Vion Co., Ltd. is positioning itself as one of the first carriers to transform sovereign AI from a policy concept to a profit engine.
VEON CEO Khan Terzioglu Benzinga said in an exclusive interview that the company’s decade-long digital transformation is entering a new phase. There, locally built AI models are driving growth across five frontier economies: Pakistan, Bangladesh, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.
“VEON is not a traditional telecommunications company,” Terzioglu said. “We happen to be a digital services company that provides connectivity.”
He added that artificial intelligence is not a separate field, but a “horizontal capability” integrated across fintech, education, healthcare, entertainment and enterprise services.
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This integration appears to be paying off.
VEON’s digital revenue increased to $759 million in 2025, accounting for 17.3% of total group revenue, gaining momentum into the fourth quarter. The company’s digital ecosystem has reached 205 million active users, with a connection base of over 150 million.
In Pakistan, the company’s AI assistant within the Simosa super app currently serves more than 1 million users per month.
Across major markets, AI is already being integrated into customer-facing tools like tutoring apps, healthcare assistants, and farmer coaching services, with real products generating measurable revenue increases.
Terzioglu said the opportunity lies in building a national AI ecosystem that reflects local languages and values.
“Sovereign AI is not an option; it is a non-negotiable raison d’être,” the CEO told Benzinga.
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He also pointed out that sovereign AI for VEON markets such as Pakistan, Bangladesh and Ukraine is a gap that has been largely ignored by global hyperscalers.
“Local language and cultural backgrounds are simply not a priority for hyperscalers. These markets are not benefiting from global AI models,” he told Benzinga. “If we don’t build for them, no one will.”
Collaboration with partners such as Meat Kai We are accelerating the development of VEON’s localized language model while keeping the group light on assets and focusing on profits rather than infrastructure spending.
Looking ahead, Terzioglu expects VEON’s market reappraisal to continue with its pivot to AI-powered digital services.
