Telecommunications

Expect the biggest technological advancements the industry has seen in years.

Looking into the present, telecommunications companies are gearing up for some of the biggest technological advancements the industry has seen in years. Emerging trends such as the 5G revolution and the advancement of the internet of things (IoT) will reshape the  sector and force innovation on a massive scale. 

5G will bring three major upgrades from greater speed to move more data, decreased latency for shorter load times and increased ability to connect more devices at once. 5G networks will enable more detailed and efficient augmented and virtual realities, higher resolution video, fully autonomous vehicles, massive connected IoT networks (such as smart cities), and more. 5G is the most highly anticipated change to the future of telecom since……4G!

The IoT consists of a network of connected devices, able to communicate with each other that can be controlled and monitored remotely. There are now an estimated 30 billion connected IoT devices worldwide, many of which are thought to be industrial connections which are an essential component of smart cities.

Smart cities take the IoT a step further by creating an interconnected network that residents can access online, often through mobile apps. A network like this will provide data and communication channels allowing users to better manage their day-to-day activities, from corresponding directly with their government to instantly finding a parking spot on a busy day.

The main goal of smart cities is to create a better quality of living for their citizens by streamlining urban services such as energy and transportation through the use of smart technology. However, prior to the promise of 5G networks, experts couldn’t foresee the capacity to support the amount of data a truly connected city would generate. Now that 5G is a reality many major urban areas will be racing to be the first to introduce their own smart city. 

The use of AI in the telecom industry encompasses a myriad of focus areas. Customer service and network optimisation are at the top of that list. Some of the biggest implementations of AI will be in these spaces and predictive analytics is one of the most promising capabilities of AI technology, especially for the telecom community. AI-based analytics provide telecom companies with the ability to use data and machine learning software to predict future industry trends and potential infrastructure snags, and to continuously assess their service for bugs or potential pitfalls. Additionally, AI-based chat-bots and virtual assistants will transform the way businesses handle customer service. They can automate conversations and successfully mimic human speech, while drawing data and insights to provide personalised and positive experiences.

Diversified Ecosystems will play a large part too as  much like ecosystems function in nature, industrial ecosystems are a network of cross-industry organisations that work together to create a stronger, more advanced industry. The telecom industry will see a move toward creating those lucrative ecosystems. Ecosystems could unlock up to £100 trillion in value during the next 10 years by unlocking competitive agility. Telecom companies have the highest potential to come together and form such alliances. Industry leaders agree, with 83 percent citing ecosystems as an important piece of their disruption strategy.

The introduction of IoT networks, backed with 5G capabilities, will make this even easier and will allow companies to seamlessly collaborate to advance these technologies across their networks.The telecommunications industry is a vital center for cutting-edge technology adoption. With the integration of AI technologies, 5G networks, and the IoT, telecom organisations will continue to be at the forefront of technological growth.

Industry News

  • 3 ways operators are putting AI to work in network service assurance
    by Sulagna Saha on March 13, 2026 at 8:53 pm

    Service assurance is officially graduating from an era of dashboards, tickets, and engineers scrambling to find what’s gone wrong to swift root cause analysis and proactive fixes As AI moves deeper into the network stack, a burst of experimentation has followed to figure out how to best tune the network with AI.  “The networks today

  • 100 billion agents – new networks (and new KPIs) for AI, says Huawei
    by Juan Pedro Tomás on March 13, 2026 at 1:48 pm

    Huawei is proposing a new method to evaluate service quality for AI applications called AI MOS, modeled after the Mean Opinion Score used to measure voice service quality In sum – what to know: Traffic shift ahead – Huawei expects AI agent applications to generate far more uplink traffic than traditional mobile services, forcing networks

  • F-Secure raises FY revenue outlook ahead of deal with Verizon
    on March 13, 2026 at 12:47 pm

    (Telecompaper) F-Secure says it is raising its outlook for 2026 full-year revenue after it signed a partnership with Verizon, adding that this is the major...

  • AT&T refreshes unlimited mobile plans with 3 tiers of service
    on March 13, 2026 at 10:55 am

    (Telecompaper) AT&T announced a refresh of its mobile plans, with three tiers of plan that customers can mix across lines on the same account...

  • Claro Colombia submits request to acquire Salinas-run fibre network
    on March 13, 2026 at 9:09 am

    (Telecompaper) Claro Colombia (America Movil) has filed a request to the Superintendency of Industry and Commerce (SIC) for authorisation to acquire the...

  • ‘Four big moves’ – Thai carrier True outlines AI-geared telco shift
    by Juan Pedro Tomás on March 13, 2026 at 8:38 am

    One of the strategies announced by True centers on embedding AI across network operations, customer service, and internal systems In sum – what to know: Three-year plan – True Corporation has introduced “Four Big Moves” to shift from a traditional telecom operator toward an AI-first telco-tech model. Beyond connectivity – Its roadmap includes new consumer

  • Urgent rethink of telco-cloud-AI ecosystem required, says TIM
    by Juan Pedro Tomás on March 13, 2026 at 8:22 am

    The CEO of TIM outlined how the telecom sector’s priorities are shifting as new digital applications place different demands on networks In sum – what to know: AI is interconnected – TIM CEO Pietro Labriola told MWC that telecoms infrastructure, cloud platforms, and AI technologies operate within the same digital ecosystem. Network priorities – Future

  • From agentic AI to energy KPIs – the trends transforming telcos (Reader Forum)
    by IFS on March 13, 2026 at 8:09 am

    Agentic AI, sustainability mandates, edge-native infrastructure, and AI-augmented workforces are reshaping how operators run networks and serve customers, says enterprise software company IFS. In recent years, the industry has undergone significant changes, whether in network services, infrastructure, or regulations. 2026 is set to be another critical year for the telecoms industry and for Markus Persson,

  • Veon posts strong finish to 2025 with Q4 EBITDA up 29%
    on March 13, 2026 at 8:01 am

    (Telecompaper) Veon reported a strong finish to 2025, with fourth-quarter revenue up 17.4 percent to USD 1.171 billion...

  • SoftBank’s Telco AI Cloud aims to turn the network into AI infrastructure
    by Christian de Looper on March 12, 2026 at 7:06 pm

    The new Telco AI Cloud architecture integrates large-scale GPU data centers with edge AI-RAN In sum – what we know: SoftBank wants to play more of a role in telco-related AI, and at MWC 2026, it revealed what it calls the Telco AI Cloud — framed as “next-generation social infrastructure,” but really a play to redefine the

  • Agents of chaos – Equinix proposes metro fix for the new AI sprawl
    by James Blackman on March 12, 2026 at 4:30 pm

    As AI workloads splinter across the fragmented cloud-infrastructure landspace, enterprises are scrambling to keep performance, governance, and costs in check. Equinix reckons the answer is in neutral interconnection hubs that simplify last-mile access, orchestrate distributed infrastructure, and bring inference closer to users. In sum – what to know: Distributed AI – Training, inference, and agent

  • Hollow core fiber’s big test
    by Sulagna Saha on March 12, 2026 at 3:21 pm

    EXFO’s Olivier Côté digs into testing challenges — and outlines how methods are evolving to accommodate hollow core fiber’s physical peculiarities One of hottest trends coming out of the optical fiber industry today is hollow core fiber (HCF).  HCF had a viral moment at MWC when it saw repeated mentions in connection with AI. Adding

  • Disney+ starts roll-out of vertical video feed on mobile app in US
    on March 12, 2026 at 2:44 pm

    (Telecompaper) Disney+ has confirmed the launch of vertical videos on its app in the US, in an effort to get more people watching the streaming service on mobile devices...

  • Supermicro and NVIDIA Whitepaper: Powering sovereign AI at scale
    by RCR Wireless News on March 12, 2026 at 2:20 pm

    Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming a foundational capability for telecommunications operators, shaping network operations, service delivery, customer experience, and national digital competitiveness. As AI becomes central to economic growth and critical infrastructure, telecom operators must adopt AI in a way that is secure, compliant, trustworthy, and sovereign. Sovereign AI ensures that data, models, and AI

  • Ekinops aims to restore sales growth in FY26 on new SASE, DCI products
    on March 12, 2026 at 1:44 pm

    (Telecompaper) Ekinops is targeting a return to single-figure sales growth in FY26 fuelled by initial deliveries of new data centre interconnect and SASE products,...

  • Atos join forces with AI start-up Poolside to boost Agentic Studios
    on March 12, 2026 at 11:49 am

    (Telecompaper) ICT group Atos has shared more details on the implementation of its recently unveiled AI-first operating model, which is in the process of being...

  • Orange Spain tests 5G priority network for emergency services
    on March 12, 2026 at 10:46 am

    (Telecompaper) Orange Spain (MasOrange) and Madrid city council have successfully tested 5G Standalone (SA) network prioritisation for emergency services during a large public event...

  • Bechtle introduces sovereignty check for public and private organisations
    on March 12, 2026 at 9:45 am

    (Telecompaper) German IT services provider Bechtle is introducing the Index of Sovereignty (BIoS)...

  • WhatsApp unveils parent-managed accounts for pre-teens
    on March 12, 2026 at 9:15 am

    (Telecompaper) WhatsApp has announced the launch of parent-managed accounts for pre-teens, complete with new controls to limit the experience of children to messaging and calling...

  • To capture the AI opportunity, telcos must lead, not follow (Reader Forum)
    by RCR Wireless News on March 12, 2026 at 2:00 am

    As AI adoption accelerates, telecom operators have a chance to claim a central role in the AI economy, says Spirent (now part of Keysight). To seize it, they must move beyond connectivity and deliver trusted, high-performance AI infrastructure and services. The AI boom is real—and accelerating. In a recent Bain & Company survey, 95% of

  • AI-Powered Call Analytics: Leveraging Data for Business Insights
    by Allyn Jayawon on October 21, 2024 at 9:00 am

    At RingCentral, we understand the importance of efficient and insightful customer interactions. With today’s fast-paced business environment, it’s essential to not only manage customer calls but to gain valuable insights … Read more "AI-Powered Call Analytics: Leveraging Data for Business Insights" The post AI-Powered Call Analytics: Leveraging Data for Business Insights appeared first on RingCentral UK Blog.

  • The Ethical Use of AI in Phone Technology: Protecting Privacy and Ensuring Security
    by Allyn Jayawon on October 14, 2024 at 9:00 am

    As phone technology continues to evolve at a rapid pace, AI has become a game-changer, bringing remarkable benefits like boosting productivity and personalising user experiences. For example, a recent survey … Read more "The Ethical Use of AI in Phone Technology: Protecting Privacy and Ensuring Security" The post The Ethical Use of AI in Phone Technology: Protecting Privacy and Ensuring Security appeared first on RingCentral UK Blog.

  • Personalisation in Telephony: How AI Transforms User Experiences
    by RingCentral Team on October 7, 2024 at 9:00 am

    Did you know that 91% of consumers prefer to shop with brands that offer relevant offers and recommendations? This stat shows just how much personalised experiences are expected—not just in … Read more "Personalisation in Telephony: How AI Transforms User Experiences" The post Personalisation in Telephony: How AI Transforms User Experiences appeared first on RingCentral UK Blog.

  • Challenges and Opportunities: AI Adoption in Telephony for Businesses
    by RingCentral Team on September 30, 2024 at 9:00 am

    In this article, we’ll explore how AI is transforming the landscape of business telephony. We’ll delve into the ways AI is driving significant improvements in communication, efficiency, and customer engagement. … Read more "Challenges and Opportunities: AI Adoption in Telephony for Businesses" The post Challenges and Opportunities: AI Adoption in Telephony for Businesses appeared first on RingCentral UK Blog.

  • How AI is Transforming Security in Telephony: A Detailed Overview
    by RingCentral Team on September 23, 2024 at 9:00 am

    In today’s fast-paced digital world, keeping our communication secure is more important than ever. With the rise of sophisticated threats like spam calls, phishing scams, and voice cloning, ensuring the … Read more "How AI is Transforming Security in Telephony: A Detailed Overview" The post How AI is Transforming Security in Telephony: A Detailed Overview appeared first on RingCentral UK Blog.

  • Instant Messaging in Business Communications
    by silvia campean on August 12, 2024 at 9:00 am

    What is instant messaging? Instant messaging (IM) empowers businesses to communicate efficiently, collaborate effectively, and enhance customer experiences. Instant messaging (IM) has transformed the way businesses communicate, both internally and … Read more "Instant Messaging in Business Communications" The post Instant Messaging in Business Communications appeared first on RingCentral UK Blog.

  • Discover Powerful Communication & Collaboration with RingCentral’s RingEX Demo
    by RingCentral Team on July 22, 2024 at 9:00 am

    Boost business productivity and improve customer interactions with a comprehensive communications solution – RingCentral RingEX. This article dives into RingCentral’s capabilities, explores the features, and guides you through experiencing the … Read more "Discover Powerful Communication & Collaboration with RingCentral’s RingEX Demo" The post Discover Powerful Communication & Collaboration with RingCentral’s RingEX Demo appeared first on RingCentral UK Blog.

  • Optimise Outbound Calling with AI-powered Predictive Dialers
    by Allyn Jayawon on June 3, 2024 at 9:00 am

    Traditional outbound calling has long been a cornerstone of sales and customer outreach efforts. However, the challenges associated with manual dialling, such as low agent productivity, frustrated customers, and inefficient … Read more "Optimise Outbound Calling with AI-powered Predictive Dialers" The post Optimise Outbound Calling with AI-powered Predictive Dialers appeared first on RingCentral UK Blog.

  • AI-Powered Virtual Assistants: Transforming Customer Service in Contact Centre 2024
    by Allyn Jayawon on May 13, 2024 at 9:00 am

    In today’s cut-throat business environment, providing exceptional customer service is no longer a perk, it’s essential. Customers expect prompt, personalised experiences, and businesses that fail to deliver risk losing their … Read more "AI-Powered Virtual Assistants: Transforming Customer Service in Contact Centre 2024" The post AI-Powered Virtual Assistants: Transforming Customer Service in Contact Centre 2024 appeared first on RingCentral UK Blog.

  • AI-Powered Voice Recognition: Transforming Telephony
    by Allyn Jayawon on May 6, 2024 at 9:00 am

    Voice recognition technology, a subset of artificial intelligence, has made significant strides in recent years. By accurately converting spoken language into text, it has opened up new possibilities for human-computer … Read more "AI-Powered Voice Recognition: Transforming Telephony" The post AI-Powered Voice Recognition: Transforming Telephony appeared first on RingCentral UK Blog.