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

  • Telstra raises mobile prices for second time in under a year
    on March 25, 2026 at 6:32 am

    (Telecompaper) Telstra announced a new round of price increases across its mobile portfolio, marking its second set of rises within 12 months and affecting both postpaid and prepaid customers...

  • Digi puts pressure on Belgian mobile revenues but market share limited after first year
    on March 25, 2026 at 6:30 am

    (Telecompaper) The Belgian mobile market grew by less than 1 percent in 2025, adding an estimated 116,000 Sims to reach a total of 12.7 million, according to research by Telecompaper...

  • Arm enters silicon market with launch of data centre CPU for AI workloads
    on March 25, 2026 at 6:21 am

    (Telecompaper) Arm has announced it will design and deliver production silicon for the first time, marking a strategic shift from its traditional focus on...

  • A face-off in space
    by Sulagna Saha on March 24, 2026 at 7:36 pm

    A new FCC filing from Bezos-owned Blue Origin just heated up competition between the two wealthiest men on Earth In sum — what to know:  Regulatory chess: In what feels like a chessboard move, Blue Origin requested FCC’s approval for 51,000 satellites for building an orbital data center. Blue Origin’s objection: The application came just

  • China Unicom cuts capex, boosts AI infra spending
    by Juan Pedro Tomás on March 24, 2026 at 4:18 pm

    China Unicom is also expanding its AI infrastructure, with more than 1.1 million data center cabinets and computing capacity reaching 45 EFLOPS In sum – what to know: AI spending rises – Over 35% of 2026 capex allocated to computing infrastructure as AI demand increases. AI revenue growth – AI-related revenue rose 147%, with computing

  • O2 deploys pre-assembled mobile masts
    by Juan Pedro Tomás on March 24, 2026 at 4:16 pm

    John Bonello, director at Vecta Labs, told RCR Wireless News that the pre-assembled mobile masts for UK carrier O2 are designed to scale across different deployment scenarios In sum – what to know: Faster deployment – Pre-assembled masts cut installation time from days to hours by shifting integration and testing off-site. Improved reliability – Factory

  • Optics and agents – Ciena presents telco play “to monetize anything-AI”
    by James Blackman on March 24, 2026 at 3:58 pm

    Coherent optics, photonic line systems, and software agents are helping cloud providers and telco companies to manage the explosive AI workload demands on fiber networks – across cutting-edge interconnect systems, upgraded longhaul infrastructure, and emerging mobile access networks. As told to RCR by Ciena at MWC.  In sum – what to know: Fiber-first scale –

  • Xiaomi lifts FY revenue 25% as EV expansion offsets drop in smartphone shipments
    on March 24, 2026 at 12:45 pm

    (Telecompaper) Xiaomi announced that its revenue in 2025 climbed by 25.0 percent to CNY 457.3 billion and adjusted net profit surged by 43.8 percent to a record high figure of CNY 39.2 billion...

  • Iliad targets higher cash flow in 2026 after Q4 revenues rise 3%
    on March 24, 2026 at 10:16 am

    (Telecompaper) Iliad said that it kept its leading position among major European telecom groups for the fourth consecutive year, based on annual service revenue...

  • Deutsche Telekom loses product and technology director Abdu Mudesir
    on March 24, 2026 at 9:46 am

    (Telecompaper) Deutsche Telekom announced the departure of Abdurazak (Abdu) Mudesir, the member of the management board responsible for product and technology...

  • US introduces blanket regulatory barrier on foreign consumer-grade routers
    on March 24, 2026 at 8:40 am

    (Telecompaper) The US Covered List, a registry of communications equipment ineligible for FCC market approval, has expanded to include all consumer-grade internet routers produced in foreign markets...

  • Dutch mobile market slows to just 0.4% revenue growth in 2025
    on March 24, 2026 at 6:00 am

    (Telecompaper) The Dutch mobile services market slowed to just 0.4 percent growth in revenues in 2025, reaching a turnover of just under EUR 4.2 billion...

  • Department of War takes aim at closed RAN stacks with open source
    by Sulagna Saha on March 23, 2026 at 10:55 pm

    The Open Centralized Unit Distributed Unit (OCUDU) Ecosystem Foundation challenges AI-RAN gatekeeping that has been stalling the open RAN movement Opinions on open RAN (radio access network) are mixed. On the surface, the movement looks less alive now than it did 8 years ago.  So far, adoption has remained concentrated to a handful of providers

  • SpaceX brings Xsight Labs onboard ahead of Starlink v3 launch
    by Sean Kinney, Editor in Chief on March 23, 2026 at 9:36 pm

    Xsight Labs’ programmable X2 switch tapped by SpaceX to push throughput beyond 1 Tbps My home airport is XNA, so I spend a lot of time on United regional jets. Fortunately, the carrier is rapidly equipping its ERJ175s with Starlink kit, which means I can regularly access downlink speeds of more than 300 Mbps and

  • Negotiating network slices with AI
    by Christian de Looper on March 23, 2026 at 8:37 pm

    Telecom and enterprise AI systems are beginning to negotiate and provision network slices The telecommunications industry is rapidly moving toward a future where network connectivity is traded as dynamically as cloud computing. Instead of static contracts and manual provisioning, the next evolution of enterprise networking relies on the convergence of network slicing, intent-based networking, and

  • The hidden bottleneck in modern network deployment (Reader Forum)
    by Vaishnavi Bichu, Ericsson on March 23, 2026 at 6:03 pm

    The telecommunications industry has made remarkable progress in expanding mobile infrastructure to support the demands of a hyper-connected world. Operators continue to invest heavily in network modernization, densification, and next-generation technologies to deliver faster speeds, lower latency, and greater reliability. Yet behind the scenes, a less visible challenge continues to slow deployment timelines and increase

  • Energy measurement in open RAN – what the data shows (Reader Forum)
    by Sarat Puthenpura, Open Networking Foundation on March 23, 2026 at 5:51 pm

    Energy efficiency has become one of the most pressing operational and sustainability challenges facing mobile network operators. Sarat Puthenpura at the Open Networking Foundation, discusses the findings for open RAN systems. Energy efficiency has become one of the most pressing operational and sustainability challenges facing mobile network operators. With base stations accounting for approximately 73%

  • O2 Telefónica develops AI assistant for network operations
    by Juan Pedro Tomás on March 23, 2026 at 2:35 pm

    The new tool is a single part of the operator’s grand plan to establish autonous networks with high levels of AI automation by 2030 In sum – what to know: AI ops support – NOA assists engineers with troubleshooting, diagnostics, and recommendations to improve response times and network performance. Automation expansion – The system supports

  • Claro Brasil to acquire 73% of Desktop to expand in fixed broadband market
    on March 23, 2026 at 9:04 am

    (Telecompaper) America Movil, through its Brazilian subsidiary Claro Brasil, is set to acquire roughly 73 percent of Brazilian broadband provider Desktop...

  • Amazon working on smartphone with native personalisation features - report
    on March 23, 2026 at 8:45 am

    (Telecompaper) Amazon is developing a smartphone product in a bid to bolster the consumer ecosystem for its services offering, including its refreshed, GenAI-powered smart assistant Alexa, Reuters reports...

  • 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.