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

  • Germany's 1&1 reports fall in FY EBITDA on mobile network transition
    on March 19, 2026 at 2:46 pm

    (Telecompaper) Germany's 1&1 saw its revenues increase by 1.8 percent year-on-year in 2025 to EUR 4.06 billion, helped by its buy-out of 1&1 Versatel, while EBITDA plunged by 9 percent to EUR 537.5 million...

  • Micron sales up almost threefold in fiscal Q2, raises dividend 30%
    on March 19, 2026 at 2:26 pm

    (Telecompaper) Micron almost trebled group revenues year-on-year in its fiscal second quarter to end-February, benefiting from buoyant demand for memory chips and storage across all of its operating segments...

  • CK Hutchison lifts FY telecoms revenue 9%, underlying EBITDA by 10%
    on March 19, 2026 at 12:57 pm

    (Telecompaper) CK Hutchison has reported that revenue from its telecom business in the 2025 financial year rose by 8.9 percent to EUR 11.39 billion from EUR 10.46...

  • EU opens tenders for EUR 200 mln in submarine cable funding
    on March 19, 2026 at 12:15 pm

    (Telecompaper) The European Commission has opened two tenders for EU funding for international communication cables...

  • The scaling myth holding back cellular IoT (Reader Forum)
    by Onomondo on March 19, 2026 at 8:53 am

    As cellular IoT deployments grow from thousands to millions, the limits of hardware, not software, come into focus, writes IoT connectivity provider Onomondo. Until connectivity infrastructure evolves to adapt to constrained devices – rather than forcing them into legacy telecom models – cellular IoT will remain stuck in a cycle of complexity, fragmentation, and unrealised

  • Fastweb+Vodafone and TIM set up JV to build up to 6,000 towers
    on March 19, 2026 at 8:30 am

    (Telecompaper) Telecom Italia (TIM) and Fastweb+Vodafone have followed the deal announced earlier this year to jointly roll out out 5G infrastructure throughout...

  • SKT and Ericsson sign MoU on AI-driven network evolution towards 6G
    on March 19, 2026 at 6:20 am

    (Telecompaper) SK Telecom (SKT) and Ericsson have signed an MoU to expand collaboration on AI-based network technologies spanning 5G evolution and future 6G development...

  • Du targets 10Gbps 5G-A upgrade with Huawei
    by Juan Pedro Tomás on March 18, 2026 at 4:53 pm

    The partnership between Huawei and du also includes work on AI-based network management and automation to improve efficiency and spectrum utilization In sum – what to know: 5G-A speed target – du and Huawei plan Phase-2 upgrades to deliver peak 10Gbps speeds across UAE networks, focusing on both indoor and outdoor coverage. Indoor priorities –

  • Broadband equipment market set for 2026 rebound
    by Juan Pedro Tomás on March 18, 2026 at 4:52 pm

    Jeff Heynen, VP at Dell’Oro Group, told RCR Wireless that cable infrastructure upgrades will play a central role in the recovery of the broadband access equipment market this year In sum – what to know: Market rebound – Broadband access equipment spending is set to recover in 2026 after three years of reduced operator investment.

  • Orange Business boosts AI portfolio with new launches
    by Juan Pedro Tomás on March 18, 2026 at 4:51 pm

    Christel Heydemann, CEO at Orange Group, emphasized the company’s internal use of its own platforms In sum – what to know: Sovereign enterprise – Orange Business launched collaboration, AI, and voice solutions built on European infrastructure, targeting data control and regulatory compliance. Shift to agentic AI – New platform enables deployment of AI agents to

  • Agents, inference and token economics – Nvidia pitches the AI future
    by James Blackman on March 18, 2026 at 4:34 pm

    The message from Nvidia chief Jensen Huang at GTC this week is that AI is no longer about models or chips alone, but about monetizing inference at scale – where tokens become the core unit of value, and data centers evolve into revenue-generating factories. In sum – what to know: Token AI – Nvidia used

  • Ciena and Meta declare record 800 Gbps subsea transmission on Bifrost cable system
    on March 18, 2026 at 2:32 pm

    (Telecompaper) Ciena and Meta have declared a new world record in subsea transmission, delivering 800 Gbps on a single wavelength over the 16,608 km trans-Pacific Bifrost Cable System...

  • Red Hat fleshes out key themes at MWC
    by Red Hat and RCR Wireless News Sponsored on March 18, 2026 at 12:17 pm

    For Red Hat, the takeaway from this year’s MWC is clear: the telco to techco transformation is well underway At MWC Barcelona, the “telco to techco” transformation felt less like a buzzword and more like a reality.  For those of you not familiar with the term, “techco” — a portmanteau of “telco” and “tech” —

  • Orange Business focuses on sovereign comms, AI agents and anti-drone system in portfolio expansion
    on March 18, 2026 at 10:40 am

    (Telecompaper) Orange Business is presenting new offerings and a dozen "breakthrough innovations" at its annual summit, a two-day event ending on 18 March during...

  • Japanese operators to launch emergency roaming service for disasters
    on March 18, 2026 at 6:30 am

    (Telecompaper) Japan's five mobile network operators, NTT Docomo, KDDI, Okinawa Cellular, SoftBank and Rakuten Mobile, will launch a joint emergency roaming...

  • Fiber growth steadies telecom revenues in Japan
    by Juan Pedro Tomás on March 17, 2026 at 3:33 pm

    GlobalData told RCR Wireless News that despite high fiber penetration, growth will continue to be driven by network upgrades, premium high-speed plans, and the gradual migration away from legacy copper infrastructure In sum – what to know: Fiber growth offsets decline – Fixed broadband rising at 1.3% CAGR balances a 1.8% drop in voice, keeping

  • Qualcomm raises dividend and announces USD 20 bln share buy-back authorisation
    on March 17, 2026 at 2:58 pm

    (Telecompaper) Qualcomm has announced an increase in its quarterly cash dividend from USD 0.89 to USD 0.92 per share from 26 March and said it will raise the annualised dividend payout to USD 3.68 per share...

  • Nvidia positions AI-RAN with Nokia, T-Mobile in (its) $1tn AI infrastructure market
    by James Blackman on March 17, 2026 at 1:27 pm

    Nvidia’s trillion-dollar AI infrastructure forecast set the tone at GTC yesterday, framing its AI-RAN partnerships with Nokia and T-Mobile (part of a $2tn industry) as a new frontier for low-latency inference at the edge. In sum – what to know: Robotics platform – Nvidia positions RAN as a future AI compute platform, turning cell sites

  • From best-effort to “Ultra-High Reliability” — Wi-Fi 8 in the AI era
    by RCR Wireless News and Qualcomm Sponsored on March 17, 2026 at 11:03 am

    Wi-Fi 8 will support future networks as traffic shifts from human-initiated applications to machine-driven, agentic AI applications Wi-Fi 8 is designed to build directly on the performance gains introduced with Wi-Fi 7. Extending them by delivering higher and more consistent speeds in real-world, non-ideal network conditions. In the AI era, consistency and real-time responsiveness are

  • What creator-led MVNOs tell us about the new telecom growth (Reader Forum)
    by Circles on March 17, 2026 at 7:34 am

    Creator-led MVNOs highlight a new path for telecom growth, where community, identity and brand loyalty drive adoption more than price or coverage. Telecom tech company Circles says that by leveraging existing audiences and niche segments, operators can experiment with smaller, digital-first brands and unlock new engagement and revenue opportunities. Creator and celebrity-led MVNOs had their

  • 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.