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

  • Advantest rises on the AI tide
    by Sulagna Saha on January 30, 2026 at 7:22 pm

    The company’s Q3 earnings show AI boom pushing up demand for semiconductor test equipment  In sum — what to know: Strong Q3 showing: Advantest posts record quarterly sales amid soaring AI chip demand AI drives growth: The company says strong market demand for AI chips and memory is pushing up orders for chip and memory

  • Sovereignty…hard to define, harder to pull off (Analyst Angle)
    by RCR Wireless News on January 30, 2026 at 2:49 pm

    I saw this headline today: Amazon launched its “AWS European Sovereign cloud” with its first region in Brandenburg, Germany. I had to chuckle at the absurdity of the focus on local staffing, as if a local technician’s paycheck is the most important factor. The software is controlled in the USA and the substantial profits are

  • Lenovo rollable PCs charting a new path for laptops (Analyst Angle)
    by Prakash Sangam on January 30, 2026 at 2:32 pm

    Folding smartphones have been around for many years and are almost on the verge of becoming mainstream. But what these foldable screens mean for laptops was not clear. But thanks to some bold steps taken by PC market leader Lenovo, clear use cases and usable form factors are emerging.  I have been using and testing

  • Nokia holds steady as ‘long-term’ AI infrastructure play starts to pay
    by James Blackman on January 30, 2026 at 2:30 pm

    Nokia saw net sales rise by three percent last quarter and two percent in the whole of last year, even as margins slipped, partly because of investments and restructuring. Revenue growth came mostly from strong fiber-optic and data center demand, it said. Nokia is doubling down on its big-ticket network infrastructure strategy, focused on large-scale

  • Verizon targets 'volume-based' growth in 2026 with forecast for flat wireless service revenue, higher earnings
    on January 30, 2026 at 1:17 pm

    (Telecompaper) Verizon reported a strong finish to 2025, adding more new phone customers in the fourth quarter than the rest of the year combined...

  • TPN picks Ciena to boost subsea connectivity in APAC
    by Juan Pedro Tomás on January 30, 2026 at 10:45 am

    The deployment will support growing demand for cloud services, AI-driven workloads, and high-speed connectivity across the Indo-Pacific In sum – what to know: Pacific upgrades – TPN is deploying Ciena’s WaveLogic 6 Extreme and RLS platforms to boost capacity, efficiency, and resiliency across the Echo and Tabua subsea cable systems. Massive scale – Echo spans

  • SoftBank, Ericsson use AI to optimize massive MIMO coverage
    by Juan Pedro Tomás on January 30, 2026 at 10:42 am

    SoftBank and Ericsson said that 5G downlink throughput improved by approximately 24% with the deployment In sum – what to know: AI optimization – The system automatically adapts massive MIMO beam patterns based on real-time user distribution, delivering a 24% increase in 5G downlink throughput. Volatile traffic – Unlike preset time-based controls, the external AI

  • Virgin Media O2 reaches over 500 UK sites with 5G SA
    by Juan Pedro Tomás on January 30, 2026 at 10:40 am

    Virgin Media O2 launched its 5G SA network in February 2024 In sum – what to know: 5G SA rollout in Dorset – The Dorset rollout brings Virgin Media O2’s total 5G SA coverage to over 500 sites across the U.K., following the network’s launch in early 2024. Dedicated 5G core – By operating independently

  • Eutelsat stops sale of ground stations after French govt opposition
    on January 30, 2026 at 9:06 am

    (Telecompaper) Eutelsat has put an end to the disposal of its passive ground infrastructure, after failing to secure approval for the transaction...

  • Apple sales growth improves to 16% after record quarter for iPhone
    on January 30, 2026 at 7:02 am

    (Telecompaper) Apple returned to double-digit growth in its fiscal first quarter to December, driven by record sales of the iPhone...

  • Amazon Leo satellites exceed brightness standards, study finds
    by Sulagna Saha on January 29, 2026 at 9:42 pm

    Scientists worry that Leo’s high reflectivity can pose a problem for astronomical studies  If you look up in the night sky, you can see satellites with bare eyes. That fascinating phenomenon now has become a cause of worry for the scientific community. Astronomers at the International Astronomical Union (IAU) Centre for the Protection of the

  • AI-native air interfaces explained
    by Christian de Looper on January 29, 2026 at 9:02 pm

    AI-native air interfaces could play a major role in 6G When people talk about AI in telecommunications, the conversation usually gravitates toward network management, whether it AI handling traffic flows, making routing decisions, or allocating resources more intelligently. These are cases of AI bolted onto existing infrastructure though. AI-native air interfaces are a little different

  • Comcast freezes dividend as content investment increases, cable business contracts
    on January 29, 2026 at 1:45 pm

    (Telecompaper) Comcast has frozen its dividend for the first time in a decade after the US cable operator reported a fall in profits for the fourth quarter and full year 2025...

  • AT&T beats targets, eyes 40m fiber locations, more convergence
    by James Blackman on January 29, 2026 at 12:38 pm

    AT&T reported strong fourth-quarter and full-year results, meeting or exceeding its 2025 guidance as it doubled down on fiber and 5G expansion with deals for Lumen and EchoStar assets, plus sharpened its focus on higher-margin enterprise services, and restructured reporting around its converged connectivity strategy. In sum – what to know: Growth delivered – AT&T

  • Canal Plus eyes over EUR 400 mln in synergies from MultiChoice takeover
    on January 29, 2026 at 9:15 am

    (Telecompaper) Canal Plus said it expects to deliver over EUR 400 million in annual cost synergies and over EUR 300 million in additional free cash flow from 2030...

  • Telia lifts FY dividend as Q4 service revenue rises 2%
    on January 29, 2026 at 8:58 am

    (Telecompaper) Telia Company is proposing a higher dividend for 2025 as it fulfils its mid-term plan and said it seeks to turn around its business in Norway in Finland amid headwinds there...

  • Nokia maintains dividend after FY profit falls 49%
    on January 29, 2026 at 7:44 am

    (Telecompaper) Nokia has proposed a stable dividend for 2025 despite profits nearly halving on costs for restructuring and acquisitions and limited sales growth...

  • Meta forecasts higher costs and higher operating profit in 2026
    on January 29, 2026 at 7:16 am

    (Telecompaper) Meta reported better-than-expected results for the fourth quarter, with revenues up 24 percent year-on-year to USD 59.9 billion and net profit growing 9 percent to USD 22.8 billion...

  • Microsoft quarterly net profit up 60% on OpenAI gains, cloud services demand
    on January 29, 2026 at 6:54 am

    (Telecompaper) Microsoft reported better-than-expected results for its fiscal second quarter to December, with revenues up 17 percent year-on-year to USD 81.3 billion...

  • Samsung's profit triples on AI-driven memory demand
    on January 29, 2026 at 2:58 am

    (Telecompaper) Samsung Electronics said it delivered a record operating profit in the fourth quarter of 2025, as strong demand for memory chips used in AI servers...

  • 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.