Infrastructure company IHS Towers completed the sale of assets in Brazil and Colombia to Macquarie Asset Management, a deal announced in February as being worth $952 million.

IHS noted the sale signals its exit from the Latin America region and is part of a strategy around “shareholder value-creation”.

Macquarie noted the transaction includes 8,700 sites in Brazil and 250 in Colombia, strengthening its position as a “long-term investor in the digital infrastructure sector” and “supporting the growth of critical infrastructure across Latin America”.

The investment company’s Brazil country manager Fernando Lohmann added the market he heads “continues to be one of the most attractive infrastructure markets globally, supported by growing demand for connectivity and long-term investment in critical services.”

“As digitalisation accelerates across Brazil and the broader region, resilient communications infrastructure will play an increasingly important role in supporting economic growth and social development”.

Completion of the sale comes as operator group MTN continues to work towards an acquisition of IHS Towers, a company it already owned around a quarter of before announcing its intent for a complete buyout in February.  

The deal with MTN is still undergoing the regulatory process. Earlier this week, IHS shareholders formally approved the takeover bid at the company’s extraordinary general meeting.  

In a stock market notification today (7 August), the operator group noted the sale of the IHS’s Latin American assets aligned with its intention “to acquire only IHS’s African assets”.

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NTT Docomo Business partnered with Chilean state-owned copper mining company Codelco to assess the viability of remotely operating heavy machinery over high capacity, low latency communications architecture.

The pair plan to connect the El Teniente mine to a remote operations centre 1,500km away using an Innovative Optical and Wireless Network All Photonic Network (IOWN APN), which the technology company hopes will provide the means for remote operations and HD video monitoring at the site.  

For Codelco the test is part of an ambition to up safety and efficiency at its mines. It aims to move towards advanced monitoring and remote operations, partly to address working condition issues including easing a risk of mine collapses.

NTT noted the mining company was also struggling from a lack of access to skilled operators.  

Among the specific areas set to be assessed in the project are: the type of communication environment needed; evaluation of network configurations with a view to cutting down the number of operations centres required; and examining the use of IOWN APN more generally in the mining sector.

NTT noted it planned to use insights from this project to create new use cases for IOWN APN technology, which the company has been heavily pushing for industrial uses.  

“The company will explore the potential for further applications in the mining and energy sectors, as well as across other sectors where remote operations are required,” it added.

The project is part of a research programme commissioned by Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.

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Deutsche Telekom held its latest pilot of delivering mobile connectivity from base stations on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), using two aircraft and direct satellite backhaul to deliver signals during a trail running event in the Czech Republic.

The pair of so-called flying base stations were used in alternating operation to provide uninterrupted coverage, with the satellite backhaul removing the need for an additional ground station on site.

Deutsche Telekom asserted the experiment, held in collaboration with its T-Mobile Czech Republic unit and drone company Primoco UAV, brought “resilient airborne mobile connectivity one step closer to practical application”.

During the test the UAVs flew at altitudes of 2-3 kilometres and provided coverage across 20 square kilometres. They used the same frequency bands as the Czech operator’sterrestrial network and provided data rates of up to 100 Mbit/s.

The test took place during the Behej lesy trail run, which is held in a protected area with limited standard mobile coverage. A compact portable tower supplied coverage at the start and finish with the drones covering the remainder of the route.

Deutsche Telekom noted around 1,900 runners remained reliably connected throughout the event with the successful handover between the two aircraft confirming “the technical feasibility of the concept”.

It added with seamless operation using alternating craft and satellite backhaul new “deployment scenarios with flying base stations for temporary mobile coverage” had opened up.

Examples include where “infrastructure is unavailable or damaged, or where additional capacity is needed at short notice” such as during wildfires or floods. This is alongside the large outdoor events, which have been the focus of trials of the technology so far.

In 2025 the three companies combined to demo a single unit providing coverage at a ski race in the Czech Republic.

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Telefonica detailed an operation to increase connectivity provision across more than 2,700 sites in Spain for an expected boost in network demand from viewers turning out to see a solar eclipse on 12 August.

The operator has undertaken network optimisation and capacity expansion work in locations across 31 areas of Spain covering the thousands of kilometres where the event is likely to be visible.

Tasks included actions to “parameterise the mobile network”, intelligently reconfiguring base stations and adapting them to traffic demand.

Telefonica noted preparations started five months ago and form part of wider planning to bolster coverage for events expected to be popular during the local holiday season.

In planning for the eclipse, it analysed coverage in more than 400 potential observation points identified by the country’s Autonomous Regions. It expects “extraordinary demand for connectivity from national and international observers” at the sites.

The astronomical event is expected to be visible in areas including Aragon, Asturias, the Balearic Islands, Cantabria, Castilla-La Mancha, Castilla y Leon, Catalonia, Community of Madrid, Valencian Community, Galicia, La Rioja, Navarra and the Basque Country.

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Vodafone Group completed the purchase of CK Hutchison’s 49% stake in UK joint venture VodafoneThree, less than 14 months after the formation of the operator from their respective mobile operations in the country.

In a brief statement on the completion of the £4.3 billion deal, Vodafone asserted having full ownership would allow it to “move at an even faster pace and capture the significant benefits” of its £11 billion network investment plan and “targeted synergies”.

Within the latter it aims to save £700 million across annual costs and capital expenditure by its FY30 (which runs to end-March 2030).

Vodafone CEO Margherita Della Valle added she expects the upgraded infrastructure to “deliver better connectivity for our customers up and down the country, help drive the UK’s digital economy, and deliver long-term value for our shareholders.”

The deal to buyout CK Hutchison was announced in May 2026.

Announcing completion of the sale, CK Hutchison deputy chair Canning Fok said the company was “proud of the role it has played in the history of [the] UK telecommunications industry”, pointing to the pioneering launch of 3G in the market under its 3 brand in 2003 and creation of the JV with Vodafone in 2025.

“This transaction realises our investment in VodafoneThree and returns value to the Group and our shareholders, while further strengthening our balance sheet and creating additional opportunities for the future,” Fok added.

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Samsung Electronics booked an operating loss at its mobile division in Q2 due to elevated component costs and revealed plans for efficiency initiatives at the unit, as it registered another all-time high in overall quarterly earnings driven by memory sales.

Its Mobile eXperience (MX) division and associated Networks Business recorded an operating loss of KRW700 billion ($480 million) compared with a profit of KRW2.8 trillion in Q2 2025. Revenue was up 14% to KRW33.2 trillion

Samsung noted despite “solid sales” of its flagship Galaxy S26 devices and “strong momentum” for its lower-end Galaxy A series, “earnings declined due to elevated component cost pressures across the industry”.

The company plans to continue its focus on providing AI experiences on its devices and “drive overall market share growth based on flagship-first expansion centred on the new Galaxy Z8 and S26 series”.

It also flagged plans to launch smart eyewear and “pursue efficiency initiatives to mitigate the impact of rising costs”.

For networks, it pointed to improved earnings supported by increased sales outside of its home market of South Korea.  

While the company suffered from rising component costs for its devices, Samsung’s memory chip business recorded what it described as an all-time high in quarterly revenue and operating profit.

The Device Solutions division, which houses the memory unit, booked an 89% increase in operating profit to KRW89.2 trillion on revenue up 357% to KRW127.5 trillion.

Across the whole of Samsung Electronics, revenue was up 130% to KRW171.5 trillion and net profit grew from KRW5.1 trillion to KRW71.6 trillion.

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BMW Group handed Qualcomm Technologies a long-term deal to be the lead supplier of chips for its digital cockpit and next generation automated and assisted driving systems.

The chip company revealed it had been appointed the automotive giant’s lead compute silicon provider for the business areas over the next decade, with products being used from its Snapdragon Digital Chassis portfolio.

It noted the latest deal follows years of technical collaboration between the pair, pointing to a commercial launch of an automated driving system in the BMW iX3 vehicle in November 2025.

Qualcomm EVP and group GM, Automotive, Industrial and Embedded IoT and Robotics Nakul Duggal said “as agentic and physical AI drive a new generation of intelligent vehicles, this collaboration enables both companies to define the future of mobility”.

The company added the deal “establishes the hardware basis for BMW Group to deliver the next generation AI-powered experience”.

Qualcomm has been actively pursuing the automotive sector in recent years as part of a diversification strategy to spread its revenue away from being handset-heavy.

Accelerating ambitions
Last month, the company upped financial targets for revenue from automotive and general non-smartphone earnings.

At its investor day in June, it set out an ambition to make $10 billion in revenue from the automotive segment in its fiscal 2029 (ending late September 2029), forming part of a wider target of $40 billion in non-handset revenue that year.

It expects revenues from handsets to make up a third of its top line figure in fiscal 2029.

The previous target for fiscal 2029 was $8 billion from automotive out of a non-handset figure of $22 billion.

In its fiscal 2025, automotive revenue generated almost $4 billion of its total $38.4 billion. Handsets contributed $27.8 billion of its top line.

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Airtel Africa CEO Sunil Taldar announced London as the preferred location for listing shares in its mobile money division, with the IPO expected to take place later this year.

In a trading update, the chief said he believed the UK capital city would provide access to a broad international investor base and “support our ambition to unlock the long-term value of one of Africa’s leading fintech platforms”.

Talking-up the impact of the service on its markets, he noted it continues to expand financial inclusion with “strong engagement”, highlighting Airtel Africa’s growing product range and an increase in digital adoption throughout the region.

In its fiscal Q1 2027 (the quarter to end-June), it had a mobile money customer base of 56.5 million, up 23% year-on-year, and processed a total of $61.4 billion, almost 52% higher.

ARPU from the service stood at $2.40, up 14%.

Although the executive did not expand on the current status of the plan beyond the timeline and location, Bloomberg reported earlier this year the operator could net between $1.5 billion and $2 billion from the share sale.

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The European Commission (EC) slapped two fines on Google totalling €890 million for non-compliance with the Digital Markets Act (DMA) and demanded the tech giant make changes to its search service and app store policies.

Decisions on the two probes follow investigations started in March 2024. Of the total, €460 million is for breaches on its search service and €430 million for app distribution restrictions on Google Play.

On the search charge, the EC determined Google gave its own services preferential treatment in rankings, either by having them at the top of a results page, or using enhanced visuals or filters.

This goes against DMA rules requiring “transparent, fair and non-discriminatory conditions” in rankings, the EC argued.

Its fine related to the Google Play app store was for not allowing developers distributing apps through the platform to inform customers of alternative offers and direct them to make purchases elsewhere.

The regulator acknowledged after what it termed constructive dialogue Google had begun testing changes to its services the regulator noted could “constitute substantial progress towards compliance”.

However, the EC stated the “fines imposed today on Google take into account the gravity and duration of the non-compliance”.

As part of the judgement, the EC demands Google ends the policies deemed in breach of the DMA.

Google has 60 days to comply, with the authority threatening periodic penalty payments of up to 5% of worldwide turnover if it does not.

The company has the right to appeal.

Breaking products
Unsurprisingly Google is unhappy with the changes it is being forced to make to meet DMA obligations.

In a statement, president of global affairs at Google and its parent company Alphabet Kent Walker claimed the way the DMA is implemented “continues to break everyday products” and degraded the experience of businesses and consumers in the European Union.

“To comply, we are having to strip away real-time Search features Europeans love like instant pricing and direct availability for hotels, flights and restaurants, and dismantle safety protections on Google Play,” he added.

“This isn’t fair competition, it’s product degradation driven by a small group of self-serving complainants, with European businesses and consumers taking the hit. Regulation should improve products, not make them worse.”

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Nokia flagged early progress in a strategic shift focused on grasping AI-related opportunities in its Q2 results, where it expressed confidence on securing a buyer for its Enterprise Campus Edge business and unveiled a deal to up US manufacturing.

The vendor announced the under review campus edge business unit, which includes part of its enterprise private networks offering, is being shunted into its discontinued operations accounting bracket alongside the fixed wireless access CPE business it has already agreed to sell to Inseego.

Nokia deems an agreement to sell the business “highly probable”.

The forecast sale is part of a strategic change at the company unveiled by Nokia CEO Justin Hotard in November 2025, which reshaped the company in an attempt to take advantage of the AI boom.

In its results statement today (23 July), Hotard said he is “encouraged by the execution and progress we have made in a short period of time” since the plan was announced.

He noted order intake from its AI and cloud division more than doubled year-on-year to €2.8 billion.

Nokia booked a net profit of €5 million, down 95%, on net sales which were up 8% to €4.8 billion.

Its profit figures were hit by €390 million in charges taken in the quarter to fund accelerated restructuring efforts and other one-off costs.

Nokia noted with these factors stripped out it would have booked a 64% increase in its bottom-line.   

Restructure
Nokia provided an update on ongoing restructuring projects.

It expects to spend a total of €800 million across 2026 on making the changes, some of which had been previously flagged.

Around €250 million relates to the concluding part of a programme commenced in 2023; €350 million are integration charges to simplify its business in China after taking full ownership of a JV there; and the remaining €200 million is going on “additional restructuring actions”, primarily in Europe.

On the latter, the vendor stated the actions were a “further step in simplifying Nokia’s operating model and allocating resources towards growth opportunities” without providing details.

US manufacturing
Alongside its numbers, Nokia announced a deal to buy NXP’s Chandler Semiconductor Fabrication campus in the US state of Arizona, subject to getting the regulatory nod.

The vendor explained it is part of long-term capacity planning and it would use the facility for Indium phosphide semiconductor production for optical components. With the purchase not expected to close until Q1 2029, it plans to lease some capacity at the site from early 2027.

Financial details of the deal were not disclosed.

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Virgin Media O2 CEO Lutz Schuler warned the UK’s net neutrality rules could hamper agentic AI and other emerging technology, as well as limiting innovation today, as the operator published a report making the case for policy reform.

The executive described net neutrality regulations in the UK as outdated and argued they hamper the realisation of the benefits from significant network investments being made.

He asserted the rules requiring all internet traffic to be treated equally meant the operator is “not able to help customers by prioritising taxi and map apps when travelling home at night and can’t prioritise payment apps for sole traders in crowded markets”, two in a series of examples.

“New technologies like agentic AI will improve the online experience and we’re investing £700 million this year in our mobile network to boost connectivity across the UK, but with network traffic growing relentlessly we won’t get the most out of it without much-needed reform,” he added.

The statement comes as the country is in the process of conducting a mobile market review, which Schuler argued should be used to remove “antiquated roadblocks to innovation” such as net neutrality.

VMO2 acknowledged current rules on the issue were initially intended to protect consumers, but noted they were issued a decade ago and set in a different era of connectivity.

The comments accompanied the release of Net Fatality, a 48-page report commissioned by the operator and produced by consultancy Communications Chambers.

It outlines the case against the current stance in the country along with a series of services it asserts are being hampered by net neutrality including the use of time sensitive applications and prioritising important video calls.

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Consumer use during off-grid travel was cited as a primary driver in early direct-to-device (D2D) satellite connectivity adoption in Australia and New Zealand by Gartner analysts, who forecast more than 1.5 million connections on the service in 2027 across the nations.

The projected number of low Earth orbit (LEO) D2D connections next year would be up from an expected 673,000 in 2026. In 2025 the figure for the two countries stood at 251,000.

Gartner noted end user spending on the service last year was $5 million. This is expected to hit $23 million this year and reach $66 million in 2027.

The rise in use of the technology in the countries comes during a period of early rollouts and limited functionality, with initial launches restricted to specific handsets, areas and messaging.   

Gartner senior director analyst Khurram Shahzad highlighted early adoption was being driven by use for safety and in recreational pursuits by consumers, but enterprise demand was “steadily increasing for field operations in industries such as mining, agriculture, forestry and transportation” due to the need for continuous connectivity for operations and worker safety.

“Australia and New Zealand are among the early adopters of LEO D2D satellite communications due to the vast remoteness and persistent gaps in terrestrial mobile coverage in both countries,” Shahzad said.

“Adoption is accelerating rapidly as services move beyond early trials and into broader commercial availability, demonstrating how satellite connectivity can extend mobile coverage without the need for traditional infrastructure.”

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Ericsson emphasised the strengths of advanced 5G technology for the defence sector as it got the nod as a supplier under the UK’s Tactical Communication Systems framework for public sector procurement.

The vendor explained it was selected under the sections covering services and components, noting the UK procurement vehicle had a budget of up to £8 billion over its eight-year span.

As a result of its selection, domestic authorities and military agencies are cleared to buy products from across the vendor’s range, including specific 5G offerings for mission critical uses.  

The UK government described the framework as providing it and other public sector organisations with a way to acquire specialised tactical communication and information systems.

Ericsson highlighted how the widely-publicised low latency and high bandwidth qualities of 5G could help armed forces in connecting sensors, personnel and platforms.

Potential applications listed span multi-domain command and control platforms, and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems.

Head of Ericsson UK Nadine Allen said it is now able to work directly with the UK’s Ministry of Defence “to deliver secure, resilient and future-proof communications that will serve as the foundation for the UK’s digital defence capabilities for years to come”.

Ericsson and rival Nokia are actively pursuing the defence segment with 5G equipment.

Notable projects announced by the Swedish vendor earlier this year include a standalone 5G trial with specialist Leonardo and the Italian Navy.  

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Smartphone brand OnePlus announced an end to new product releases in Europe and North America, a move reportedly part of a bigger brand revamp by parent company Oppo.

OnePlus revealed the move in a statement posted on its user forum, confirming media speculation earlier this week.

It told users in Europe software updates already committed to would be fulfilled and “backed by Oppo”.

The decision was attributed to a “proactive global strategy adjustment”. Its latest flagship smartphone OnePlus 15 launched in the markets late in 2025.

Bloomberg reported the move is part of a wider restructure at Oppo, noting it is pulling another of its smartphone brands, Realme, from the Chinese market.

The news outlet claimed although OnePlus would remain active in China, it is set to be wound down in other countries during 2027.

South China Morning Post linked the brand’s demise in Western markets to ongoing industry woes involving the price and availability of memory components.

Flagship killer
Its retreat marks the decline of global ambitions for a brand once seen as a plucky challenger in the Android segment with somewhat of a cult following in its early days.

OnePlus was founded in 2013 by former Oppo employees Pete Lau and Carl Pei: the former is now back at Oppo while Pei heads device venture Nothing.

The company promoted early handsets as “flagship killers” and had several well reviewed devices over the years. In 2020, its OnePlus 7T Pro won the coveted Global Mobile Award (Glomo) for best handset.

Having had close links since its foundation and shared owners in the form of BBK Electronics, OnePlus was made an official Oppo sub-brand in January.

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France’s competition authority assumed control of investigating a proposed purchase and subsequent carve-up of SFR by Iliad Group, Bouygues Telecom and Orange, after the European Commission (EC) referred the element falling under its remit.

In a statement, Autorite de la Concurrence estimated its probe into the three related transactions would take at least 18-months due to the complexity of the cases and markets involved.

When the parties announced the agreement in June, they estimated completion in H2 2027.

Because Orange and Bouygues Telecom generate more than two-thirds of their European Union-wide turnover in France, their agreements automatically fell under the remit of the national authority, but the EC could have looked directly into Iliad’s involvement because it did not meet the same criteria.

However, following an application from the company, the European regulator referred that part to France as well.

Autorite de la Concurrence noted the EC had considered it is “best placed to examine the transaction, in particular in view of its impact on the French market, the experience of the Autorite in the sector concerned and the fact the transaction is linked to two transactions with a national dimension”.

It plans to co-operate with the EC during the review.

The French regulator is already in discussions with Orange and Bouygues Telecom ahead of the pair making formal submissions and is now set to undertake a process with Iliad.

Its probe is set to include stakeholder consultation including consumer protection organisations and other regulators.

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Samsung hyped-up redesigned screen technology intended to cut crease visibility and improve durability of foldable smartphones, in its latest announcement eking out details of new devices set to be launched at Galaxy Unpacked next week.

The company explained its Flex Titanium display technology uses structural and material advances on components used in its previous generations of foldables.

Alongside improvements in the robustness of the screen, Samsung claimed the new tech provided a “more refined viewing experience”.

It noted the development was shaped by a “deep understanding” of what users want from foldable smartphones, namely larger immersive viewing experiences and a less visible crease.

The Flex Titanium technology is set to make its debut in devices unveiled at Galaxy Unpacked in London on 22 July.

In recent years Samsung’s mobile product events held in July have been where it unveils its new generation of foldables and various other product updates. Its flagship Galaxy S smartphones are generally launched at Galaxy Unpacked events held in Q1 each year.

In the run up to the upcoming event, it has released a steady stream of information hyping what’s to come and lauding progress in developing foldables since the launch of its first iteration in 2019, a device it now describes as a “bold experiment”.

In comments released by the company last week, Samsung CEO and president TM Roh hinted at the possibility a new foldable form factor device could be revealed at Galaxy Unpacked, while also pushing the idea the vendor would deliver “more personal, natural AI experiences”.

Alongside fresh additions to its foldable line, the company announced it will present the “next evolution” of its Galaxy Watch at the upcoming event.

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Authorities in South Korea kicked-off a project led by SK Telecom (SKT) and KT to pilot the use of advanced networks to support robots and other physical AI applications in industrial sites including shipyards and manufacturing facilities.

The Hyper AI Network Infrastructure Development project is being overseen by South Korea’s National Information Society Agency (NIA) and carries a total budget of KRW17.2 billion ($11.6 million).

Launching the project, the NIA revealed it selected two consortia to create the networks for industrial sites and hold the demonstrations.

One group is led by SKT and the other by its rival KT. Other organisations involved comprise AI companies, network vendors, universities, enterprises and certification bodies.

The project involves networks using standalone 5G and AI-RAN to provide the testing ground for a range of industrial applications under the broad umbrellas of physical and operational AI.

Equipment from various vendors and chipmakers is set to be used, with SKT identifying Samsung Networks, Nokia, Ericsson and HFR among its suppliers in its statement on the project.

Initial applications to be tested are “AI-based” welding, painting and patrol robots. From 2027 onwards, the infrastructure is expected to host demonstrations of humanoid robots.

Abilities of the AI-toting machines set to be verified include recognition, judgement and control performance in what the NIA described as high-risk and -difficulty working environments.

Swarm collaboration performance for multiple robots is one specific ability set to be looked at, a feature the agency highlighted as being “difficult to implement with on-device AI alone”.

The NIA expects the project to lay the groundwork for commercialisation of the technologies being assessed.

In a translated statement, the agency’s director Kim Hyung-chul noted “for physical AI to be safely and stably implemented in industrial settings, Hyper-AI networks that support ultra-low latency, high-reliability communication and large-capacity uplink are essential”.

“Through this project, we will verify the field applicability of next-generation AI network technologies such as AI-RAN, discover and spread physical AI service models optimised for industrial sites, and accelerate AX across the entire national industry.”

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Taiwan Mobile and Nokia expanded a contract for 5G kit with a view to pushing the operator’s move towards AI-native mobile network architecture.

The deal involves the supply of products from Nokia’s AirScale portfolio including next-generation baseband and radio systems, alongside software providing the operator’s network with an AI boost.

Nokia highlighted the radios and baseband units support improvements in throughput, spectrum efficiency and delivery of premium user experiences. On the software side, it pointed to an opportunity for real-time automation and predictive analysis to bolster operational efficiency.

The boost in network capacity and uplink delivered by the upgrade is also promoted as meeting the specific needs of AI applications.

Other benefits noted include use of AI for power management to cut energy consumption and traffic steering capabilities to up resilience.

Taiwan Mobile president Jamie Lin explained its collaboration with Nokia is key in a “strategy to build a high-performance, resilient and sustainable network”, which is the basis for a “Telco and Tech” push by the company.

Nokia head of RAN Mark Atkinson added the deal would help accelerate Taiwan Mobile’s “journey toward AI-native networks”, noting the equipment being supplied would set “the foundation for 5G-Advanced and beyond”.

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Industry associations the GSMA and TM Forum agreed a collaboration to aid adoption of practical AI systems across a range of use cases within the telecoms industry.

In a joint statement, GSMA director of AI initiatives Louis Powell and TM Forum EVP products and services Andy Tiller explained the organisations would work together to help create open AI models and frameworks able to meet the industry’s very specific needs.

“Networks underpin the cloud, device and edge capabilities on which AI depends,” the two argued.

“Yet telcos themselves have not fully captured the value of AI within their own operations”. 

“If the industry is to accelerate towards more autonomous, AI-native networks, it must align on shared assets, common standards and practical implementation pathways”.

The organisations address complementary areas towards the common goal. The GSMA is working on relevant models and agentic systems through the Open Telco AI initiative and TM Forum is focusing on frameworks and standards to align the industry and ensure interoperability.

They labelled the collaboration as being “about connecting the AI stack end-to-end, combining shared models, common frameworks and practical deployment pathways, with the trust required for critical network environments”.

Problem
Explaining the rationale for the closer ties between the organisations, Powell and Tiller argued adoption of AI is more complex in telecoms than other industries, but is a board-level priority in many organisations.

Among the difficulties cited is the multi-vendor nature of network architecture, with fragmented, siloed data and “very little tolerance for error”.

They also noted frontier AI models are not designed for operators and have not been trained on industry-specific data, leaving deployments limited to areas outside of the network layer such as customer experience.

Data published by GSMA Intelligence noted 16% of AI deployments target network use cases, despite networks accounting for 34% of opex.

The organisations believe the telecoms industry needs to “align to solve these challenges for itself, building AI approaches that reflect the complexity, economics and operational realities of the industry”.

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Support for so-called physical AI including automated vehicles, robot dogs, drones and semi-humanoid units was one of the main market drivers SNS Telecom & IT cited in a forecast annual private 5G spending would top $6.6 billion by 2030.

In its Private 5G Market: 2026-2030 report, the company predicted investments in the networks would grow at a CAGR of 34% over the period.

It expects a substantial proportion of this spending to be on highly localised networks for physical AI, automation and workforce connectivity across enterprise campuses and industrial facilities.

SNS Telecom & IT also pointed to continued adoption of 5G architecture for mission-critical uses by defence agencies, public safety organisations, railway companies and utility providers.  

In a statement on the top-line findings of the research, SNS Telecom & IT noted 5G could “address far more demanding performance requirements” than previous generations of mobile technology and is being positioned “as a viable alternative to physically wired connections for industrial-grade communications between machines, robots and control systems”.

The analyst house previously predicted annual private 5G investment would reach $5 billion by the end of 2028.

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