ABI Research’s telco clients require hard data to formulate their Go-to-Market (GTM) strategy and uncover the most promising opportunities. 5G network slicing is one of those opportunities that the industry is sizing up. To quantify the slicing opportunity, we published our Network Slicing market data in early November 2025, the first update since 3Q 2023.
The ABI Research team has been traveling for the past few months, meeting with clients (including Ericsson, Nokia, NVIDIA, and Intel), and having deep discussions on the state of the telecommunications industry and its future. This blog summarizes a few of these findings/trends and how we expect the market to evolve going forward.
5G Standalone (SA) networks offer significant connectivity upgrades from 4G and other legacy standards. Notably, private 5G enables enterprises to support mission- and safety-critical applications, such as industrial robotics or remote surgeries. Although 5G SA networks make significant improvements to security compared to previous mobile generations, malicious actors continue to evolve their tactics. For 5G Non-Standalone (NSA) networks, a hybridized model creates a security landscape with significant complexity, with cross-correlation of threat indicators critical to tackling attacks.
Have we seen the demise of telco email services? At first glance, it looks like that is fast-approaching. Many telcos have shuttered their email platforms due to declining revenue and competition from cloud-based alternatives. But ABI Research believes that there is another path forward, with third-party email providers playing an essential role. Transitioning telco-branded consumer email services to a credible third-party platform can strike the balance between cost and customer management, while also providing opportunities for revenue generation.
Telecommunications market research is more essential than ever in 2025. The industry is undergoing rapid change, shaping how networks are managed, services are delivered, and customers choose a telco partner. Mobile ecosystem players that fail to pivot accordingly risk missing out on new monetization opportunities and getting leapfrogged by the competition. Qualitative, quantitative, and competitive analyses help industry stakeholders identify the latest telecom trends, gain strategic recommendations, and benchmark against their competitors.
Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) continues to gain traction in the enterprise space as organizations require cellular connectivity for their digitalization projects. Communication Service Providers (CSPs) and Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) are increasingly looking to offer FWA connectivity to support enterprises that cannot depend on traditional fiber or cable broadband.
With increasing legal obligations and ambitious net-zero targets set by Communications Service Providers (CSPs), alongside the rapid growth of global connectivity and data demand, these providers are actively seeking ways to enhance sustainability across their operations. Passive cellular antennas, critical elements of telco networks as discussed in our previous article, represent a significant opportunity to improve sustainability through energy efficiency and innovative design that reduce environmental footprint and lengthen the life span of products before replacement. To help achieve their ambitious environmental goals, CSPs must strategically manage antenna deployments and interoperability with other elements of the Radio Access Network (RAN). In fact, the fastest growing subsegment of passive cellular antennas is green and more sustainable antennas, driven by operator requirements for low environmental impact and increasingly tightening legislation.
5G Radio Access Network (RAN) automation is rapidly transforming how Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) manage, deploy, and monetize their infrastructure. As network complexity increases and operators seek energy reductions and new revenue streams, RAN automation offers a pathway to intelligent, scalable, and highly autonomous networks. ABI Research forecasts that annual spending on 5G RAN automation will triple by 2029, reaching US$6.6 billion. In this post, we cover the latest developments in RAN automation, including adoption drivers, key use cases, innovations, and the pivotal role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in making 5G networks more autonomous.
The telecoms industry has hit an inflection point, with a newfound focus on computing-centric applications. This marks the era where communications alone is no longer enough for telcos to drive the revenue growth they seek. At Mobile World Congress 2025 (MWC25), ABI Research analysts observed this transformation unfolding across the exhibition floor. As the event highlighted Artificial Intelligence (AI), edge computing, and data-driven solutions over conventional hardware, the telco value chain emerged as a key area of change. Here are five compelling examples from MWC25, each revealing a piece of this industry-wide pivot.
Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2025 promises to be a landmark event, marking a dramatic shift in focus from communications to computing. In the midst of this transformation, ABI Research anticipates that the tech show will shine a spotlight on the growing rift between China and the West, with a special focus on how telcos are embracing platforms that can power next-gen applications, especially in the realm of Artificial Intelligence (AI).