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.
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.
From tariff impacts on the supply chain to advanced satellite innovations, ABI Research’s latest whitepapers shed light on the transformative forces shaping the global technology landscape in 2025. This blog highlights 10 must-read publications this year, each offering unique insights and strategic guidance across manufacturing, connectivity, smart infrastructure, and more.
The Trump Administration’s tariff policy will require all goods imported into the United States to carry a 10% baseline rate. For some countries, such as China and Vietnam, tariff rates will be as high as 145%. The telecom industry relies on established supply chains to maintain the status quo costs of network equipment and components. Notably, 5G Radio Access Network (RAN) equipment will cost more to manufacture, which will typically be absorbed by end users at higher selling prices. To manage this economic instability, telco infrastructure vendors and mobile operators must shake up their supply chain playbook and technological focus.
As we inch closer to Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2025, network Application Programmable Interfaces (APIs) are a hot ticket item within the telecoms industry. They are a way for telco operators to provide developers with access to network capabilities, enhancing user experience and offering more efficient services, while unlocking new features otherwise not possible. APIs have unlocked opportunities across supply chains, with notable successes including app stores like Apple's and Google's, cloud services like Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Azure, and various consumer and enterprise services.
Technological advancements in cellular standards have been the hallmark of MWC for 2 decades, dating back to the 2G and 3G eras. This year, that will change for many reasons: