Over the past few years, the term ‘unprecedented’ lost all meaning. Predictions were rewritten before they were even published. But there are some clear trends we see dominating the next 18 months.
The ability to translate these trends into the services businesses and consumers want relies on the shift towards open standards, network API’s and greater interoperability.
This understanding is the driving force behind the GSMA’s Open Gateway and Fusion programmes, facilitating the transformation of mobile networks into developer-friendly, platforms using universal, standardised APIs. Businesses and operators who engage with these programs will be able to benefit from these trends faster, while finding new ways to create value.
1. Monetising Mobile AI
Over the next five years integration of mobile communications and AI is expected to deepen. Global AI investment continues to expand and its convergence with mobile communication technology amplifies its commercial value.
Consider:
- 29% of global consumers expressed interest in having GenAI application subscription services bundled into their mobile service plan according to Omdia’s 2025 global consumer survey data.
- Omdia further predicts that by 2030 over 70% of the workload in global data centres will be dedicated to meeting AI-related computing demands.
And global telecom operators are actively advancing AI transformation. 40% have already deployed AI agent-based autonomous network solutions in commercial or trial networks, with 34% planning to initiate related work within the next two years according to Omdia. Our programmes have already been used by telcos to create services for developers using standardised API’s that speed delivery of AI-enabled customer solutions.
2. 5G adoption accelerates, 6G readiness gathers pace
The widespread adoption of 5G technology has established an extensive network foundation for its convergence with AI. Since the first commercial 5G deployments in 2019, a total of 384 commercial 5G networks had been launched globally by the end of 2025, with the number of 5G subscribers surpassing 3 billion.
The world’s first 6G networks are expected to commence deployment and operation in 2029. By 2030, global 6G device connections will reach 289 million according to Omidia. The industry will enter an entirely new development stage characterised by the comprehensive native fusion of mobile services and AI capabilities.
3. Building trusted technology
Increased demand for private and sovereign networking. Rising levels of fraud. Heightened fears related to cyber and infrastructure security. Trust is being challenged daily. Our dependence on mobile networks means any impact on services is unacceptable, the need to ensure private information and data is protected, vital. Lose either and trust is gone – along with your customers.
With instability and innovation driving investment decisions, trust is become a defining factor in who businesses and people rely on for their connectivity. By encouraging and facilitating industry wide, global collaboration and co-operation, the GSMA and our partners are eliminating technical barriers and adopting AI to aid the necessary transparency. Together, we are developing new ways to combat bad actors and address technical complexity to build stronger resilience and protection across the world’s networks.
4. The quantum question
Quantum technology in all its forms hasn’t had the hype that AI has achieved, but investment shows it is a growing reality. A GSMA Intelligence of 100 operators found that 20% have rolled out Quantum Key Distribution (QKD), with widespread quantum communication infrastructure emerging across Europe and APAC.
While telco and enterprise focus may have been on getting AI-ready, or 6G-ready, getting Quantum-ready is also critical. This is key if we are to protect data and infrastructure from the new risks and threats quantum computing could pose, with reports of cyber criminals already harvesting data ready to decrypt it with future quantum devices. The next 18 months will likely show us why, as quantum technologies and trials progress.
The only constant is change
Industry collaboration is vital, as is working with enterprises and governments to remove friction and cost from development. This is the power of Fusion, offering a framework to engage and a suite of standardised APIs that address some of the biggest network pain points for organisations today. As new trends emerge and the innovation cycle continues, this provides the foundation to more quickly counter risks and improve services.
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