MWC 2025 Roundup

MWC 2025 revealed a stark dichotomy between surface appearances and underlying realities. The event exposed a tech landscape in transition - one where established clichés collided with revolutionary concepts, familiar players engaged in unexpected alliances, and industry veterans faced emerging challengers. The show serves as the useful barometer for the collective industry mindset and provides critical insight into technological trajectories for 2025. Our extensive conversations with key stakeholders help us to recalibrate our fundamental assumptions about the market direction and emerging opportunities. This note presents our observations from the ground.

Strong Geopolitical Undercurrents

Undoubtedly, the most consequential development at MWC unfolded far from the Fira’s spotlight, beyond the industry’s reach—a seismic shift that commands immediate recognition. The geopolitical convulsions of recent weeks have triggered a tectonic realignment of the global tech ecosystem, and the fallout is transpiring in front of our eyes. The timeline for these disruptions to stabilize remains uncertain, as does the question of whether we will emerge with a fundamentally altered web of alliances. Yet, the evidence points toward a permanent reset—one that will reshape technologies, data flows, infrastructure, and international partnerships with enduring force. At the highest levels of power, urgent and weighty debates are underway concerning the sovereignty of data, software, and critical infrastructure, signaling a reckoning that no tech leader can afford to dismiss.

Sovereignty has become the bedrock of every credible strategy, its scope expanding relentlessly from data to AI and now to the entirety of infrastructure. Jensen anticipated this pivot two years ago, and his foresight has been vindicated. Every major nation is now wrestling with existential questions: What constitutes the foundation of our infrastructure? How do we secure and sustain it? Who are our trusted allies, and who must be excluded? The stakes could not be higher.

National Security, Economic Security, and Research Security have converged into a singular imperative. The illusion of long-term predictability and stability has evaporated. The post-COVID shift from "just-in-time" to "just-in-case" has permeated the supply chain and embedded itself in the technological psyche, amplifying the urgency. To ignore this is to court obsolescence.

If your organization has not yet assembled a geopolitical advisory team—experts attuned to these volatile currents—to counsel your management and board, you are perilously exposed. Without such insight, one is blind to the array of scenarios poised to unfold over the next few quarters, each carrying the potential to upend your position. The fusion of geopolitics and technology is no longer a mere intersection; they are now one indivisible force. Navigating this reality demands a cold, unflinching assessment of the shifting landscape in real time.

Connected Intelligence has permeated everything

A decade ago, when we published our first paper introducing the concept of “Connected Intelligence,” it was new and not well understood. It is heartening to see that almost all major brands have embraced Connected Intelligence to the point that it is on their branding materials and CEOs are proudly talking about their role in this ecosystem roadmap. In fact, there wasn’t a major company who is not talking about how they are powering the “Connected Intelligence” era. It was plastered on billboards, booths, robots, devices, and pretty much everything else.

Connected Intelligence for defense

The industry that is really driving AI and 5G is defense. One has to iterate at a rapid pace on the full lifecycle of not only weapons development but operational excellence. We would rather have humanity focus on some other productive tasks, but the reality is that the defense sector is quietly shaping the Connected Intelligence space directly or indirectly.

Automation is the killer feature of 5G

Those who inherently recognize the key 5G feature – automation, are benefiting from creating solutions that address the workflow automation opportunities. Most of the operators, however, are stuck in technology selling mode. The world is different. Selling SIMs gets you only so far. There are billions being generated for players who understand this key distinction.

AI – prefix, infix, and suffix

As expected, AI was in front and center of every booth, every marketing message, and every product roadmap. GenticAI morphed into AgenticAI. Of course, we are overdoing it, but AI is what catches attention these days. Underneath all the noise is real progress on how AI is being integrated in specific use cases to address specific requirements but one needs to sharpen their AI BS detection skills to separate substance from substance abuse. These are unprecedented breakthroughs but then there are excel spreadsheets posing as AI+. In fact, companies are struggling to stand out in AI because everything is plastered with AI. Specific ROI, TCO, and outcomes don’t fit nicely in a tag line.

AI will become central to operator operations as we discussed in our recent paper on “AI Empowered Telecom Operator” but the investments have to be carefully managed.

AI-RAN

AI-RAN had a strong presence with several demos spread across the Fira for AI-for/and/or/-RAN capabilities such as air-interface design, deep learning in uplink channel estimation, AI/ML-based higher-order modulations to improve performance, AI-based beamforming, spectrum-sensing, orchestration, integrated sensing and communications, object detection, etc. We will hear more about it at 英伟达 ’s GTC next week. The challenge for the alliance will be to keep the focus on workstreams and do rapid testing and confirmation to help alliance partners figure out their product roadmaps and research initiatives.

5G Advanced / 5G + / 5.5 G

While industry still is trying to package the second half of 5G, operators are gearing up for launching new technology features and capabilities under the umbrella of 5G Advanced. The operators in China and the middle east are already deep into the deployments and we are starting to see the plans in North America for 2025. The main features being talked about are redcap, L4S, Integrated sensing, more carrier aggregation, NTN integration, native AI, and more.

Deepseek is everywhere

One thing that is fascinating in talking to the Chinese players is how fast they integrated Deepseek into their products which indicates Deepseek was only a surprise to the west as we had earlier alluded.

The world of AI continues to move at a frantic pace. Folks have barely recovered from the Deepseek shock that Manus is surfacing. People should understand that these developments are just a tip of the iceberg. By not looking below the surface doesn’t make the tidal wave go away.

Service differentiation

Given the lack of any major content format or a must-have suite of app services, operators are quite focused on differentiating by packing experience and status. You want to feel like a VIP for 3 hours, that will be $5 please; how about access to the lounge you are standing in front of right now, you betcha; backstage passes to the Taylor Swift concert, talk to the armed agent dressed in black leather jacket behind the coffee stall. It is VIP-status on demand or part of a postpaid/prepaid package – and it seems to be working well in pushing the ARPUs up.

European Telecom – Ground Hog Day or the Age of Renaissance

If you had gone into a coma 10 years ago at MWC (for science of course) and woke up in 2025, you will have not noticed much difference in the keynotes by European operators. The central pitch has pretty much stayed the same – deregulation. The geopolitical headwinds will force the regulators to become more focused and expedient. Will the EU Telecoms get out of the Ground Hog Day rut to lead an age of renaissance? Seems like a tall order but it is necessary at this moment.

Almost 15 years ago, we analyzed the structure of the telecom industry and concluded that the ideal structure of the industry needs no more than 3 operators. Since then, that paper has become a guiding principle for a lot of regulators around the globe and used by players to argue their case in front of the courts and regulators. The examples of this thesis are everywhere – US, Canada, China, India, Korea, Japan, etc. Europe’s regulatory regime has been living in the 2G era whereas the world has long moved on.

Enterprise is where the money is but there is deep reluctance

Our work for the past decade in the space has clearly shown that if one can modify their corporate DNA, billions of dollars will flow. I just wish operators can gain more confidence doing things outside their comfort zone.

It is widely accepted that 5G will be an enterprise driven cycle. There are plenty of actual deployments (not just POCs and trials) but one has to look. China’s enterprise 5G deployments dwarfs rest of the world combined. While geopolitics has its important role in world affairs, the west shouldn’t ignore what’s happening in China and learn/adapt to their ecosystem.

India is also rapidly expanding its 5G network and operating some of the most profitable networks in the world. In some areas, the center of gravity has firmly moved to the east and west should try to learn from their experiences and not live in their respective bubbles.

Network in the cloud

Amongst the hyperscalers, AWS for Telecom is making the most progress in terms of automation, network functions in the cloud, engagement with the startup ecosystem, future research platform for network intelligence and digital twinning, etc.

GPU as a service

There are two camps amongst the operators. For hyperscaler light markets where governments are pushing for sovereign AI, GPU as a service investment are flowing and telcos are playing a role. In hyperscale heavy markets with no government mandate or investments, operators are in the wait and see mode. Geopolitical could change these dynamics in the coming days.

AI is not contributing to data traffic

We have been tracking mobile data since the very early days so have a good idea about when something can trigger exponential growth and what early signs we might see of a hockey stick. Despite the noise about it, there is ZERO evidence that AI is causing network traffic to jump, there are postulations and assumptions, hopes and dreams, but the reality is different. One needs to understand the “unit of traffic growth” before big excel spreadsheets can be filled out.

AI for Code Generation

One area that AI really excels at is in the area of code generation. Players who really understand this transformative phenomenon are quietly building frameworks, teams, and roadmaps to go after market segments and product areas that were not on the table due to resource constraints.

AI Customer Agents

Quite a bit of buzz about personalized (like 1-to-1) agents for dealing with customers. Still quite basic but with time it can become useful (and less creepy)

AI for scientific breakthroughs

A lot of our R&D colleagues are having a great time accelerating breakthroughs in material science, fluid mechanics, quantum physics, cryptography, genomics, RF interference analysis, and much more. New insights and new data are creating new pathways to breakthroughs which is quite exciting.

Private 5G

There is private 5G in China and there is private 5G in ROW. And they are not the same. CBRS enabled P5G continues to see limited deployment and mostly stuck in POC quicksand. The licensed spectrum P5G has bigger deals though raw numbers are smaller than CBRS P5G.

OpenRAN is no more

OpenRAN was propped up by some governments in the past as an answer to alternate infrastructure question. That concept no longer holds value or is being considered by major players or countries in any meaningful way. The concept of open and interoperable interfaces will live on in some form of incarnation, but the original vision is no longer viable.

NTN takes hold

Over the past year, satellite technology has emerged as an essential feature for operators, breathing new life into a previously stagnant satellite sector. Initially centered on basic text and voice services, it has since expanded to include data capabilities. For consumers in areas covered by widespread macro networks, the need for satellite service arises less than 1% of the time. It remains uncertain whether consumers will be willing to pay for it separately or if it will simply be integrated into premium plans to avoid addressing the question outright. Nevertheless, Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) add a valuable dimension to the wireless industry, offering a complementary solution.

Lack of 6G hype

Sometimes the absence of narrative becomes the story itself. 6G discussions were largely absent despite being introduced into the conversation stream last couple of years. If 6G was present, it was often relegated to the corners. This is probably for the better as industry must focus on harnessing the 5G potential to full extent and get the 6G roadmap right before it hits the market later this decade. We think the current 3GPP process has problems and won’t serve the industry well. Regardless, official 6G discussions kicked off this week in South Korea.

Also missing in action were: XR, Responsible AI, serious Robotics, flying cars, mmWave, THz, and Sustainability.

Handset OEMS to Car Manufacturers

While Apple abandoned their car project, Chinese OEMs have been doubling down on the auto sector. 小米科技 produced two beautiful cars and were showing them at the show along with the other gear.

100 years of Bell Labs

For those of us who have been in the industry for a long time, Bell Labs has a special place in our hearts. It is celebrating its centenary of the project kicked off by AT&T and Western Electric a century ago. Its groundbreaking work has been the foundation of our industry and 诺基亚 had a nice corner of their booth to pay homage to the brilliant minds who have shaped the world for so long. There will be numerous events throughout the year to celebrate the milestone.

ICT Convergence

It has been clear for some time that the compute infrastructure will run communications. We are hurling towards the dynamic where ICT infrastructure is converging whether it is RAN on Compute or networks of networks or enterprise Edge or AI in the Enterprise, the infrastructure is rearranging itself to address the demand and the opportunities. There was a notable increase in discussions about data centers, highlighting the growing convergence between telecommunications and data center technologies. 华为 has the most comprehensive ICT infrastructure portfolio across the value chain.

Aduna Matada!

We can’t get it out of our head! Ericsson put Aduna front and center – figuratively and literally. For the API-economy to generate billions, we will need trillions and quadrillions of transactions. It is a tall order but streamlining of operators in a given country should help in figuring out if this will scale or not. It will also require patience and consistent execution. The success won’t come overnight as developers will need to be shown the value proposition that makes their lives easier.

Quantum computing

Though only on the sidelines, Nokia and Telefonica talked about the role of Quantum computing in networking and cybersecurity.

Gadgets and Concepts

Foldables - Foldable displays are starting to break away from being a niche category to must have. Huawei with its Mate XL has produced a masterpiece. The triple screen fold expands into a good-sized tablet, the craftsmanship is quite good, and the demand is off the charts despite the >$3K price point.

Tecno showcased their triple folding phone concept which measures 6.48 inches diagonally but?opens up into a 10.1-inch tablet, which was really cool. Infinix showcased a triple-folding concept called?Zero Series Mini Tri Fold, and the device folds up into an extremely compact form factor, making it easier to carry. It’s essentially a Galaxy Z Flip 6 with?two hinges instead of one and opens into a candy-bar form. Samsung also had triple fold devices for display but nothing in production yet. Lenovo extended the triple fold concept to a laptop with a truly nerdy looking triple flip device.

AI Phone - Deutsche Telekom previewed their “AI Phone” last year. The operator provided an update with the integration of perplexity into the mix. Device is coming 2H 25 and will be an interesting concept device to observe.

Mirror, Mirror on the wall, who is slimmest of them all - Tecno's newest phone made an impression for its ultrathin body. The Tecno Spark Slim is only 5.75mm thick, but it has a 5,200mAh battery.?

Charge your life w/ Sun - If you were in the market for a cyber-jedi look, you are in luck, the Anker Solix Solar-Powered Jacket will make you talk of the party: This unique wearable tech features solar cells integrated into a jacket, allowing users to charge their devices while wearing it. Infinix's Solar-Powered Phone: Infinix presented a phone that charges via solar energy, using solar cells made of Perovskite mineral. They also showcased a colored e-ink phone with AI-powered color palette adjustments. Lenovo isn't shy about concept devices, especially when a crowd of tech enthusiasts is expected. At this year's MWC, the computer maker launched a series of in-development products, including a?solar-powered Yoga laptop.?20 mins of charging gives you 60 mins of video playback.

Introduction of stretchables - This 11-inch stretchable OLED display is capable of extending up to 25% without damage. The technology offers a dynamic viewing experience, allowing elements like a soccer ball, for example, to seemingly pop out of the screen in 3D before retracting back.?

Extendables - The?Xiaomi?modular optical system is great for people who are into photography.

Huawei again had the biggest booth (more like a city) followed by 爱立信 . Their spaces were filled with use cases, technology showcases, feature roadmaps, and eye candy for network nerds.

NTT DATA and 普华永道 were again the hosts of the most exclusive parties and dinners at MWC.

We will be covering many of the pertinent topics in more detail at our annual strategy summit for industry executives – Mobile Future Forward later this fall.

Until then,

Be well. Do good work.

Chetan Sharma

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