Tech trends of 2024 & 2025 that you should know to achieve business goals
Deloitte's report on the telecom landscape highlights how digital technologies, like Generative AI, are set to disrupt this domain. The report reveals how technology presents a host of opportunities for improvement in areas like customer care and network performance.
For instance, with over 5 billion smartphone users globally, mobile-enabled shopping is surging. In the U.S. retail market, mobile commerce (or m-Commerce) sales are expected to touch $542.73 billion in 2024. This accounts for 7.4% of retail sales and 44.6% of eCommerce sales.
For telecom industry leaders, the rapid pace of digital transformation is redefining the business models they need to develop, to succeed in this competitive market. What can industry leaders expect to see in 2025? Let’s first revisit the trends that we saw in 2024.
5 technology trends that dominated the Telecom industry in 2024
Here are 5 trends that dominated the Telecom landscape in 2024:
1.?Cloud-powered telecom solutions
Precedence Research projects that the global market for Telecom cloud solutions is estimated to increase from $35 billion (in 2022) to $131.47 billion (by 2032). The expanding use of IoT-enabled connected devices is further boosting the demand for cloud computing and platforms.
Further, the telecom sector is witnessing the demand for cloud-enabled services like SaaS, PaaS, and IaaS. In a cost-sensitive competitive industry, telecom service providers are leveraging these services to lower their infrastructure costs and improve their scalability.
These benefits also explain why more telecom providers are migrating to cloud-native architectures to deliver their voice and data services to customers. Going forward, a cloud-native infrastructure will be able to support network slicing – or customised virtual networks for individual customer needs.
2.? AI-enabled automation
Other than 5G technology, AI has had a transformational impact on the Telecom industry in 2024. Among the popular applications, AI-enabled predictive analytics is helping maintenance teams predict when telecom networks are going to require maintenance work.
Similarly, AI-enabled automation is elevating the customer experience and operational efficiency. With AI-powered solutions, telecom operators can personalise customer interactions across business applications like:
48% of Telecom professionals claim to implement AI to improve their customer experience. 57% are using Generative AI to further improve their customer service.
3.? Internet of Things (IoT)
By the end of 2024, the number of cellular IoT-enabled connections is expected to reach around 4 billion. The global market for IoT in the telecom sector is projected to grow from just $17.4 billion in 2021 to reach $254.2 billion in 2031.
With the mainstream adoption of IoT-enabled devices, the telecom sector has both improved the customer experience and their business profitability. The IoT revolution is setting the foundation for the emergence of smart cities and better telecom infrastructure management.
In today’s hyperconnected world, IoT technology is facilitating beneficial trends like decentralised operations and predictive maintenance in the telecom domain. Besides, IoT is opening up new market opportunities for telecom players with innovations like:
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4.? 5G-enabled services
Besides faster networks, 5G technology is powering high-speed innovations like immersive AR and VR applications and online gaming in 2024. In the business domain, private 5G networks are enabling companies to secure their mobile networks and expand their IoT capabilities.
Within the global telecom industry, 5G is delivering major innovations such as massive machine-type communications (mMTC) that are increasing the density of IoT networks. The 5G market is expected to generate business profits to the tune of $400 billion in 2024. This marks an annual growth rate of 23% from 2023. Going forward to 2025, we can see the emergence of 5G-enabled advanced networks and devices, which will set the foundation for 6G technology.
5.? Edge computing
For modern applications like online gaming and autonomous vehicles, telecom companies must provide an ultra-low latency experience. This is where edge computing is making a difference. Along with 5G speeds, edge computing is supporting the advancement of advanced robotics, IoT, and Augmented Reality (AR).
Going forward, telecom providers are expected to double their annual spending on multi-access edge computing from $5.4 billion in 2022 – to $11.6 billion in 2027. This enables them to build their edge computing infrastructure – comprising servers, connected sensors, and networking equipment.
Belgium-based technology startup Edgegap is leveraging edge networks to locate their game servers in proximity to game players. Currently, they have over 220 hosting locations.
Telecom trends to watch for in 2025
Going forward in 2025, the telecom landscape is expected to be more connected with the continued expansion of 5G technology (and initial exploration of 6G networks). An Ericsson mobility report forecasts the growth of 5G subscriptions to reach 6.3 billion by 2030. Additionally, 6G exploration can unveil advanced features like AI-integrated network management.
Among the emerging trends, telecom players are likely to collaborate with AI companies to integrate Generative AI in their legacy applications and 5G networks. How ready are telecom companies to leverage innovative technologies? This is a major concern. Here are some statistics:
In 2025, more telecom operators will prioritise cybersecurity and resilience among their business goals. With the growing volume of connected devices, telecom companies must safeguard customer data and maintain network integrity.
In Summary
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