Author: Alan Weissberger
Fiber Optic Networks & Subsea Cable Systems as the foundation for AI and Cloud services
Introduction:
A foundational enabler of global AI infrastructure and cloud service expansion are the fiber-optic networks interconnecting data centers worldwide. These high-capacity optical systems form the invisible backbone of modern digital society, facilitating everything from real-time financial transactions and mission-critical enterprise traffic to defense systems, entertainment, and personal communications. Access to cloud-based AI platforms—and the data-driven intelligence they deliver—depends on efficient, low-latency connectivity to data centers. As AI workloads proliferate across industries and continents, the unifying role of optical fiber becomes paramount, ensuring equitable global access to advanced digital capabilities.
A core prerequisite for scaling AI and cloud services is the mesh of high-capacity fiber-optic networks that interconnect data centers globally. These networks silently underpin digital society, carrying the data that powers financial markets, mission-critical enterprise applications, national security, entertainment platforms, and everyday human communication.
Cloud-based AI services only become meaningful when users, enterprises, and machines can reach them with low latency, high reliability, and predictable performance. In this context, the unifying role of fiber is increasingly strategic, as it determines who can participate in the AI economy and at what scale.
Subsea (fiber) cable systems as digital unifier:
The massive capacity and spectral efficiency of optical fiber have driven its deployment from access networks to backbone routes and across the world’s oceans. Today, more than 570 subsea cables carry over 99% of international traffic, effectively stitching together a single global fabric for AI and cloud connectivity.
New subsea systems highlight how infrastructure investments are closing regional gaps rather than just adding raw terabits: the Medusa submarine cable system will help narrow the digital divide between Europe and North Africa, the Bangladesh Private Cable System (BPCS) will establish the country’s first private subsea on-ramps to global cloud and AI ecosystems, and a new Jakarta–Singapore route by PT Solusi Sinergi Digital Tbk (Surge) is set to increase data center interconnectivity while expanding affordable broadband to tens of millions of Indonesians.
As multiple new subsea cable system build outs enter planning and deployment, global bandwidth growth is expected to remain strong, extending the reach of AI and cloud platforms to more geographies, users, and industries.
From PoPs to data centers:
The traffic matrix of the AI era looks very different from that of legacy telecom networks. Instead of primarily connecting PoPs, carrier hotels, and central offices, modern optical networks are being engineered around dense, high-capacity flows between data centers.
More than 11,000 data centers, including over one thousand hyperscale facilities, now form the core nodes of the global digital infrastructure, generating on the order of thousands of petabytes of WAN traffic daily. Subsea bandwidth demand is expected to grow at roughly 30% per year as AI and cloud services scale, placing new design pressure on how subsea and terrestrial backhaul networks are engineered end-to-end.
Unifying subsea and terrestrial backhaul:
This shift is driving a deliberate architectural pivot: instead of treating subsea and terrestrial backhaul as separate domains, leading operators and cloud providers are moving toward unified, end-to-end design philosophies. Traffic no longer “terminates” at a cable landing station or central office; it flows optically and logically from data center to data center across continents.
By optimizing subsea and terrestrial segments as a single system, operators can simplify their networks, reduce CapEx and OpEx, and unlock higher effective capacity. Approaches such as optical pass-through at cable landing sites reduce cost, footprint, and power, while spectrum expansion into C+L bands can deliver a twofold or greater increase in per-fiber capacity, significantly lowering the cost of backhauling subsea traffic to inland data centers.
An ever-increasing number of data centers powering AI services is driving significant bandwidth growth over subsea fiber optic cables. Image Credit: Nokia
Unified optical platforms for the AI supercycle:
Realizing this vision at scale requires platforms that unify roles traditionally split across multiple, specialized systems. For Nokia’s customers, this means leveraging the 1830 Global Express (GX) compact modular portfolio as a single, DCI-optimized solution for transponders, open optical line systems (OLS), and submarine line terminal equipment (SLTE) across both subsea and terrestrial applications.
High-performance coherent transponders on the 1830 GX support 800 Gigabit Ethernet across trans-oceanic distances, using techniques such as Probabilistic Constellation Shaping, Nyquist filtering, and continuous baud rate tuning to push performance toward the Shannon limit. The integrated OLS delivers the full suite of SLTE capabilities, including ROADM-based wavelength switching and spectrum management, ASE or CW idler insertion, and optical channel monitoring, while C+L operation on terrestrial backhaul provides step-function increases in capacity per fiber and reduces the cost of leased backhaul infrastructure.
Photo Credit: Nokia
Operational simplicity and resilience:
Beyond raw capacity, unified platforms enable operators to rationalize operations. Using a common hardware and software stack across subsea and terrestrial domains simplifies planning, training, sparing, deployment, and lifecycle management.
Capabilities such as constant-power ILAs for stable end-to-end DC-to-DC transport, integrated OTDR for proactive fiber monitoring and fault localization, and a rich set of optical protection schemes for service protection and restoration help operators build networks that are not only faster and denser, but also more resilient and easier to run.
What’s next: pluggables and sensing:
The industry is now entering a phase where innovation in optics is tightly coupled to AI and automation. At PTC 2026 in Honolulu, discussions will highlight how pluggable coherent optics and fiber sensing are being introduced into subsea environments to further collapse layers and enhance awareness.
ICE-X 800G coherent pluggables are already enabling 400G, 600G, and 800G per wavelength over regional subsea spans exceeding 4,000 km, and future advances in chromatic dispersion tolerance are expected to extend the thin transponder layer paradigm to trans-Atlantic routes. In parallel, operators are exploring fiber sensing, powered by machine learning and advanced coherent techniques, to transform existing fiber assets into distributed sensors capable of supporting security, integrity monitoring, and new data-driven services.
Connectivity for all:
“Advancing connectivity for the AI supercycle” is more than a tagline; it captures two simultaneous imperatives: scaling networks for performance, efficiency, and sustainability while extending those networks to every region and community. As described herein, fiber optics connectivity is becoming the strategic control point for value creation in the age of large-scale AI.
Nokia’s Role in Subsea Fiber Optic Networks:
Nokia has invested for more than 15 years in helping subsea operators and their customers design, deploy, and operate end-to-end SLTE and terrestrial optical networks, backed by global services and multi-country program support. Following its unification with Infinera, Nokia has emerged as the number-two global vendor of subsea optical transport equipment, earning the confidence of a large majority of operators involved in the latest wave of Asia-Pacific subsea builds. These partnerships position Nokia to help the industry scale and unify networks for the AI supercycle—and to ensure that the benefits of AI-era connectivity reach as many people, countries, and enterprises as possible.
Nokia’s 1830 Global Express (GX) supports high-performance coherent transponders for transmission of high-speed data connections such as 800 Gigabit Ethernet (800GE) across trans-oceanic distances, leveraging features such as Probabilistic Constellation Shaping (PCS), Nyquist filtering and continuous baud rate adjustment to maximize optical reach and fiber capacity up to the Shannon Limit. The 1830 GX OLS supports all needed SLTE functions including ROADM-based wavelength switching and spectrum management, insertion of ASE spectrum or continuous-wave (CW) idler channels, and optical channel monitor.
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References:
https://www.nokia.com/blog/the-unifying-role-of-subsea-fiber-networks/
https://www.nokia.com/optical-networks/1830-global-express/
Subsea cable systems: the new high-capacity, high-resilience backbone of the AI-driven global network
FCC updates subsea cable regulations; repeals 98 “outdated” broadcast rules and regulations
Automating Fiber Testing in the Last Mile: An Experiment from the Field
Virtual RAN gets a boost from Samsung demo using Intel’s Grand Rapids/Xeon Series 6 SoC
Samsung is the fifth largest worldwide RAN equipment vendor, behind Huawei, Ericsson, Nokia and ZTE. This week, the South Korean conglomerate claimed to have reached a virtual RAN (vRAN) milestone with the completion of a commercial phone call using Granite Rapids – Intel’s Xeon 6700P-B SoC processor series. The call took place on the network of a large, undisclosed U.S. network operator, but apparently Verizon. Samsung said, “this builds upon the company’s previous achievement in 2024, when it completed the industry-first end-to-end call in a lab environment with Intel Xeon 6 SoC.”
Samsung’s cloud-native vRAN with Intel’s latest Xeon SoC ran on a single commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) server from Hewlett Packard Enterprise with a cloud platform from Wind River. This milestone, coming only a few months after the first wave of Intel Xeon 6 SoC was made commercially available, presents an innovative pathway for single-server vRAN deployments for next-generation networks.
The commercial readiness of vRAN technology promises to give network operators the ability to run RAN and AI workloads on fewer, more powerful servers.
Samsung wrote: “As operators accelerate their transition to software-driven, flexible architectures while seeking more sustainable infrastructure, the ability to run RAN and AI workloads on fewer, more powerful servers becomes critical, On a single server of Samsung’s AI-powered vRAN with enhanced processors, operators can consolidate software-driven network elements such as mobile core, radio access, transport and security, which traditionally required multiple servers, significantly simplifying the management of complex site configuration.”
Image Credit: Samsung
“This breakthrough represents a major leap forward in network virtualization and efficiency. It confirms the real-world readiness of this latest technology under live network conditions, demonstrating that single-server vRAN deployments can meet the stringent performance and reliability standards required by leading carriers,” said June Moon, Executive Vice President, Head of R&D, Networks Business at Samsung Electronics. “We are not only deploying more sustainable, cost-effective networks, but also laying the foundation to fully utilize AI capabilities more easily and prepare for 6G with our end-to-end software-driven network solutions.”
Samsung’s vRAN leverages the latest Intel Xeon 6 SoC with Intel Advanced Matrix Extensions (Intel AMX), Intel vRAN Boost and up to 72 cores, delivering significant improvements in AI processing, memory bandwidth and energy efficiency compared to the previous generation.
“With Intel Xeon 6 SoC, featuring higher core counts and built-in acceleration for AI and vRAN, operators get the compute foundation for AI native, future ready networks,” said Cristina Rodriguez, VP and GM, Network & Edge, Intel. “This collaborative achievement with Samsung, HPE and Wind River enables greater consolidation of RAN and AI workloads, lowering power and total cost while speeding innovation.”
Samsung has been leading the deployment of vRAN solutions with major network operators worldwide and has achieved many industry breakthroughs, including the industry’s first call on a commercial network and large-scale deployments utilizing Intel Xeon processors with Intel vRAN Boost. The company continues to push the boundaries of network virtualization, working closely with ecosystem partners like Intel to deliver solutions that help operators build networks that are more efficient and sustainable.
“This successful first call is an important milestone for the industry,” said Daryl Schoolar, Analyst and Director at Recon Analytics. “By demonstrating multiple network functions running on next-generation processing technology, Samsung is showing what future networks look like — more cloud-native, more scalable and significantly more efficient. This achievement moves the industry beyond theoretical performance gains and into practical, deployable innovation that operators around the world can leverage to modernize their networks, accelerate automation and better support AI-driven use cases.”
“With Samsung’s vRAN and Intel’s Xeon 6 SoC running on a single server, Samsung expects enhanced cost savings for operators,” said a Samsung spokesperson via email to Light Reading, when asked what cost impact Granite Rapids would have. “The ability to consolidate multiple network functions including RAN, core, transport and security onto a single, high-performance COTS server reduces hardware footprint, simplifies site design and lowers power consumption.”
Vodafone is one Samsung customer that now expects to benefit from the availability of Granite Rapids. In November, Paco Pignatelli, Vodafone’s head of open RAN, told Light Reading that the new Intel platform offers “much better capacity and efficiency” than its predecessors. That was several weeks after the telco had announced plans to deploy Samsung’s virtual RAN technology in Germany and other European markets, starting in 2026.
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vRAN Market Assessment:
Virtual RAN still accounts for a very small share of the entire market. In 2023, data from Omdia put its market share at just 3% of the total RAN market which generates If vRAN is considered as part of the subsector for baseband RAN, its share was about 10% that year, implying baseband represents about 30% of the total expenditure on RAN products.
Hardware still dominates the RAN equipment business, but there is a rapid shift toward Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) servers, particularly those using Intel’s Xeon 6 processors. Regional Dominance: North America and Asia-Pacific are expected to remain the largest markets in 2026, together accounting for over 70% of global vRAN revenue
- Dell’Oro Group:
- 2026 Stability: Predicts overall RAN revenues will remain “mostly stable” in 2026, but identifies AI-RAN, Cloud RAN, and Open RAN as favorable growth segments within that flat topline.
- Market Share: Expects vRAN to account for 5% to 10% of the total RAN market by 2026.
- Private Wireless: Forecasts that private wireless campus network RAN revenue will surpass USD 1 billion in 2026.
- Omdia:
- Growth Surge: Anticipates a doubling of vRAN’s market share by 2028. Specifically, it expects Open vRAN to reach a 16% share of the total RAN market in 2026, up from 7% in 2022.
- Automation Focus: Forecasts the Service Management and Orchestration (SMO) category to grow at a massive 99% CAGR through 2030 as operators align with O-RAN architectures.
- Research and Markets:
- Estimates the global Open RAN market size will reach between USD 5.0 billion and USD 10.0 billion by 2026, driven by aggressive greenfield deployments.
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References:
https://www.lightreading.com/5g/intel-and-samsung-add-to-pressure-on-purpose-built-5g
vRAN market disappoints – just like OpenRAN and mobile 5G
RAN silicon rethink – from purpose built products & ASICs to general purpose processors or GPUs for vRAN & AI RAN
LightCounting: Open RAN/vRAN market is pausing and regrouping
Dell’Oro: Private 5G ecosystem is evolving; vRAN gaining momentum; skepticism increasing
Heavy Reading: How network operators will deploy Open RAN and cloud native vRAN
Comparing AI Native mode in 6G (IMT 2030) vs AI Overlay/Add-On status in 5G (IMT 2020)
Executive Summary:
AI integration in 6G specifications (3GPP) and standards (ITU-R IMT 2030) highlights a strategic shift in the telecom industry towards AI-native networks, with telecom industry heavyweights like Huawei, Samsung, Ericsson, and Nokia actively developing foundational technologies. Unlike 5G, where AI and machine learning were limited applications or add-on features over existing architecture, 6G will incorporate AI from the onset with an “AI native” approach where intelligence will allow the network to be smart, agile, and able to learn and adapt according to changing network dynamics.
This transformation is necessary because future 6G networks will be too complex for human operators to manage, requiring AI-empowered and learning-driven networks that can facilitate zero-touch network management through capabilities including learning, reasoning, and decision-making.
- AI-Native Networks: The industry consensus is that 6G will be “AI-native,” meaning artificial intelligence will be built directly into the core functions of network control, resource management, and service orchestration. This moves AI from an optimization layer in 5G to an foundational element in 6G.
AI Native Image Courtesy of Ericsson
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- Company Initiatives:
- Huawei is focused on making AI a native element of the network architecture (AI-native 6G) rather than an overlay technology, integrating communication, sensing, computing, and intelligence. This vision, called “Connected Intelligence,” involves two aspects: AI for 6G (network automation) and 6G for AI (AI as a Service, AIaaS). More in Huawei Research Areas below.
- Samsung is a major proponent of AI-RAN (Radio Access Network) technology. The company hosted a summit in November 2025 to showcase working AI-RAN technology that autonomously optimizes network performance and is conducting joint research with SK Telecom (SKT) on AI-supported RAN. Samsung sees vRAN (virtualized RAN) as a key enabler for “AI-native, 6G-ready networks”.
- Ericsson emphasizes the necessity of a strong 5G Standalone (5G SA) foundation for an AI future, using AI to manage and automate current networks in preparation for 6G’s demands. Ericsson is also integrating agentic AI into its platforms for more autonomous network management.
- Nokia is deepening its AI push, licensing software to expand AI use in mobile networks and preparing for early field trials in 2026 by porting baseband software to platforms like NVIDIA’s, which opens the door for more advanced AI use cases.
- Industry Analysis and Trends:
- Standardization: 2026 is crucial as formal 6G specification work begins in earnest within 3GPP with Release 21. In WP5D, the IMT 2030 RIT/SRIT standardization work will commence at the February 2027 meeting with the final deadline for submissions at the February 2029 meeting. More in the ITU-R WP5D section below.
- The AI-RAN Alliance is an industry initiative (not a traditional SDO) focused on accelerating real-world AI applications and integration within the RAN. It works alongside SDOs, providing industry insights and pushing for rapid validation and testing of AI-RAN technologies, with a specific focus on leveraging accelerated computing.
- Automation and Efficiency: AI-native algorithms in 6G are expected to deliver extreme spectrum and energy efficiency, significantly reducing operational costs for telcos while improving reliability and performance.
- Monetization Challenges: Despite the technological promise, analysts caution that 6G remains largely theoretical for now. Some operators are stalling on full 5G SA deployment, waiting to move to 6G-ready cores later in the decade, leading to concerns that 5G SA might become an “odd generation.”
- Infrastructure Constraints: The physical demands of AI infrastructure, particularly energy consumption and construction timelines, are becoming operational realities that may bound the pace of AI growth in 2026, regardless of software advancements.
- ITU-R Working Party (WP) 5D is making AI a native and foundational element of the 6G (IMT-2030) system, rather than the “add-on” or “overlay” status it had in 5G (IMT 2020). This shift is being achieved through the definition of specific AI capabilities and requirements that future 6G technologies must inherently support. In particular:
- Defining AI as a Core Capability: The Recommendation ITU-R M.2160 (“Framework and overall objectives of the future development of IMT for 2030 and Beyond”) officially defines “Artificial Intelligence and Communication” as one of the six major usage scenarios and an overarching design principle for IMT-2030.
- Integrating AI into the Radio Interface: WP 5D is actively developing technical performance requirements (TPRs) and evaluation criteria for proposed 6G radio interface technologies (RITs) that inherently incorporate AI/Machine Learning (ML). This includes work on:
- AI-enabled air interface design: This involves the physical layer, potentially moving towards AI-native physical (PHY) layers that can dynamically adapt waveforms and network parameters in real-time, rather than relying on predefined, static configurations.
- AI-driven resource management: AI/ML algorithms will be crucial for real-time optimization of spectral and energy efficiency, managing complex traffic, and ensuring Quality of Service (QoS).
- Enabling AI-Driven Services: The framework for IMT-2030 is designed to support the full lifecycle of AI components, from data collection and model training to deployment and performance monitoring, enabling new AI-driven services and applications directly within the network infrastructure.
- Establishing a Formal Timeline: WP 5D has established a clear timeline for 6G standardization, with specific stages for vision, requirements, evaluation methodology, and specifications. This structured approach ensures that all proposed RITs/SRITs are evaluated against the new AI-native requirements, promoting global alignment and preventing AI from becoming a fragmented, proprietary solution.
- Stage 1 (Vision): Completed in June 2023.
- Stage 2 (Requirements & Evaluation): Targeted for completion in 2026.
- Stage 3 (Specifications): Expected by the end of 2030.
- Purpose: AI is integral to the entire network lifecycle, from initial design and deployment to autonomous operation and service creation.
- Integration Level: Intelligence is embedded across all layers of the network stack, including the physical layer (air interface), control plane, and data plane.
- Scope: AI enables core functionalities such as real-time self-optimization, self- healing capabilities, and dynamic resource allocation, rather than static, predefined configurations.
- Outcome: The creation of a fully cognitive, self-managing, and highly adaptable “intelligence fabric” capable of supporting advanced use cases like real-time holographic communication, digital twins, and autonomous systems with ultra-low latency.
| Feature | 5G (IMT-2020) | 6G (IMT-2030) |
|---|---|---|
| AI Role | Optimization tool (overlay) | Foundational and native element |
| Network Operation | Manual configuration with AI assistance | Autonomous and self-managing |
| Air Interface | Human-designed with some ML optimization | AI/ML-designed and managed |
| Complexity Management | Relies on standard protocols | Manages complexity through embedded AI/ML |
| Services Supported | Enhanced mobile broadband, basic IoT | Integrated AI & Communication, sensing, holographic comms |
–>By embedding AI into the fundamental design principles and technical requirements of IMT-2030, ITU-R WP 5D is ensuring that 6G is an AI-native network capable of self-management, self-optimization, and supporting a vast ecosystem of AI applications, a significant shift from the supplementary role AI played in 5G.
- Agentic-AI Core (A-Core): Huawei unveiled a blueprint for a 6G core network (which will be specified by 3GPP and NOT ITU) where services are managed by specialized AI agents using a large-scale network AI model called “NetGPT”. This allows the network to program, update, and execute its own control procedures automatically without human intervention, based on natural language instructions.
- Network Architecture Redesign: Huawei proposes the NET4AI system architecture, a service-oriented design that moves beyond the 5G service-based architecture. It introduces a dedicated data plane (DP) to handle the massive volume of data generated by AI and sensing services, enabling flexible and efficient many-to-many data flow for distributed learning and inference.
- Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC): A core pillar of Huawei’s 6G work is the native integration of sensing with communication. This allows the network to use radio waves for high-resolution sensing, localization, and imaging, creating a “digital twin” of the physical world. The large volume of data collected from sensing then serves as a source for AI model training and real-time environmental monitoring.
- Distributed Machine Learning: Huawei researches deep-edge architecture to enable massive, distributed, and collaborative machine learning (ML). This includes the development of frameworks like a two-level learning architecture that combines federated learning (FL) and split learning (SL) to optimize computing resources and ensure data privacy by keeping raw data local to devices.
- AI as a Service (AIaaS): The 6G network is designed to provide AI capabilities as a service, allowing the training and inference of large AI models to be distributed across the network (edge and cloud). This offers low-latency performance and access to rich data for AI-driven applications like collaborative robotics and autonomous driving.
- Energy Efficiency and Sustainability: The company is researching how native AI capabilities can improve overall energy efficiency by up to 100 times compared to 5G. This involves smart energy control, dynamic resource scaling, and optimizing communication paths for lower power consumption.
- Standardization and White Papers: Huawei is actively contributing to global 6G discussions and standardization bodies like the ITU-R, sharing its vision through publications such as the book 6G: The Next Horizon – From Connected People and Things to Connected Intelligence and various technical white papers. The goal is to define the technical specifications and use cases for 6G that will drive industry-wide innovation by around 2030.
References:
https://www.ericsson.com/en/reports-and-papers/white-papers/ai-native
Roles of 3GPP and ITU-R WP 5D in the IMT 2030/6G standards process
AI wireless and fiber optic network technologies; IMT 2030 “native AI” concept
ITU-R WP5D IMT 2030 Submission & Evaluation Guidelines vs 6G specs in 3GPP Release 20 & 21
ITU-R WP 5D Timeline for submission, evaluation process & consensus building for IMT-2030 (6G) RITs/SRITs
ITU-R WP 5D reports on: IMT-2030 (“6G”) Minimum Technology Performance Requirements; Evaluation Criteria & Methodology
AI wireless and fiber optic network technologies; IMT 2030 “native AI” concept
Highlights of 3GPP Stage 1 Workshop on IMT 2030 (6G) Use Cases
Should Peak Data Rates be specified for 5G (IMT 2020) and 6G (IMT 2030) networks?
GSMA Vision 2040 study identifies spectrum needs during the peak 6G era of 2035–2040
Highlights and Summary of the 2025 Brooklyn 6G Summit
NGMN: 6G Key Messages from a network operator point of view
Nokia and Rohde & Schwarz collaborate on AI-powered 6G receiver years before IMT 2030 RIT submissions to ITU-R WP5D
Verizon’s 6G Innovation Forum joins a crowded list of 6G efforts that may conflict with 3GPP and ITU-R IMT-2030 work
Nokia Bell Labs and KDDI Research partner for 6G energy efficiency and network resiliency
Deutsche Telekom: successful completion of the 6G-TakeOff project with “3D networks”
Market research firms Omdia and Dell’Oro: impact of 6G and AI investments on telcos
Qualcomm CEO: expect “pre-commercial” 6G devices by 2028
Ericsson and e& (UAE) sign MoU for 6G collaboration vs ITU-R IMT-2030 framework
KT and LG Electronics to cooperate on 6G technologies and standards, especially full-duplex communications
Highlights of Nokia’s Smart Factory in Oulu, Finland for 5G and 6G innovation
Nokia sees new types of 6G connected devices facilitated by a “3 layer technology stack”
Rakuten Symphony exec: “5G is a failure; breaking the bank; to the extent 6G may not be affordable”
India’s TRAI releases Recommendations on use of Tera Hertz Spectrum for 6G
New ITU report in progress: Technical feasibility of IMT in bands above 100 GHz (92 GHz and 400 GHz)
European Commission’s Digital Networks Act to restructure European telecom regulations with indefinite duration spectrum licenses
The European Commission’s forthcoming Digital Networks Act (DNA) aims to restructure the regulatory framework for the telecommunications sector in Europe to stimulate investment. The act indicates the European Commission is avoiding a mandatory levy system or new enforceable duties specifically targeting major tech firms. Instead, the proposal advocates for a voluntary cooperation framework where the largest online providers would engage in discussions moderated by the Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC), which comprises national telecom regulators.
A key component of this revamp, outlined in a draft document reviewed by Reuters, includes the potential allocation of lucrative radio spectrum licenses to telecom providers for an indefinite duration. The proposed legislation, scheduled for presentation by EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen on January 20th, suggests that licenses without time limits could foster a more functional secondary market for spectrum trading and leasing.
To prevent spectrum hoarding, EU regulators have suggested implementing “use-it-or-share-it or lose-it” conditions and specific roll-out obligations, ensuring the resource remains actively utilized and accessible to efficient competitors. The document said: “Spectrum usage rights shall be in principle granted for an unlimited duration….Sufficiently long duration of rights of use of radio spectrum should increase investment predictability to contribute to faster network roll-out and better services, as well as stability to support radio spectrum trading and leasing.”
The draft Digital Networks Act also addresses market dominance by suggesting that companies identified as having significant market power in one specific market could also be designated as such in closely related markets. This designation would subject them to stringent obligations, including enhanced transparency, non-discrimination requirements, and potentially price controls, cost accounting, or accounting separation.
This cooperative approach aligns with the Commission’s prior stance on “network fees.” A July 2025 policy analysis concluded that mandating large online platforms to pay network fees was not a viable mechanism for financing 5G and broadband infrastructure deployment. Nonetheless, the reported DNA draft introduces measures that could significantly impact telecom operators and national regulators. These include addressing spectrum license durations, sales conditions, and a proposed pricing methodology intended to guide national regulators during spectrum auctions—a sensitive area for member states given the substantial revenues generated by these auctions. Furthermore, the text is expected to provide EU-level guidance on fiber infrastructure rollout. A noted element is flexibility regarding the 2030 objective for replacing legacy copper networks; governments may be granted deadline extensions if they can demonstrate a lack of readiness.
Advocates for stronger EU harmonization argue that a unified market is essential for creating viable pan-European investment models, particularly for high-capacity fixed networks and future mobile technologies. Industry groups have consistently called for longer, more predictable spectrum licensing and consistent award conditions across the EU, arguing that national divergences impede deployment and escalate costs.
Critics of increased centralization caution that the DNA could facilitate a transfer of powers away from national regulators and governments.
The Reuters reporting suggests some national regulators may perceive the Commission’s planned interventions in spectrum policy and rollout guidance as a “power grab,” as spectrum management has traditionally remained a core national competence within the existing EU framework. Civil society organizations have raised concerns that attempts to restructure telecom market rules might compromise net neutrality principles or encourage commercial agreements that influence traffic management practices.
The DNA proposal is set against the backdrop of recent major EU digital legislation, including the Digital Services Act (DSA) and Digital Markets Act (DMA). To avoid repeating US criticism that EU rules disproportionately target US-based tech companies, the DNA appears designed to place the largest platforms within a cooperative, rather than compulsory, regime, while focusing binding measures on the connectivity sector’s regulatory architecture.
For large online services, the voluntary framework presents questions regarding incentives and enforcement. While a “best practices” code moderated by regulators can facilitate technical dialogue on issues like network resilience and traffic management, it inherently lacks hard obligations or penalties for non-compliance. Upon official publication, the Commission’s proposal will enter the EU’s ordinary legislative procedure. Core points of contention—including the balance between EU coordination and national discretion on spectrum, and the scope of any obligations placed on large digital firms—will be negotiated by member states in the Council and the European Parliament in the coming months.
If the reported draft details are confirmed, the Digital Networks Act signifies a strategic pivot: moving away from compelling Big Tech to directly finance networks and towards reshaping the existing telecom rulebook, spectrum practices, and infrastructure targets to unlock investment. The legislative negotiations will determine whether this combination is sufficient to accelerate infrastructure deployment without reigniting net neutrality disputes or national sovereignty arguments.
A July 2025 joint statement by consumer and civil society groups urged the Commission to preserve robust net neutrality within the DNA and voiced concerns regarding proposals linked to the “fair share” debate, including ideas for dispute-resolution systems between telecom operators and online services. Hence, Europe’s commitment to the principle of net neutrality is reaffirmed, mandating equal treatment for all Internet traffic by operators, a stance maintained despite industry calls for a less restrictive regulatory environment.
References:
https://eutoday.net/digital-networks-act-draft/
StrandConsult Analysis: European Commission second 5G Cybersecurity Toolbox report
European Commission DESI report reveals broadband network status is lagging
EU Commissioner outlines strategic direction for European Satellite Communications System
European Union plan for LEO satellite internet system
India’s COAI joins 4 European telcos in demanding OTT players pay to use their networks
57% of European homes can now get FTTH/B internet access; >50% growth forecast over next 5 years
Dell’Oro: Fixed Wireless Access revenues +10% in 2025 & will continue to grow 10% annually through 2029
Additional highlights from the Fixed Wireless Access Infrastructure and CPE Advanced Research Report:
- Total FWA subscriptions, which include residential, SMB, and large enterprises, are expected to grow steadily, surpassing 191 million by 2029.
- 5G Sub-6GHz and mmWave units will dominate the global residential CPE market.
The Dell’Oro Group Fixed Wireless Access Infrastructure and CPE Report includes 5-year market forecasts for FWA CPE (Residential and Enterprise) and RAN infrastructure, segmented by technology, including 802.11/Other, 4G LTE, CBRS, 5G sub-6GHz, 5G mmWave, and 60GHz technologies. The report also includes regional forecasts for FWA subscriptions, including for both residential and enterprise markets, with the enterprise subscriptions segmented by SMB and Large Enterprise. To purchase this report, please contact us by email at [email protected].
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Independent Analysis via Perplexity.ai:
Fixed Wireless Access Schematic Diagrams
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Demand-side drivers:
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Rising demand for high‑speed home and enterprise broadband, including video streaming, gaming, and cloud/SaaS, in areas poorly served by DSL or legacy cable.
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Customer appetite for quick‑install, no‑truck‑roll broadband that can be activated using wireless CPE instead of waiting for fiber construction.
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Growing need for reliable connectivity for remote work, distance learning, and SME digitization, especially in suburban and rural regions.
Supply-side / operator economics:
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Ability to leverage existing 4G LTE macro grids and sub‑6 GHz spectrum, with incremental capex mainly in CPE and software rather than full new access builds.
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Refarming of LTE spectrum and overlay of 5G NR on the same bands allows operators to run both mobile broadband and FWA on a common RAN/core.
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Attractive ROI relative to fiber in low‑density areas, since one macro site at sub‑6 GHz can cover large rural or ex‑urban footprints.
Technology and spectrum factors (4G & sub‑6 GHz 5G):
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4G LTE coverage ubiquity: years of investment mean LTE already reaches most urban, suburban, and many rural markets, making LTE‑FWA immediately deployable.
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Sub‑6 GHz 5G propagation: better penetration through buildings and walls than higher bands, enabling more reliable indoor FWA without extensive outdoor CPE alignment.
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Massive MIMO and beamforming on sub‑6 GHz bands increase sector capacity and improve non‑line‑of‑sight performance, which is critical for FWA quality at cell edge.
Competitive and regulatory drivers:
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Mobile operators using FWA to attack cable and DSL bases; in several markets FWA contributes a high share of net broadband additions, pressuring incumbents on price and speed.
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Government rural‑broadband programs and subsidies (e.g., U.S. RDOF‑type initiatives) encourage use of FWA as a cost‑effective tool to close the digital divide.
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Regulatory allocation of additional mid‑band and sub‑6 GHz spectrum (e.g., 3–4 GHz bands) increases usable capacity and supports scaling FWA to millions of homes.
Market growth indicators:
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FWA market value is growing at double‑digit CAGRs, with 4G still a large share today but 5G FWA projected to dominate new subscriptions by the late 2020s.
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Sub‑6 GHz FWA gateways and CPE are a rapidly expanding device segment, driven by operator deployments targeting residential and SME broadband.
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References:
https://www.delloro.com/news/fwa-infrastructure-and-cpe-spending-will-remain-above-10-billion-annually-through-2029/
Fiber and Fixed Wireless Access are the fastest growing fixed broadband technologies in the OECD
Ookla: FWA Speed Test Results for big 3 U.S. Carriers & Wireless Connectivity Performance at Busy Airports
Point Topic: Global Broadband Subscribers in Q2 2025: 5G FWA, DSL, satellite and FTTP
Aviat Networks and Intracom Telecom partner to deliver 5G mmWave FWA in North America
T-Mobile’s growth trajectory increases: 5G FWA, Metronet acquisition and MVNO deals with Charter & Comcast
Dell’Oro: 4G and 5G FWA revenue grew 7% in 2024; MRFR: FWA worth $182.27B by 2032
Latest Ericsson Mobility Report talks up 5G SA networks and FWA
Highlights of Qualcomm 5G Fixed Wireless Access Platform Gen 3; FWA and Cisco converged mobile core network
Ericsson: Over 300 million Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) connections by 2028
China ITU filing to put ~200K satellites in low earth orbit while FCC authorizes 7.5K additional Starlink LEO satellites
- Purpose: The planned systems are intended to provide global broadband connectivity, data relay, and positioning services, directly competing with U.S. efforts like SpaceX’s Starlink network.
- Filing Entities: The primary filings were submitted by the state-backed Institute of Radio Spectrum Utilization and Technological Innovation, along with other commercial and state-owned companies like China Mobile and Shanghai Spacecom.
- Status: These filings are an initial step in a long international regulatory process and serve as a claim to limited spectrum and orbital slots. They do not guarantee all satellites will ultimately be built or launched. The actual deployment will be a gradual process over many years.
- Context: The move is part of an escalating “space race” to dominate the LEO environment. Early filings are crucial for securing priority access to orbital resources and avoiding signal interference. The sheer scale of the Chinese proposal would, if realized, dwarf most other planned constellations.
- Regulations: Under ITU rules, operators must deploy a certain percentage of the satellites within seven years of the initial filing to retain their rights.
- Shanghai Yuanxin (Qianfan), currently China’s most advanced LEO satellite operator, has submitted a regulatory request for an additional 1,296 satellites.
- Telecommunications giant China Mobile is planning two separate constellations totaling 2,664 satellites.
- ChinaSat, the established state-owned satellite provider, is focusing on a 24-satellite medium-Earth orbit (MEO) system.
- GalaxySpace, a private satellite manufacturer based in Beijing, has applied for 187 satellites, and China Telecom has applied for 12.
Image Credit: Klaus Ohlenschlaeger/Alamy Stock Photo
“This gives SpaceX what they need for the next couple of years of operation. They’re launching a bit over 3,000 satellites a year, so 7,500 satellites being authorized is potentially enough for SpaceX to do what they want to do until late 2027,” said Tim Farrar, satellite analyst and president at TMF Associates.
SpaceX has plans for a larger D2D satellite constellation that would use the AWS-4 and H-block spectrum it is acquiring from EchoStar. It is awaiting FCC approval for the US$17 billion deal, but the spectrum is not expected to be transferred until the end of November 2027.
The FCC noted that the changes will allow the Starlink system to serve more customers and deliver “gigabit speed service.” Along with permission for another tranche of satellites, the FCC has set new parameters for frequency use and lower orbit altitudes. The modified authorizations will also apply to new satellites to be launched.
Starlink’s LEO satellite network competitors are Amazon Leo, OneWeb and AST Space Mobile.
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References:
U.S. BEAD overhaul to benefit Starlink/SpaceX at the expense of fiber broadband providers
Huge significance of EchoStar’s AWS-4 spectrum sale to SpaceX
Telstra selects SpaceX’s Starlink to bring Satellite-to-Mobile text messaging to its customers in Australia
SpaceX launches first set of Starlink satellites with direct-to-cell capabilities
SpaceX has majority of all satellites in orbit; Starlink achieves cash-flow breakeven
Amazon Leo (formerly Project Kuiper) unveils satellite broadband for enterprises; Competitive analysis with Starlink
NBN selects Amazon Project Kuiper over Starlink for LEO satellite internet service in Australia
GEO satellite internet from HughesNet and Viasat can’t compete with LEO Starlink in speed or latency
Amazon launches first Project Kuiper satellites in direct competition with SpaceX/Starlink
Vodafone and Amazon’s Project Kuiper to extend 4G/5G in Africa and Europe
New Linux Foundation white paper: How to integrate AI applications with telecom networks using standardized CAMARA APIs and the Model Context Protocol (MCP)
The Linux Foundation’s CAMARA project [1.] released a significant white paper, “In Concert: Bridging AI Systems & Network Infrastructure through MCP: How to Build Network-Aware Intelligent Applications.” The open source software organization says, “Telco network capabilities exposed through APIs provide a large benefit for customers. By simplifying telco network complexity with APIs and making the APIs available across telco networks and countries, CAMARA enables easy and seamless access.”
Note 1. CAMARA is an open source project within the Linux Foundation to define, develop and test the APIs. CAMARA works in close collaboration with the GSMA Operator Platform Group to align API requirements and publish API definitions. Harmonization of APIs is achieved through fast and agile created working code with developer-friendly documentation. API definitions and reference implementations are free to use (Apache2.0 license).
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The white paper outlines how the Model Context Protocol (MCP) and CAMARA’s network APIs can provide AI systems with real-time network intelligence, enabling the development of more efficient and network-aware applications. This is seen as a critical step toward future autonomous networks that can manage and fix their own data discrepancies.
CAMARA facilitates the development of operator-agnostic network APIs, adhering to a “write once” paradigm to mitigate fragmentation and provide uniform access to essential network capabilities, including Quality on Demand (QoD), Device Location, Edge Discovery, and fraud prevention signals. The new technical paper details an architecture where an MCP server functions as an abstraction layer, translating CAMARA APIs into MCP-compliant “tools” that AI applications can seamlessly discover and invoke. This integration bridges the historical operational gap between AI systems and the underlying communication networks that power modern digital services. By leveraging MCP integration, AI agents can dynamically access the latest API capabilities upon release, circumventing the need for continuous code refactoring and ensuring immediate utilization of emerging network functionalities without implementation bottlenecks.
“AI agents increasingly shape the digital experiences people rely on every day, yet they operate disconnected from network capabilities – intelligence, control, and real-time source of truth,” said Herbert Damker, CAMARA TSC Chair and Lead Architect, Infrastructure Cloud at Deutsche Telekom. “CAMARA and MCP bring AI and network infrastructure into concert, securely and consistently across operators.”
The paper includes practical example scenarios for “network-aware” intelligent applications/agents, including:
- Intelligent video streaming with AI-powered quality optimization
- Banking fraud prevention using network-verified security context
- Local/edge-optimized AI deployment informed by network and edge resource conditions
In addition to the architecture and use cases, the paper outlines CAMARA’s objectives for supporting MCP, which include covering areas such as security guidelines; standardized MCP tooling for CAMARA APIs; and quality requirements and success factors needed for production-grade implementations. The white paper is available for download on the CAMARA website.
Collaboration with the Agentic AI Foundation
The release of this work aligns with a major ecosystem milestone: MCP now lives under the Linux Foundation’s newly formed Agentic AI Foundation (AAIF), a sister initiative that provides neutral, open governance for key agentic AI building blocks. The Linux Foundation announced AAIF on December 9, 2025, with founding project contributions including Anthropic’s MCP, Block’s goose, and OpenAI’s AGENTS.md. AAIF’s launch emphasizes MCP’s role as a broadly adopted standard for connecting AI models to tools, data, and applications, with more than 10,000 published MCP servers cited by the Linux Foundation and Anthropic.
“With MCP now under the Linux Foundation’s Agentic AI Foundation, developers can invest with confidence in an open, vendor-neutral standard,” said Arpit Joshipura, general manager, Networking, Edge and IoT at the Linux Foundation. “CAMARA’s work demonstrates how MCP can unlock powerful new classes of network-aware AI applications.”
“The Agentic AI Foundation calls for trustworthy infrastructure. CAMARA answers that call. As AI shifts from conversation to orchestration, agentic workflows demand synchronization with reality,” said Nick Venezia, CEO and Founder, Centillion.AI, CAMARA End User Council Representative to the TSC. “We provide the contextual lens that allows AI to verify rather than infer, moving from guessing to knowing.“
References:
https://camaraproject.org/news/
IEEE/SCU SoE May 1st Virtual Panel Session: Open Source vs Proprietary Software Running on Disaggregated Hardware
Linux Foundation creates standards for voice technology with many partners
LF Networking 5G Super Blue Print project gets 7 new members
OCP – Linux Foundation Partnership Accelerates Megatrend of Open Software running on Open Hardware
Private 5G networks move to include automation, autonomous systems, edge computing & AI operations
A new report from PrivateLTEand5G.com analyzes the rapid evolution and expansion of global private cellular networks. The market research firm states that organizations worldwide shifted decisively from Private 5G feasibility trials to large-scale, operationally-integrated deployments. The defining theme is no longer just connectivity, but intelligent automation, with private 5G – often in 5G Standalone (SA) configurations – powering sophisticated applications including autonomous vehicle fleets, AI-driven quality control, remote machinery operation, and comprehensive digital twins.
“The year 2025 marked a significant acceleration in the private cellular network market,” said Ashish Jain, Co-founder of KAIROS Pulse and PrivateLTEand5G.com. “Private network deployments are increasingly focused on enabling intelligent automation rather than simply providing connectivity. We’re seeing autonomous haulage systems in complex mining environments, AI-powered video analytics for safety, and private networks actively replacing legacy systems like Wi-Fi, DECT, and pagers in mission-critical healthcare and utilities operations.”
The report documents 70+ verified private network deployments across tens of countries, providing the granular intelligence your organization needs to navigate this rapidly evolving landscape in 2026. Industry-specific insights on key private cellular use cases:
- Manufacturing & Industrial: Smart factories deploying 5G for AI-driven quality control, digital twins, and autonomous logistics
- Ports & Logistics: Real-time cargo tracking, autonomous vehicle coordination, and crane digitalization at the world’s busiest terminals
- Transportation Infrastructure: Airports, railways, and smart mobility deploying mission-critical connectivity
- Healthcare & Education: Private networks enabling telemedicine, campus safety, and immersive learning
- Energy & Mining: Remote operations, predictive maintenance, and worker safety in extreme environments
Featured deployments span dozens of countries and showcase groundbreaking implementations such as:
- •Autonomous Operations: Aker BP’s fully autonomous private 5G on North Sea oil platforms; Air New Zealand’s drone-based automated inventory management
- AI-Driven Manufacturing: BMW’s Debrecen facility with AI quality control and 1,000 industrial robots; Hyundai’s RedCap wireless vehicle inspection technology
- Mission-Critical Replacement: Austria’s Gesundheit Burgenland replacing pagers and DECT across five hospitals; Memphis utility’s CBRS network modernizing grid operations
- Broadcast Innovation: BT’s multiple network slicing deployment for Emirates Sail Grand Prix; T-Mobile’s dedicated 5G for MLB All-Star Game
- Transportation Transformation: Deutsche Bahn’s first commercial 5G railway network; Maersk’s fleet-wide LTE across 450 ships
“While industrial sectors like manufacturing, mining, and logistics continue to lead adoption, the use cases have evolved substantially,” Jain noted. “The rise of Neutral Host networks is solving connectivity challenges for public-facing venues like stadiums and airports, while advanced 5G features like network slicing enable demanding applications such as live 4K broadcast production.”
The report emphasizes that the availability of dedicated spectrum – from CBRS in the United States to licensed bands in Europe and Asia – remains a critical enabler, providing the deterministic reliability required for autonomous and mission-critical systems being deployed.
The complete report is available for download at PrivateLTEand5G.com. The company says “it offers essential insights for enterprise technology leaders, telecom operators, system integrators, and innovation teams planning private cellular network strategies.”
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Here’s what Google Gemini has to say about recent Private 5G network developments:
- Intelligent Automation & AI Operations: The focus has moved beyond simple connectivity. Private 5G, often in Standalone (SA) configurations, is now the backbone for sophisticated applications like autonomous vehicle fleets, remote-controlled machinery, and AI-driven quality control in industries such as manufacturing and mining. AI and Machine Learning (ML) are also being used for predictive maintenance and real-time network orchestration.
- Edge Computing Integration: To support the massive data generated by IoT devices and AI applications, data processing is moving closer to the source (the edge) to reduce latency and improve efficiency. This synergy is crucial for real-time decision-making in critical operations.
- 5G-Advanced Features (3GPP Release 18): Commercialization of 5G-Advanced is underway and introduces critical industrial features, including:
- URLLC (Ultra-Reliable, Low-Latency Communications): Essential for replacing wired connections in mission-critical control systems (achieving millisecond response times).
- 5G RedCap (Reduced Capability): A cost-efficient technology for lower-power IoT and industrial sensors, bridging the gap between basic IoT needs and full 5G capabilities.
- Network Slicing: This allows enterprises to create multiple virtual networks on a single physical infrastructure, each tailored with specific performance parameters (e.g., bandwidth, latency) for different applications.
- Open RAN and Virtualization: The adoption of Open Radio Access Network (Open RAN) and virtualized RAN solutions is increasing, reducing infrastructure costs, preventing vendor lock-in, and allowing for greater vendor diversity.
- Hybrid Networks: Enterprises are increasingly combining private 5G with existing Wi-Fi 6/7 networks and public cellular coverage (neutral host systems) to provide seamless indoor and outdoor connectivity across large campuses and remote areas.
- Enhanced Security: Private 5G inherently offers better security than public networks through dedicated, isolated environments and SIM-based authentication. New solutions from companies like Palo Alto Networks and Trend Micro are focusing on extending security visibility across both IT and operational technology (OT) domains.
- Market Growth: The private 5G market is experiencing rapid acceleration, projected to grow at a CAGR of over 40% through the rest of the decade.
- Key Industries: Manufacturing, logistics, mining, utilities, and healthcare are leading the adoption, leveraging private 5G for use cases such as factory automation, connected robotics, remote patient monitoring, and autonomous vehicles.
- Regional Markets:
- North America: Dominates the market in spending and innovation, driven by spectrum access like CBRS (Citizens Broadband Radio Service).
- Asia-Pacific: The fastest-growing region, with China leading in large-scale deployments due to state-funded initiatives.
- Europe: Seeing significant interest, with countries like Germany, the UK, and Sweden allocating dedicated local spectrum for industrial use.
- Simplified Deployment: To overcome the complexity and skill shortages associated with deployments, vendors are offering “network-in-a-box” solutions and “5G-as-a-service” (5GaaS) models, which shift costs from capital expenditures (CapEx) to operational expenditures (OpEx).
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References:
https://www.privatelteand5g.com/reports/private-cellular-network-deployments-report-2026/
SNS Telecom & IT: Private 5G Market Nears Mainstream With $5 Billion Surge
SNS Telecom & IT: Private 5G and 4G LTE cellular networks for the global defense sector are a $1.5B opportunity
SNS Telecom & IT: Private 5G Network market annual spending will be $3.5 Billion by 2027
OneLayer Raises $28M Series A funding to transform private 5G networks with enhanced security
Verizon partners with Nokia to deploy large private 5G network in the UK
HPE Aruba Launches “Cloud Native” Private 5G Network with 4G/5G Small Cell Radios
Tata Consultancy Services: Critical role of Gen AI in 5G; 5G private networks and enterprise use cases
Keysight Technologies Demonstrates 3GPP Rel-19 NR-NTN Connectivity in Band n252
Keysight Technologies, Inc. has demonstrated the first end-to-end New Radio Non-Terrestrial Network (NR-NTN) connection in 3GPP band n252 under Release 19 specifications, achieved in collaboration with Samsung Electronics using Samsung’s next-generation commercial NR modem chipset (part number not stated). The live trial, conducted at CES 2026 in Las Vegas, validated satellite-to-satellite (SAT-to-SAT) mobility and cross-vendor interoperability, establishing a key milestone for direct-to-cell (D2C) satellite communications and NTN commercialization.
The successful validation of band n252 marks the first public confirmation of this spectrum band in an operational NTN system. Band n252 is expected to be a foundational component for upcoming low Earth orbit (LEO) constellations targeting global broadband and IoT coverage. This result demonstrates tangible progress toward large-scale NTN integration supporting ubiquitous, standards-based connectivity for consumers, connected vehicles, IoT devices, and critical communications.
Together with earlier demonstrations in bands n255 and n256, Keysight and Samsung have now validated all major NR-NTN FR1 frequency bands end-to-end. This consolidation enables ecosystem participants—including modem vendors, satellite network operators, and device manufacturers—to analyze cross-band mobility, inter-satellite handovers, and radio performance under consistent, controlled NTN emulation conditions.
The demonstration leveraged Keysight’s NTN Network Emulator Solutions to replicate multi-orbit LEO scenarios, emulate SAT-to-SAT mobility, and execute complete end-to-end routing while supporting live user traffic over the NTN link. When paired with Samsung’s chipset, the setup verified standards compliance, user throughput performance, and multi-vendor interoperability, providing a high-fidelity validation environment that accelerates system testing and time-to-market for NR-NTN deployments targeted for global scaling in 2026.
This integration underscores the readiness of 3GPP Release 19-compliant NTN technologies to transition from proof-of-concept trials to operational field testing, supporting the broader industry goal of realizing seamless terrestrial–non-terrestrial 5G networks within the Rel-19 framework and paving the way for future 6G NTN evolution.
For network operators, device OEMs, and satellite providers, this consolidation of NTN FR1 coverage provides a reference environment to evaluate cross‑band handovers, inter‑satellite mobility, and multi‑vendor interoperability before field deployment. By moving live NR‑NTN testing with commercial‑grade silicon into an emulated LEO constellation environment, the solution is positioned to reduce integration risk, compress trial timelines, and accelerate commercialization of direct‑to‑cell NTN services anticipated to scale from 2026.
Peng Cao, Vice President and General Manager of Keysight’s Wireless Test Group, Keysight, said:
“Together with Samsung’s System LSI Business, we are demonstrating the live NTN connection in 3GPP band n252 using commercial-grade modem silicon with true SAT-to-SAT mobility. With n252, n255, and n256 now validated across NTN, the ecosystem is clearly accelerating toward bringing direct-to-cell satellite connectivity to mass-market devices. Keysight’s NTN emulation environment enables chipset and device makers a controlled way to prove multi-satellite mobility, interoperability, and user-level performance, helping the industry move from concept to commercialization.”
Resources:
About Keysight Technologies:
At Keysight (NYSE: KEYS), we inspire and empower innovators to bring world-changing technologies to life. As an S&P 500 company, we’re delivering market-leading design, emulation, and test solutions to help engineers develop and deploy faster, with less risk, throughout the entire product life cycle. We’re a global innovation partner enabling customers in communications, industrial automation, aerospace and defense, automotive, semiconductor, and general electronics markets to accelerate innovation to connect and secure the world. Learn more at Keysight Newsroom and www.keysight.com.
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References:
https://www.telecoms.com/satellite/samsung-and-keysight-show-off-continuous-ntn-connectivity
Telecom operators investing in Agentic AI while Self Organizing Network AI market set for rapid growth
Telecom companies are planning to use Agentic AI [1.] for customer experience and network automation. A recent RADCOM survey shows 71% of network operators plan to deploy agentic AI in 2026, while 14% have already begun, prioritizing areas that directly influence trust and customer satisfaction: security and fraud prevention (57%) and customer service and support (56%). The top use cases are automated customer complaint resolution and autonomous fault resolution.
Operators are betting on agentic AI to remove friction before customers feel it, with the highest-value use cases reflecting this shift, including:
- 57% – automated customer complaint resolution
- 54% – autonomous fault resolution before it impacts service
- 52% – predicting experience to prevent churn
This technology is shifting networks from simply detecting issues to preventing them before customers notice. In contact centers, 2026 is expected to see a rise in human and AI agent collaboration to improve efficiency and customer service.
Note 1. Agentic AI refers to autonomous artificial intelligence systems that can perceive, reason, plan, and act independently to achieve complex goals with minimal human intervention, going beyond simple command-response to manage multi-step tasks, use various tools, and adapt to new information for proactive automation in dynamic environments. These intelligent agents function like digital coworkers, coordinating internally and with other systems to execute sophisticated workflows.
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ResearchAndMarkets.com has just published a “Self-Organizing Network Artificial Intelligence (AI) Global Market Report 2025.” The market research firm says that the self-organizing network AI [2.] is forecast to expand from $5.19 billion in 2024 to $6.18 billion in 2025, at a CAGR of 19.2%. This surge is driven by the integration of machine learning and AI in telecom networks, smart network management investment, and the growing demand for features like self-healing and self-optimization, as well as predictive maintenance technologies.driven by the expansion of 5G, increasing automation demands, and AI integration for network optimization. Opportunities include AI-driven RRM and predictive maintenance. Asia-Pacific emerges as the fast-growing region, boosting telecom innovations amid global trade shifts.
Note 2. Self-organizing network AI leverages software, hardware, and services to dynamically optimize and manage telecom networks, applicable across various network types and deployment modes. The market encompasses a broad range of solutions, from network optimization software to AI-driven planning products, underscoring its expansive potential.
Looking further ahead, the market is expected to reach $12.32 billion by 2029, with a CAGR of 18.8%. Key drivers during this period include heightened demand for automation, increased 5G deployments, and growing network densification, accompanied by rising data traffic and subscriber numbers. Trends such as AI-driven network automation advancements, machine learning integration for real-time optimization, and the rise of generative AI for analytics are reshaping the landscape.
The expansion of 5G networks plays a pivotal role in propelling this growth. These networks, characterized by high-speed data and ultra-low latency, significantly enhance the capabilities of self-organizing network AI. The integration facilitates real-time data processing, supporting automation, optimization, and predictive maintenance, thereby improving service quality and user experience. A notable development in 2023 saw UK outdoor 5G coverage rise to 85-93%, reflecting growing demand and technological advancement.
Huawei Technologies and other major tech companies, are pioneering innovative solutions like AI-driven radio resource management (RRM), which optimizes network performance and enhances user experience. These solutions rely on AI and machine learning for dynamic spectrum and network resource management. For instance, Huawei’s AI Core Network, introduced at MWC 2025, marks a substantial leap in intelligent telecommunications, integrating AI into core systems for seamless connectivity and real-time decision-making.
Strategic acquisitions are also shaping the market, exemplified by Amdocs Limited acquiring TEOCO Corporation in 2023 to bolster its network optimization and analytics capabilities. This acquisition aims to enhance end-to-end network intelligence and operational efficiency.
Leading players in the market include Huawei, Cisco Systems Inc., Qualcomm Incorporated, and many others, driving innovation and competition. Europe held the largest market share in 2024, with Asia-Pacific poised to be the fastest-growing region through the forecast period.
References:
Operator Priorities for 2026 and Beyond: Data, Automation, Customer Experience
https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/self-organizing-network-artificial-intelligence-105400706.html
Ericsson integrates agentic AI into its NetCloud platform for self healing and autonomous 5G private network
Agentic AI and the Future of Communications for Autonomous Vehicles (V2X)
IDC Report: Telecom Operators Turn to AI to Boost EBITDA Margins
Omdia: How telcos will evolve in the AI era
Palo Alto Networks and Google Cloud expand partnership with advanced AI infrastructure and cloud security
