It’s that time of year again – we’re off to Barcelona next week for Mobile World Congress 2025. As we did last year, our editorial team – James, Manny, Julian and Vaughan - got together to discuss the key talking points and technology trends that we expect to emerge this year.
From finding useful applications for AI amidst growing fatigue, exploring business cases for 5G, or seeing how LEO is impacting the satellite sector, here are some key questions we have ahead of MWC25.
Networks
With monetization of 5G proving a continuing challenge for operators, expect vendors at MWC25 to focus on how new network capabilities and broader technological advances can be used to drive revenues by more accurately targeting potentially profitable markets and market segments, both for businesses and consumers.
Steady, if unspectacular, progress on the rollout of standalone 5G and early deployments of 5G-Advanced are beginning to unlock the potential for differentiated services for ultra-low-latency applications such as gaming, high-quality video for event coverage, and guaranteed QoS for enterprise services.
IoT in the form of RedCap technology is also being extensively trialled, and exhibitors will be pointing to real-world applications that can exploit RedCap’s unique capabilities in commercial deployments. Expect to hear also how Wi-Fi 7 (IEEE 802.11be) can complement 5G services, particularly in the enterprise IoT market. Coverage and performance enhancements employing advanced antenna technologies and green energy solutions will also likely feature at MWC25.
Last but not least, the selective application of AI in areas that can deliver the full benefits of 5G’s capabilities will be on show, ranging from integration in networks through enhanced RAN performance and initiatives such as AI-RAN, through network automation and efficiency gains, to opening up network APIs and customer-facing applications.
Ongoing discussions around the prospects for 6G will mainly focus on anticipated technical requirements and use cases, with an emphasis on monetizing services for enterprise.
5G in Enterprise
According to the Global Mobile Suppliers Association, there are now 330 live 5G services across 126 countries, with recent launches in Africa, Asia, and Latin America driving that number up. However, only 154 operators are actively investing in 5G standalone.
We will no doubt see more innovations that rely on standalone 5G, likely through private networks and network slicing. While the technology is proving its capabilities, the real challenge lies in overcoming barriers to adoption - particularly the complexity of implementation and, above all, cost. Only when these hurdles are addressed will we see real momentum in 5G enterprise growth. Perhaps the breakthrough will come when a unicorn company sets the example. Maybe it will happen next week.
Power and Sustainability
Power, sustainability and Greentech are set to be big topics this year at MWC25. Given the growth of data centres (many AI-driven) in particular and their effect on water supply, national grids and emissions, that’s not surprising. Power innovation is clearly essential. Concepts like underwater data centres and siting data centres near unused gas flares are interesting, but what is actually happening? And is it effective?
Meanwhile there’s the more basic question of powering communications in remote areas, a topic Developing Telecoms often discusses and that we expect to hear about at MWC25. Can renewables replace diesel in base stations? Can prices be kept down? Is remote solar and wind energy a viable market for suppliers?
Finally, AI isn’t necessarily the bad guy in all this. It can speed up the process of finding ways to ensure power efficiencies in all parts of the telecoms industry. How much and how soon are the next big questions.
Satellite
It will be no surprise to see satellite under discussion at MWC: while it is one of the most longstanding connectivity technologies in the industry, the sector has undergone some seismic shifts in the past couple of years. The technology has always been ideal for connecting the remotest areas, but this typically hasn’t been financially feasible in emerging markets – but the increasing prevalence of low earth orbit (LEO) is upending this status quo, making affordable satellite connectivity more viable.
The profile of LEO fleets has risen thanks to the ubiquitous Starlink, which has snapped up licences across the world – and sent traditional satellite providers scrambling, prompting a spate of consolidation as they look to compete against its comprehensive constellation. So what do they have up their sleeves? Will direct-to-device connectivity further drive down the cost of satellite connectivity? What is the role of GEO in all this? Let’s see if the answers are forthcoming at MWC25…
