MWC 2025 Wrap-Up

The Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2025 in Barcelona has once again set the tone for the future of telecoms and digital transformation. With over 109,000 attendees from 205 countries, the event showcased groundbreaking innovations, strategic partnerships, and forward-thinking industry discussions.

As a leading player in the digital transformation space, we at Tallence were on-site to engage with industry leaders, explore the latest trends, and uncover the key takeaways shaping the future of telecoms. Our expertise in AI-driven solutions, network transformation, and enterprise monetization enables us to actively contribute to this ongoing evolution. Here’s our breakdown of the most important insights from MWC 2025.

The telecom industry has moved beyond long-standing debates around fair share, over-the-top (OTT) services, and legacy infrastructure concerns. Instead, discussions centered around AI’s growing role in driving efficiencies and reshaping business models.

Operators like Orange Group anticipate significant cost savings, with AI-driven efficiencies projected to save €200 million in 2024 alone. Meanwhile, major network players such as Nokia (with its ‘Network as a Code’ initiative) and Ericsson (through ‘Aduna’) are pushing the industry towards a new era of network API aggregation and implementation.

China Mobile’s AI+ Network is challenging conventional network capabilities, demonstrating how AI can enhance performance beyond anything previously imagined. Moreover, telecom companies are redefining themselves as technology companies (TechCos), shifting from cost-heavy operations to revenue-generating ecosystems. Deutsche Telekom, for example, is actively working to regain consumer relevance beyond connectivity, while operators like SK Telecom and e& (Etisalat) are expanding into new industries.

One standout innovation was Deutsche Telekom’s AI-powered smartphone concept. This device aims to replace traditional app navigation with an intuitive voice-controlled interface powered by generative AI—a bold step towards simplifying user experiences.

MWC 2025 confirmed what many in the industry already suspected: AI is not just an emerging trend—it is now a fundamental pillar of telecom operations. From AI-driven automation to autonomous networks and customer-facing applications, AI’s role in telco IT was a major theme across presentations and product showcases.

A key highlight was the increased focus on agentic AI, where AI-powered agents are integrated into telecom software solutions to enhance automation and improve user interaction. Meanwhile, hyperscalers continue to advocate for standardized, scalable solutions rather than bespoke, operator-specific models. Additionally, industry initiatives are accelerating the development of Level 4 (L4) highly autonomous networks, bringing self-optimizing networks closer to reality.

Another noteworthy trend was the rise of ultrathin smartphones. Samsung unveiled its Galaxy S25 Edge prototype—an incredibly slim device that combines cutting-edge design with robust functionality. These innovations underline how consumer hardware is evolving alongside network advancements.

The conversation around 5G core revolved around operational efficiency, with a strong emphasis on automation and autonomous networking. Huawei introduced its Agentic AI core, designed to help communication service providers (CSPs) monetize intelligence while improving customer experiences.

Meanwhile, Telefónica and AWS are collaborating to leverage automation, high-capacity user plane functions (UPF), and enhanced security measures. BroadForward announced new CSP deals, deploying its BFX Unified Signalling Core to enhance network flexibility during the transition to 5G standalone (SA).

Although voice services were not in the spotlight, they remain strategically important. Mavenir and Nokia continue to support IMS transformations, moving cloud-native voice services forward. The transition to VoLTE and next-gen voice solutions is also gaining traction, ensuring legacy networks can be retired without disrupting services.

RAN (Radio Access Networks) is undergoing a rapid transformation, driven by AI, virtualization, and open architectures. The AI-RAN Alliance has expanded to over 60 members within a year, highlighting the industry’s commitment to AI-enhanced RAN capabilities.

AI’s role in RAN is becoming clearer, with tangible use cases such as improved uplink performance, energy efficiency, and enhanced MIMO and beamforming. Virtualization is also gaining momentum, with multiple xPU options (GPU, GPU+CPU, CPU) being explored to optimize resource orchestration.

Open RAN developments were another major theme, with new alliances forming and vendors like Rakuten launching open RAN licensing programs. Cloud RAN pilots from operators like Bell, DOCOMO, and Telefónica signal a shift towards more flexible and scalable RAN architectures.

Looking ahead, 6G discussions have already started, with a strong focus on avoiding the pitfalls of 5G. Industry leaders are emphasizing the importance of the upper 6GHz spectrum, integrated sensing and communication (ISAC), and ubiquitous connectivity as foundational elements of next-generation networks.

While the enterprise market may not have been the primary focus at MWC 2025, it is becoming increasingly serious about monetization and innovation. Major partnerships, such as Telenor’s collaboration with NVIDIA on an AI factory and Verizon-Singtel-Skylo’s work on Non-Terrestrial IoT (NTN IoT), signal new directions for enterprise telecom applications.

Network API adoption is also accelerating, with financial services among the first sectors to benefit. U.S. telecom operators announced number verification and SIM swap APIs in partnership with Aduna, while Deutsche Telekom teamed up with Nokia to drive API adoption.

Network slicing is shifting from theory to practice, as 5G SA adoption and network asset utilization create new business opportunities. However, the window for first-mover advantage is closing fast—companies must act now to secure the right market positions and business models.

Consumer 5G took a practical turn at MWC 2025, with hybrid models (5G-SA combined with network slicing) gaining traction. AI is increasingly used for network design, optimization, and management, while CapEx-intensive deployment models are giving way to managed services—59% of enterprises planning private 5G networks now prefer a managed model.

New verticals such as utilities and defense are emerging as key adopters of private 5G, while neutral host models are expected to shape future products and services. However, certain areas still require alignment, such as the convergence of network APIs with private 5G and the lack of tailored solutions for SMEs.