Here are some of the newest / emerging telecom technologies and trends in 2025 — things being rolled out, or soon will be — plus what they enable and the challenges around them:
Key New Technologies & Trends
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5G-Advanced (aka “5G-A” / Release 18 of 3GPP)
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Enhancements to 5G networks regarding uplink, latency, energy efficiency, spectrum usage. Open RAN Policy Coalition+3huawei+3ericsson.com+3
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Example: China Telecom + Huawei’s “Intelligent Ultra Pooling Uplink” decouples and pools spectrum, time, RAT (radio access technologies), space and power resources to improve uplink & reduce latency. huawei
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AI gets more deeply embedded into the network (AI-native networks), not just for monitoring but for orchestration, dynamic resource allocation etc. Huawei BLOG+2Open RAN Policy Coalition+2
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Edge Computing & Edge AI
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Processing closer to the device is becoming more common, to support real-time applications (e.g. Industrial IoT, AR/VR, robotics). LinkedIn+2Huawei BLOG+2
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With 5G-A, the combination of edge compute + AI is a key enabler of services that require low latency & real-time interaction. Huawei BLOG+1
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Open RAN / Network APIs & Programmable Networks
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More carriers are deploying Open RAN infrastructures to reduce vendor lock-in, increase flexibility, allow multi-vendor ecosystems. Open RAN Policy Coalition+2ericsson.com+2
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Using APIs (network as code) / programmability so that services and developers can interact/configure aspects of the network (e.g. for slicing, QoS etc.) more flexibly. ericsson.com+1
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Network Slicing & SLA-based Services
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Dividing the network into virtual “slices” tailored for different application types (e.g. low latency for XR, high bandwidth for video, etc.) with associated SLA (service-level agreement). Telecoms are exploring ways to monetize differentiated experiences. Huawei BLOG+2Open RAN Policy Coalition+2
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Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTNs), HAPS, Satellite & Stratospheric Platforms
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Using satellites or high-altitude platforms to extend coverage in remote or difficult areas. Tom's Hardware+2The Economic Times+2
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SoftBank successfully tested a 5G base station in the stratosphere (airborne) delivering 5G to phones from above, which helps fill in gaps where terrestrial infrastructure is difficult. Tom's Hardware
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AI & ML throughout Telecom Operations
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From predictive maintenance (anticipating hardware or link failures before they happen), to dynamic network optimization (routing, load balancing etc.) Tele Info Today |+2Huawei BLOG+2
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Also for customer experience: chatbots, personalization of services / bundles, fraud detection etc. Huawei BLOG+1
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Private / Captive 5G Networks
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Enterprises (factories, logistics hubs, campuses) increasingly want their own dedicated 5G networks for reliability, security, and performance. LinkedIn+2The Times of India+2
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Cloud-Native Network Functions & Virtualization
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Moving core network functions into the cloud, using containers / microservices, allowing more scalability, flexibility and cost efficiency. MYVI+2Reddit+2
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Enhanced Fiber and High-Speed Backhaul / PON Technologies
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To support ever higher bandwidths (for 5G/5G-A/edge etc.), improved fiber access and backbone infrastructure are essential. New PON (Passive Optical Network) speeds (e.g. 25G PON and beyond) are being deployed in some areas. Reddit
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Security, Privacy, and Resilience
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As networks become more complex (5G, IoT, NTNs, edge), risks multiply. Telcos are investing more in zero-trust architectures, AI-driven threat detection, supply chain security. Telecom Infrastructure+1
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Impacts & Use-Cases
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More immersive / real-time applications: AR/VR/XR, remote robotics, remote surgery (or parts of it), autonomous vehicles.
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Smart cities, logistics, industrial automation getting more reliable connectivity with shorter delays.
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Digital twin models, analytics in real-time.
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Enterprises can tailor networks to their needs (private networks, slicing) rather than purely consumer oriented.
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Bridging connectivity gaps via non-terrestrial means (satellites / HAPS) in rural / remote / disaster areas.
Challenges / Constraints
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Cost: Upgrading hardware, deploying densified networks, deploying fiber, deploying edge datacenters etc.
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Regulation & Spectrum: Licensing, interference, cross-border issues particularly for satellite / stratospheric platforms.
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Power consumption & energy efficiency — as networks do more real-time processing / AI, energy demands increase.
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Interoperability and standardization (especially for Open RAN, network slicing, AI in networks) to avoid fragmentation.
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Security and privacy concerns escalate.
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Device compatibility: New features will require devices that support 5G-A, NTNs etc.
If you like, I can pull together a brief of what’s newest in the UK telecom space specifically, or forecasts for 6G to see where things are headed. Do you want that?
