What new technology is out for telecoms in 2025

 

 

 

 

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:

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Key New Technologies & Trends

1. 5G-Advanced (aka “5G-A” / Release 18 of 3GPP)

   • Enhancements to 5G networks regarding uplink, latency, energy efficiency, spectrum usage. Open RAN Policy Coalition+3huawei+3ericsson.com+3

   • 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

   • 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

2. Edge Computing & Edge AI

   • 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

   • 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

3. Open RAN / Network APIs & Programmable Networks

   • 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

   • 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

4. Network Slicing & SLA-based Services

   • 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

5. Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTNs), HAPS, Satellite & Stratospheric Platforms

   • Using satellites or high-altitude platforms to extend coverage in remote or difficult areas. Tom's Hardware+2The Economic Times+2

   • 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

6. AI & ML throughout Telecom Operations

   • 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

   • Also for customer experience: chatbots, personalization of services / bundles, fraud detection etc. Huawei BLOG+1

7. Private / Captive 5G Networks

   • Enterprises (factories, logistics hubs, campuses) increasingly want their own dedicated 5G networks for reliability, security, and performance. LinkedIn+2The Times of India+2

8. Cloud-Native Network Functions & Virtualization

   • Moving core network functions into the cloud, using containers / microservices, allowing more scalability, flexibility and cost efficiency. MYVI+2Reddit+2

9. Enhanced Fiber and High-Speed Backhaul / PON Technologies

   • 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

10. Security, Privacy, and Resilience

    • 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

• More immersive / real-time applications: AR/VR/XR, remote robotics, remote surgery (or parts of it), autonomous vehicles.

• Smart cities, logistics, industrial automation getting more reliable connectivity with shorter delays.

• Digital twin models, analytics in real-time.

• Enterprises can tailor networks to their needs (private networks, slicing) rather than purely consumer oriented.

• Bridging connectivity gaps via non-terrestrial means (satellites / HAPS) in rural / remote / disaster areas.

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Challenges / Constraints

• Cost: Upgrading hardware, deploying densified networks, deploying fiber, deploying edge datacenters etc.

• Regulation & Spectrum: Licensing, interference, cross-border issues particularly for satellite / stratospheric platforms.

• Power consumption & energy efficiency — as networks do more real-time processing / AI, energy demands increase.

• Interoperability and standardization (especially for Open RAN, network slicing, AI in networks) to avoid fragmentation.

• Security and privacy concerns escalate.

• Device compatibility: New features will require devices that support 5G-A, NTNs etc.

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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?