5G SA: Is it too late for the slow movers to monetise?
In this annual update to our Telco Cloud Deployment Tracker we focus on 5G core, vRAN/open RAN and cloud-native container orchestration platform deployments by telcos.
Research
Defining the future telco — and what it means for operators and their partners
Telco AI data centre forecast: Where will the compute live in the AI era?
Our telco AI data centre forecast examines the rise of AI factories alongside the evolution of network edge infrastructure, showing how AI-driven demand is accelerating growth in telco compute capacity. How will data sovereignty requirements and new industrial AI applications reshape the telco compute capacity landscape?
The rise of AI at SK Telecom
Following early AI investment, in 2021 SK Telecom announced its intention to become an AI company for the AI era. What actions has SK Telecom undertaken to this end? What role is AI playing across its business? And is AI paying off?
Navigating sovereign AI: Telco strategies, trade-offs and pathways
As AI and national sovereignty increasingly intersect, telecoms operators face both opportunity and risk. This report sets out a practical framework to help telcos determine whether, where and how to play in sovereign AI.
Breaking the RANcuffs: How operators can accelerate RAN Autonomy
RAN autonomy will not deliver impact unless technical progress and value creation advance in parallel. Our dual-axis framework will help operators to assess where they are today, identify constraints across the lifecycle and the investments most likely to scale.
Understanding the importance of neutral host networks
Neutral host networks play an essential and growing role in ensuring indoor coverage of mobile networks. This report examines the evolving business models and technology of this market, and how it relates to private mobile networks.
Silicon: Where should operators place their bets?
The telecom industry is going through a period of material change in respect to the silicon it utilises. This report examines the key dynamics and considerations in the locations where processing demand is at its highest: the RAN and AI factories.
Agentic AI: Making operator data AI ready
To deliver on their AI visions (especially agentic AI), operators must transform their data foundations and capabilities to avoid “garbage in, garbage out”. We identify the steps operators can take to get their data ready for AI on the journey towards level 4+ autonomy.
Revisiting the connected home
With recent advances in AI, smart homes may actually become smart, generating considerable value for homeowners, telcos and a broader ecosystem of device and solution providers.
Securing the smart home: Lessons from leading telcos
As connected devices proliferate in the home, telcos are exploring how to leverage their ownership of the gateway, customer trust and network visibility to play a meaningful role in consumer smart home cybersecurity.
Enterprise AI: Practical steps for telcos to address customer needs
In the first report in this series we identified the most promising opportunities for telcos to serve enterprise AI needs. This follow-up research focuses on the practical steps telcos must take to execute, differentiate and deliver impact for enterprises adopting AI.
Lightstorm’s SmartNet and Polarin – NaaS case study
Welcome to this series analysing innovative B2B offerings by leading telcos worldwide. In this second edition, we turn our focus to a successful NaaS player in India.
Telefónica – Autonomous networks case study
Welcome to this series analysing network autonomy efforts by leading telcos worldwide. In this second edition, we put the spotlight on a leading multinational operator in the journey toward autonomous networks.
MWC Doha 2025 had AI at its heart
Regional AI ambition was at the heart of the Middle East’s inaugural MWC event, backed up by a new LLM and many large investments. But the region is still early in its journey, and must focus on laying fundamental groundwork if it is to see the successful adoption of AI.
What is the role of edge computing in an AI world?
STL Partners takes stock of the development of the edge computing ecosystem over the past five years, how AI has now reshaped the landscape and proposes its view on the future outlook of the market: including the likely winners and losers.
Perspectives 2026: 26 industry predictions for the year ahead
STL Partners’ 26 predictions for 2026, focusing on change and growth in the telco industry
AI and agents in next-generation assurance
This research examines current and future requirements for AI and ML in service assurance as telcos move towards self-healing networks supported by agentic AI.
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