2026年电信行业：趋势观察

DATEJanuary 2026 © 2026 GSMA Intelligence The GSMA is a global organisation unifying the mobile ecosystem to discover,develop and deliver innovation foundational to positive business environments andsocietal change. Our vision is to unlock the full power of connectivity so that people,industry and society thrive. Representing mobile operators and organisations acrossthe mobile ecosystem and adjacent industries, the GSMA delivers for its membersacross three broad pillars: Connectivity for Good, Industry Services and Solutions,and Outreach. This activity includes advancing policy, tackling today’s biggestsocietal challenges, underpinning the technology and interoperability that makemobile work, and providing the world’s largest platform to convene the mobileecosystem at the MWC and M360 series of events. GSMA Intelligence is the definitive source of global mobile operator data, analysisand forecasts, and publisher of authoritative industry reports and research. Our datacovers every operator group, network and MVNO in every country worldwide – fromAfghanistan to Zimbabwe. It is the most accurate and complete set of industrymetrics available, comprising tens of millions of individual data points, updated daily. GSMA Intelligence is relied on by leading operators, vendors, regulators, financialinstitutions and third-party industry players, to support strategic decision-making andlong-term investment planning. The data is used as an industry reference point andis frequently cited by the media and by the industry itself. Our team of analysts and experts produce regular thought-leading research reportsacross a range of industry topics. We invite you to find out more atwww.gsma.com www.gsmaintelligence.com info@gsmaintelligence.com Authors Pablo IacopinoHead of Research andCommercial Content Peter Jarich,Head of GSMA Intelligence Christina PatsiouraLead AnalystAnshu GoelLead Analyst Radhika GuptaHead of Data Acquisition Cesar BacheletLead Analyst 15G and network transformation 2Spectrum 3Fixed and pay-TV markets 4IoT and enterprise markets 5Digital consumer 5G and network transformationFive trends to watch in 2026 Beyond 5G:ISAC and positioning will dominate 5G-Advanced and 6G messaging as an extension of 5G-era B2Bmonetisation strategies. Networks for AI:AI as a tool for driving network efficiencies and network performance will remain the primary focus foroperators, but expect to see progress on supporting and monetising AI usage. Cloud for (sovereign) AI:Cloud and IT technologies will capture a growing share of operator investment, partly to keepup with AI demands and sovereign AI strategies. Cloud versus resilience:Sovereign cloud services and geopolitical tensions will put network resilience at the top ofnetwork strategy agendas, with implications for cloud providers. Open RAN:Progress will continue at an incremental (rather than breakthrough) pace, driven by key geographies andperformance concerns. Beyond 5G ISAC and positioning will dominate 5G-Advanced and 6G messaging as an extension of 5G-era B2B monetisationstrategies. Description 5G-Advanced and 6G messaging began several years back, as suppliers looked to build interest and play up their expertise. Even so, momentumhas been limited. With many operators struggling to monetise 5G, it is unclear that the tide will turn in 2026. Regardless, as initial 5G-Advanceddeployments and 6G R&D programmes move forward, beyond-5G technologies will garner further attention. If 5G-Advanced and 6G are positioned as an extension of today’s 5G networks, it is only natural that beyond-5G IoT enhancements will captureoperator interest. IoT underpinned the B2B monetisation strategies that helped make the case for 5G in the first place. Positioning innovations,including integrated sensing and communications (ISAC) and added positioning accuracy, align with B2B business models. As of 2026, however,they are bolstered by an interest in tracking devices for security purposes. Implications •Operators must look at beyond-5G tech as an opportunity for service innovation. It is never easy to imagine completely new service typesor target markets. The prioritisation of use cases focused on RAN improvements and IoT suggests a view that tomorrow’s services will look a lotlike today’s. Failing to explore new business models that could be enabled by next-generation technologies could cede opportunities tocompetitors. •Technology suppliers need to demonstrate ISAC and 5G-Advanced positioning monetisation options. Both technologies have capturedoperator attention, but it is unclear how they would monetise them. Putting aside the costs involved (especially if mmWave deployment isrequired), the business model by which operators would benefit is nascent. Network equipment partners have an opportunity to stand out byshowcasing the value of this technology and how it could be used to generate returns. IoT and positioning dominate operators’ focus for beyond-5Guse c