Robotics has become a staple of the manufacturing sector, essential for maximizing productivity, ensuring quality, and reducing labor costs. As valuable as robotics are, many solutions fall short of the time-to-impact metric that manufacturers seek. Enter Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based, closed-loop automation.
The telecoms industry has hit an inflection point, with a newfound focus on computing-centric applications. This marks the era where communications alone is no longer enough for telcos to drive the revenue growth they seek. At Mobile World Congress 2025 (MWC25), ABI Research analysts observed this transformation unfolding across the exhibition floor. As the event highlighted Artificial Intelligence (AI), edge computing, and data-driven solutions over conventional hardware, the telco value chain emerged as a key area of change. Here are five compelling examples from MWC25, each revealing a piece of this industry-wide pivot.
The cloud AI market is expanding rapidly, driven by advancements in Generative Artificial Intelligence (Gen AI), cloud computing, and AI-optimized silicon chipsets. Businesses and organizations are increasingly leveraging cloud AI to train complex Large Language Models (LLMs), run new applications, and integrate Machine Learning (ML) capabilities into their operations.
Data center energy consumption is one of the biggest decarbonization challenges of our time. On one hand, there is huge demand for energy-guzzling applications within the Generative Artificial Intelligence (Gen AI) and cloud computing domains. On the other hand, these technologies require an unprecedented amount of power to run them. For example, some industry gurus have suggested that a single Large Language Model (LLM) interaction could have similar electricity consumption as leaving a low-brightness LED lightbulb on for an hour. Although data centers only account for about 2% to 4% of total electricity consumption in advanced economies today, the anticipated growth in digital technology usage will induce a greater impact on the grid in the future.
Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2025 promises to be a landmark event, marking a dramatic shift in focus from communications to computing. In the midst of this transformation, ABI Research anticipates that the tech show will shine a spotlight on the growing rift between China and the West, with a special focus on how telcos are embracing platforms that can power next-gen applications, especially in the realm of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
As we inch closer to Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2025, network Application Programmable Interfaces (APIs) are a hot ticket item within the telecoms industry. They are a way for telco operators to provide developers with access to network capabilities, enhancing user experience and offering more efficient services, while unlocking new features otherwise not possible. APIs have unlocked opportunities across supply chains, with notable successes including app stores like Apple's and Google's, cloud services like Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Azure, and various consumer and enterprise services.
Technological advancements in cellular standards have been the hallmark of MWC for 2 decades, dating back to the 2G and 3G eras. This year, that will change for many reasons:
Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2025 is fast approaching, and ABI Research will be there once again to witness the latest innovations shaping the future of mobile technology. Based on numerous pre-briefings ahead of Barcelona, our analysts are calling the most dramatic shift in MWC's history: watch the telecoms industry finally shed its old skin. Computing and Artificial Intelligence (AI) are not just joining the party, they are taking over the entire show.
The technology landscape is evolving rapidly, with new innovations shaping industries and driving global digital transformation. In 2025, businesses and solution providers will need to adapt to new technology trends if they want to stay one step ahead.
