The demonstration also marked the first successful WhatsApp Direct-to-Cell call in Madagascar. SpaceX Direct-to-Cell is designed to strengthen telecommunications access in isolated geographic locations and preserve the continuity of services when terrestrial infrastructure is temporarily unavailable. Airtel said the capability could offer an important communications resilience layer during emergencies and in hard-to-reach areas.

Regulatory assessment and satellite-network access

The trial was held in Sadabe in the presence of Madagascar’s Minister of Digital Development, Posts and Telecommunications, representatives from the National Bureau for Risk and Disaster Management (BNGRC), and officials from the Communications Technologies Regulatory Authority (ARTEC).

According to Airtel Madagascar, the test supports the SpaceX and Airtel Africa partnership to bring satellite connectivity to African markets. The company is also preparing for a potential commercial rollout of SpaceX Direct-to-Cell, subject to the successful completion of ARTEC’s regulatory evaluation.

Participants demonstrated the service using a standard 4G smartphone connected seamlessly to the satellite network. The connection supported SMS, WhatsApp messaging, WhatsApp voice and video calls, access to streaming platforms, and social media services including YouTube and Facebook.

Supporting resilience, public services and inclusion

Airtel Madagascar said the technology addresses the country’s geographic challenges, particularly in remote regions that can be difficult to reach through conventional mobile infrastructure. Beyond extending connectivity, the solution could maintain telecommunications services during disruptions to terrestrial networks, especially during natural disasters.

This could facilitate communication between communities, authorities, emergency services and field teams. The company also identified potential support for economic activities, public services and field operations requiring reliable communications outside the reach of traditional terrestrial mobile coverage. SpaceX Direct-to-Cell could therefore contribute to greater digital inclusion in Madagascar.

Next steps toward commercial deployment

The demonstration represents an important stage in assessing SpaceX Direct-to-Cell within the Malagasy market. Airtel Madagascar will work with SpaceX and ARTEC to evaluate potential use cases and deployment conditions, while gathering insights to inform decisions about a future commercial launch.

Airtel added that the initiative supports Madagascar’s digital transformation, the expansion of resilient telecommunications infrastructure and the development of a more inclusive digital ecosystem.

The move toward 6G is intended to address these demands through extremely fast speeds, very short delays and built-in AI capabilities that improve sensing and communication. For 6G connected vehicles, Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC) will function like radar, providing millimeter-level precision to detect objects or accidents, potentially before current camera systems can do so. The technology could improve autonomous vehicle safety and efficiency while also supporting applications such as digital twins that depend on real-time data integration.

Standalone networks and unified standards

The network model for 6G will differ from the approach used for 5G. While 5G’s non-standalone (NSA) architecture relied on 4G core infrastructure, 6G networks will be built as standalone (SA) systems from the start. Ericsson states that standalone 6G networks will simplify system complexity, improve scalability, and reduce integration costs by aligning both radio access and core networks.

For 6G connected vehicles, this AI-native and edge-integrated design will require infrastructure capable of meeting high bandwidth and low latency requirements. The fragmented architecture of existing 5G networks is a bottleneck, and legacy networking components may struggle with 6G deployment demands.

The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), a collaboration of seven telecom standards organizations, is developing unified standards for 6G. Those standards are expected to ensure interoperability and enable advanced capabilities such as network slicing. 6G networks promise transfer speeds 50 to 100 times faster than 5G, with peak speeds reaching up to 1 terabit per second and microsecond latency.

Cybersecurity and infrastructure pressures

Security remains a major challenge for 6G connected vehicles and wider network deployments. Industry experts warn that 6G will improve security through design but will also introduce new risks associated with AI. Stephen Douglas from Keysight Technologies noted that AI-native architectures may widen the attack surface for hybrid networks by exposing more APIs and models. Gartner predicts that by 2026, AI and GenAI applications will account for over 30% of API demand.

Ericsson has identified over 20 potential threat types related to 6G, including challenges with the misuse of spatial mapping data and adversarial attacks. Existing routers, firewalls and edge devices are often inadequately equipped for 6G’s higher bandwidth and lower latency requirements. Douglas suggests these devices will need enhancements to support next-generation networks.

Enterprise preparation and rollout timeline

Most enterprise networks are only partially prepared for a transition to 6G, according to Douglas. Supporting 6G connected vehicles and other AI-driven operations will require modern LAN and WAN architectures that can accommodate the expected bandwidth and latency. Investments in fiber networks, edge computing and zero-trust architecture are critical for future readiness.

Ericsson anticipates finalizing 6G specifications by 2028, with commercial rollouts expected around 2029-2030. Initial rollouts will depend on existing 5G SA infrastructure before more advanced AI-native capabilities are introduced. Experts recommend a phased migration strategy, with enterprises beginning now by improving security policies and investing in technologies that facilitate the transition.

The platform is intended to help telecom operators increase network capacity, improve spectrum efficiency and run AI workloads on existing mobile infrastructure. Nokia and NVIDIA first announced their strategic partnership in late 2025. Pilot deployments are expected to begin by the end of 2026, before commercial availability in 2027.

AI-RAN capabilities and NVIDIA’s role

According to Nokia, the platform represents the industry’s first commercial AI-RAN architecture built for telecom operators. AI-RAN integrates artificial intelligence directly into the radio access network, enabling AI-driven radio optimization, higher spectrum efficiency, dynamic network management and AI inference at the network edge.

Unlike conventional RAN upgrades, AI-RAN allows operators to improve network performance largely through software running on accelerated computing platforms. The AI mobile network gear is designed to support AI-native 5G-Advanced and future 6G services, while also providing software-based performance upgrades.

NVIDIA’s GPUs supply the computing capability required to execute AI models directly within telecom networks. Nokia brings anyRAN software, mobile network expertise, network management and telecom software, while NVIDIA contributes accelerated GPU computing, the AI-RAN platform, AI acceleration and edge AI infrastructure. Together, the companies aim to enable real-time optimization and edge AI applications.

Efficiency targets and operator benefits

Nokia says the platform can substantially improve network efficiency. Reported targets include more than 20% improvement in spectral efficiency demonstrated through AI-driven radio innovations, a target of 50% spectral efficiency gains by 2027, and more than 100% improvement targeted by 2028.

The platform could provide higher network capacity without requiring additional radio spectrum, as well as a lower cost per transmitted bit. Nokia’s AI mobile network gear is also expected to support better utilization of existing infrastructure, reduced capital expenditure, faster software-based upgrades, lower operating costs and new AI-powered services at the network edge.

A software subscription model would allow operators to receive continuous AI enhancements without frequent hardware refreshes. These capabilities are intended to help operators respond to rapidly growing demand for AI services and mobile data while supporting a smoother transition toward 6G.

Industry implications and deployment challenges

AI-RAN is emerging as a major telecommunications trend, reflecting the convergence of AI and telecom infrastructure, greater use of GPU-accelerated networks, expansion of edge computing and smarter network automation. Several telecom operators have already begun evaluating AI-RAN technologies through pilot programs.

Large-scale deployment nevertheless faces high GPU infrastructure costs, integration with existing networks, increased energy consumption, the skills required to manage AI-native networks and return on investment for operators. Commercial adoption will depend on successful pilot deployments and demonstrated cost savings.

By embedding artificial intelligence directly into radio networks, Nokia’s AI mobile network gear could improve capacity, automate network optimization and support emerging AI applications without relying solely on expensive hardware upgrades.

Nokia has signed a 5G expansion agreement with Taiwan Mobile to advance AI-native 5G networks throughout Taiwan. The collaboration strengthens Nokia’s position as a strategic partner while supporting Taiwan Mobile’s goals for improved network performance, automation and sustainability.

Under the agreement, Nokia will deploy its latest AirScale portfolio, including next-generation baseband, radio solutions and advanced software. The deployment is intended to strengthen Taiwan Mobile’s network infrastructure, support the introduction of new 5G services and create new revenue streams. Both companies are working to integrate artificial intelligence across mobile networks in order to build automated, resilient and energy-efficient systems capable of handling growing AI-driven traffic.

AI capabilities across the network lifecycle

The expansion introduces AI-driven capabilities covering network intelligence, infrastructure, sustainability and resilience. For AI for Network (Intelligence), Nokia will deploy AI-powered software for real-time automation and predictive analytics. These capabilities are designed to improve operational efficiency and enable closed-loop network assurance.

The agreement includes Predictive Hardware Analytics (PHWA) and the self-organizing network solution MantaRay SON. MantaRay SON uses AI algorithms to automate operations and enhance performance. This part of the deployment is expected to help Taiwan Mobile improve the management of AI-native 5G networks while reducing operational complexity.

For Network for AI (Infrastructure), Nokia’s next-generation baseband and advanced radio solutions will increase network capacity and enhance uplink performance. The infrastructure is intended to accommodate emerging AI-driven traffic profiles and deliver enhanced user experiences.

Automation, performance and advanced 5G services

The agreement will expand 5G capacity and optimise network performance through advanced radios and next-generation baseband solutions. These enhancements are expected to increase throughput, improve spectrum efficiency and provide premium user experiences.

AI-driven network management and automation will support predictive maintenance, lower total cost of ownership and reduce operational complexity. The deployment will also support advanced 5G capabilities such as network slicing and Reduced Capability (RedCap). By combining network automation with upgraded radio and baseband technology, the companies are aiming to improve how AI-native 5G networks respond to evolving traffic and service needs.

Sustainability and network resilience

For AI for Energy (Sustainability), advanced AI-powered energy management will provide traffic-aware optimisation and proactive power savings. This is intended to help Taiwan Mobile reduce energy consumption and achieve its ESG objectives.

AI for GeoStrategy (Resilience) will use AI-enabled self-healing and traffic steering to improve network resilience. These functions will allow dynamic adaptation to changing conditions and maintain service continuity in extreme scenarios.

Nokia’s energy-efficient hardware and AI-driven software will support more sustainable network operations and lower power consumption. These measures align with the building operator’s objective of establishing a low-carbon, efficiency-improving network while enhancing overall performance.

The move aims to aggressively build up local AI computing facilities at a time when there is enormous demand for AI model training and inference, and high-performance computing systems is essential for national competitiveness.

It is well to be noted that SKT is taking charge of the project by connecting it with the government’s AI G3 strategy with the objective of becoming one of the three top AI powers in the world along with the U.S. and China and the mission of balancing regional growth. It is analyzing thoroughly core infrastructure components like power and siting as well as operations for the AI data center.

Ulsan AI Data Center to be scaled up to GW Scale – 5GW to be activated in stages from 2029 for a total of 15GW

A standard AI data center of 1GW class might need a significant project cost of roughly 70 trillion Korean won because of the construction of high-performance AI computing infrastructure as well as skyrocketing memory prices.

Such costs are anticipated to be borne by the company’s own investment, strategic partner investment, and long-term customer contracts, as well as project financing of the company.

The context for SKT’s decision to construct an AI data center of this magnitude is a worldwide shortage of supply. Global demand when it comes to data centers will grow 19–22% each year, and supply is unlikely to keep up.

As per McKinsey & Company, the global consulting firm, the U.S. alone will encounter a projected shortage of approximately 15GW by the end of the decade.

Therefore, global big tech companies are raising investment in data centers far away from the U.S. to places around the world. In this regard, Korea has attracted the interest of global big tech companies as a potential investment location for AI data centers.

The fact is that Korea remains highly competitive when it comes to core AI components like high-bandwidth memory – HBM. Moreover, the steady power supply conditions centered around nuclear power as well as liquefied natural gas – LNG and the GW-class infrastructure operation resources gained by means of operating semiconductor fabs serve as an attractive site for AI data center and the aim of becoming an AI infrastructure hub in Asia by SK telecom is indeed not a long shot.

Demand is high, location is favorable, and SKT intends to build 15 GW of AI data center capacity.

First, commencing with the AI data center being constructed in Ulsan, SKT will establish a cluster of over 2 GW in the southeastern region – Gyeongsang and utilize it as a basis to draw demand for AI infrastructure coming from global big tech companies to Korea.

It also looks forward to another 1 GW in the southwestern region at Jeolla so that its AI data centers, established in 2029 and beyond, will have 5 GW of overall domestic capacity.

SKT will take into account multiple variables, including site selection and power supply as well as securing essential anchor tenants in tandem in accordance with the balanced regional development tasks and strategic supply plans of the government so as to pursue AI data center construction.

SK Group has comprehensive AI infrastructure capabilities with SKT to take overall project leadership as AI Infrastructure Architect

The three main foundations of AI data center infrastructure are semiconductors, energy solutions as well as data center construction and operation capabilities. SK Group demonstrates these core capabilities across all of its affiliates. This project will put together the group’s complete AI infrastructure, taking advantage of the capabilities of every affiliate.

Particularly, SKT will take the crucial position of overseeing the design, construction, and operation of the AI data centers. SKT had already been active in the AI data center business and proceeded to collaborate with global big tech companies.

In November 2025, SKT President and CEO Jung Jai-hun at the SK AI Summit 2025 laid out the AI infrastructure roadmap of the company, declaring that SKT would spearhead the evolution of AI infrastructure as the top AI operator in the nation. He additionally laid out a long-term plan to strengthen cooperation with global big tech companies and to boost the size of the Ulsan AI Data Center to a total exceeding 1GW.

Recently, SKT announced plans for an AI Factory, which it defined as a next-generation AI data center. SKT plans to open the AI Factory in 2027 and increase its capacity to GW scale in the future.

Third National Infrastructure Revolution of Korea after Gyeongbu Motorway, High-Speed Internet

It is worth noting that the AI industry anticipates AI data centers becoming not just a new growth engine for Korea but also a national strategic resource. More specifically, it is likely that connecting AI data centers to regional industries is going to contribute toward balanced regional development.

The construction is anticipated to act as a catalyst for Korea to develop into an AI infrastructure hub with the 15GW-scale AI data center. SKT considers AI data centers the third innovative infrastructure in Korea after the Gyeongbu Motorway – 1968 and high-speed internet – 1998 and plans to guide its development.

According to the President and CEO of SKT, Jung Jai-hun, “This AI data center project is aimed at preemptively preparing the computing infrastructure that the global AI ecosystem needs. We will work closely with the government, industry, and local communities to help Korea grow into Asia’s core AI infrastructure hub.”

The Japanese government will make use of the funding gradually throughout the next 3 years via the Japan Low Earth Orbit Satellite Communications Project – J-LEO. The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications of Japan won the budget in 2025 and completed its tender in June 2026.

The investment in the LEO satellite from Rakuten Mobile highlights the strategy from Japan to beef up its sovereign satellite capacity amid increasing demand for robust direct-to-device – D2D and satellite broadband services.

Japan is already a very advanced D2D satellite market globally. Now major telecom carriers such as KDDI and NTT DOCOMO, as well as SoftBank, are all offering services that are enabled by Starlink satellites. KDDI alone announced 4 million users in the first year of its service.

Doubts are rising in Asia-Pacific markets regarding dependence on Starlink, with governments reviewing their satellite plans.

Debate persists over the role of Starlink in Taiwan’s domestic satellite ecosystem. Policymakers have become worried about Elon Musk’s China business links, with the SpaceX CEO’s electric car company, Tesla, having substantial market visibility and manufacturing operations in China.

Current rules allow foreign ownership of telecom service suppliers in Taiwan to no more than 49%, which would effectively mean Starlink could not operate in the market. Some lawmakers have spoken about lowering the cap to speed satellite connectivity deployments.

But regulators remain prudent. Taiwan would require a local gateway infrastructure, such as Japan’s model, so as to keep regulatory control of satellite services, said Chen Chung-shu, the acting head of the National Communications Commission of Taiwan. Chen also warned that parts of second-generation Starlink, especially satellite-to-satellite multimedia communications, could pose additional threats to the nation’s regulatory power and territorial sovereignty.

Apparently, Australia has also expressed concern about relying on foreign satellite operators. The country was one of Starlink’s first global broadband markets and now has around 200,000 users. But Australia’s Department of Home Affairs has recently flagged accessibility risks caused by the offshore nature of Starlink.

The Australian Signals Directorate voiced similar issues, warning that the expanding influence of private satellite companies may surpass national regulatory authority and create risks relating to autonomy and national security.

Australian government agencies are continuing to expand their use of Starlink regardless of these concerns. The federal government has signed more than 12 contracts with Starlink valued at AUD 7.2 million or USD 4.9 million, including the one with the Department of Defense and the electoral commission. State and local agencies have awarded another $40 million in contracts.

Starlink is in operation over most of East Asia today, with China and North Korea a few exceptions.

It is worth noting that this first Kurdish conversational AI platform is powered by Bunyan, the AI inferencing platform from OmniOps, installed on-premises on the infrastructure of Newroz Telecom. The installation keeps AI workloads and data processing in the Kurdistan Region and also in the hands of local data while providing local oversight, service dependability, compliance with regulations, and the capacity to use sovereign AI capabilities.

KI supports Kurdish, which includes Sorani and Badini as well as Kurmanji dialects, along with Arabic and English. The platform helps to close a persistent linguistic barrier in artificial intelligence, giving customers, businesses, and institutions throughout the Kurdistan Region the ability to use AI-powered services within the language of their choice.

According to the CEO of OmniOps, Mohammed Altassan, “Sovereign AI is the foundation of trust. Our work with Newroz demonstrates that advanced AI can be deployed rapidly and locally, without compromising on data control or performance. Together, we are setting a new standard for what AI adoption can look like across the region.”

Remarks Ismail A. Mohammed, the group CEO of Allai Newroz Telecom, said, ” Allai Newroz Telecom has always been committed to bringing world-class technology to the Kurdistan Region. With KI, we are taking a significant step beyond technology adoption by building AI capabilities that understand our language, reflect our culture, and serve the needs of our communities. This launch is the beginning of a broader vision to position the Kurdistan Region at the forefront of digital innovation.”

The launch of KI – the first Kurdish conversational AI platform, marks a pivotal turning point in the vision of OmniOps to facilitate sovereign AI adoption in all emerging markets. The implementation showcases how sophisticated AI services can be provided on-premises, in native languages, with full oversight of data, compliance, and security. OmniOps intends to keep working with regional partners to scale this approach into more industries as well as markets.

This milestone comes after a stringent and extremely competitive tender process for the current MTN network, which was overseen by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology – MCOT of the country and included meticulous technical and financial assessments, and in which Zain won the contract with the most competitive and fully compliant bid submitted for a total amount of USD 747 million.

Zain will create a new operational entity in Syria in which the group will own 75% and a Syrian government entity will own 25%. The Zain Syria brand is scheduled for commercial launch in Q1 2027, contingent upon the fulfillment of all legal and license requirements.

The Zain team is going to closely work together with the Syrian MCOT and the MTN team in order to support the enhancement and consistency of services to the existing 6.3 million customer base throughout a 6-month transition handover time frame.

The license to operate mobile telecom network in Syria marks the entry of Zain as the second operator in one of the most promising markets of the Levant, supported by a young demographic and growing demand for superior mobile and data services for individuals and companies considering the improving economic and social scenarios.

As part of the award, the Zain Syria entity will allocate more than USD 800 million to broaden and modernize the system with a 5G network and additional AI-powered digital technologies in the next 10 years. The financial resources resulting from the Syrian operation will contribute to this. The technical, investment, and operational expertise of the Zain Group will support efficient allocation of capital, accelerate network creation, and boost service performance and quality.

According to Bader Al-Kharafi, vice chairman & group CEO of Zain, “We extend our sincere appreciation to the government of the Syrian Arab Republic and H.E. Abdulsalam Haykal, minister of communications and information technology, and his team for conducting a transparent, professional, and rigorous tender process. Their confidence in Zain is a responsibility we embrace with the highest level of commitment. The Zain Group Board and executive management are fully committed to building a modern, reliable network that supports Syria’s digital transformation and delivers high‑quality telecom and digital services to the Syrian community. Guided by the directives and wise vision of H.H. The Amir of Kuwait, Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, we reaffirm our firm belief in the importance of strengthening Arab cooperation and advancing development and investment initiatives that foster stability and prosperity across the region while reinforcing the foundations of sustainable development for generations to come. I was honored to meet with the president of Syria, H.E. Ahmed Al-Sharaa, during which I emphasized that Zain’s entry into the Syrian market represents more than a strategic business expansion; it reflects our deep confidence in Syria’s future, the capabilities of its people, and its development ambitions.”

“I also conveyed Zain Group’s commitment to being a true partner in supporting Syria’s digital transformation and economic growth through investing in local talent, advancing digital infrastructure, and supporting SMEs and government entities through advanced AI-powered digital solutions that will serve generations to come. We are confident in Syria’s economic recovery and long-term prospects. Zain’s entry into the market, alongside the operation’s committed CAPEX investment over the coming decade, reflects this confidence. This expansion strengthens our presence in the Levant, reinforces longstanding Kuwaiti Syrian ties, and enhances regional connectivity by enabling cross-border digital services that leverage Zain’s regional footprint and technological capabilities. Guided by our ‘4WARD‑Progress with Purpose’ corporate strategy and our purpose of creating ‘Better Lives and Lasting Connections’, we look forward to welcoming the people of Syria into Zain’s Wonderful World and becoming a trusted partner in the country’s digital transformation and socio‑economic progress.”

“Established Zain entities such as ZainTECH, Zain Omantel International (ZOI), our fintech platforms, and other digital businesses will extend their services to the country. In parallel, financial support and innovation-driven initiatives will be implemented to foster the Syrian entrepreneurial startup ecosystem. This approach underscores Zain’s commitment to creating long-term value that extends beyond telecom and contributes meaningfully to the country’s digital development. Established Zain entities such as ZainTECH, Zain Omantel International (ZOI), our fintech platforms, and other digital businesses will extend their services to the country. In parallel, financial support and innovation-driven initiatives will be implemented to foster the Syrian entrepreneurial startup ecosystem. This approach underscores Zain’s commitment to creating long-term value that extends beyond telecom and contributes meaningfully to the country’s digital development. We are confident that this expansion will enhance shareholder value through an expanded customer base and increased revenues, driven by synergies with neighboring markets, while reinforcing Zain’s position as a leading regional TechCo on the global stage.”

During the six months of the transition, the Zain Syrian business will carry out a full network upgrade program while ensuring a continuous level of service for about 6.3 million existing users. 5G deployments, upgrades to infrastructure, and AI-powered solutions will be major features of the deployment. The first phases will focus on over 98% of the population.

Zain will take advantage of its operational technical expertise and systematic investment procedures developed in new and intricate market conditions to guarantee high service accessibility and a superior client experience for Syrian customers, companies, and SMEs as well as government entities.

Once officially launched, Zain Syria is going to provide a wide range of voice, data, digital, and content-based entertainment offerings for families, youth, and enterprises as well as public sector organizations. Customers will gain advantages from collaborations with Zain Group’s popular products, localized and digital offerings, and new services created specifically for the Syrian market.

Notably, Zain has 51.2 million customers and is active in 8 markets in the Middle East and Africa. Zain will further broaden its footprint to Syria, reinforcing its standing as a leading regional TechCo and supporting its 4WARD-Progress with Purpose approach to speed up the business through its expansion into high-potential neighboring markets. The group will provide 5G services across Kuwait, KSA, and Bahrain as well as Jordan with a dominant regional 5G position alongside the launch of Zain Syria.

The AI-integrated 5G Network digital twin solution aims to assist communications service providers in upgrading their network processes, enhance service quality, and boost the commercialization of next-generation 5G connectivity.

It is well to be noted that the solution combines Microsoft Azure and Microsoft Fabric as well as Azure Digital Twin services so as to consolidate high-volume network telemetry information into a real-time, AI-ready data estate that can be used for sophisticated simulation as well as predictive modeling. The platform integrates Microsoft Foundry and Fabric IQ along with agentic AI frameworks to enable intelligent rational thought, self-sufficient decision-making, and tightly coupled coordination throughout network operations. It is targeted at large and medium-sized telecom operators who operate in complex, multiple-vendor networks and want to gain higher levels of operational flexibility and tangible business results. The approach will additionally allow telecom providers to expedite revenue generation of enterprise-focused services with SLA-driven offerings, like network slicing and edge orchestration, having upgraded service assurance and risk forecasting functionality.

As per Chief Transformation Officer, Tech Mahindra, Amol Phadke, “As telecom networks evolve to support increasingly sophisticated services and enterprise use cases, operators are under pressure to manage growing operational complexity while unlocking new sources of value from their infrastructure. Many continue to face challenges arising from reactive operational models, rising costs, and limited visibility into service performance, which can hinder scalability and the monetization of advanced 5G capabilities. Through our integration with Microsoft, we are combining digital twin technology, unified data intelligence, and agentic AI to help operators move toward autonomous network operations, improve service assurance, and create new opportunities for revenue growth through AI-driven network innovation.”

This solution will enable telecom operators to move from conventional network modeling techniques to digital twins at cloud scale, which integrate real-time telemetry and semantic intelligence, as well as AI-driven automation. The solution blends simulation and unified data management along with AI-powered operational intelligence to push digital twins to a new level, converting them from a visual layer into an interactive decision-making platform that is capable of delivering tangible business results in live network settings. The solution additionally allows data-led decision-making throughout the network lifespan to help maximize investments in infrastructure, optimize asset utilization, and improve governance standards while at the same time lowering operational costs.

According to Senior Global Director, Strategy, Microsoft, Alessandra Antonelli, “Tech Mahindra’s AI-powered 5G network digital twins bring real-time intelligence to even the most complex network environments. By combining Microsoft Azure, Microsoft Foundry, and Microsoft Fabric with Tech Mahindra’s deep telco expertise, operators can move from passive monitoring to active, intelligent decisioning, with agentic AI that reasons, simulates, and acts across live network environments in real time.”

The combination further reinforces the ability of Tech Mahindra to supply unique AI-led telecom solutions leveraging advanced cloud, data, and AI services from Microsoft. Further engagement with customers, co-go-to-market, and rapid development are also enabled. Customers will profit from the integration by gaining access to a secure, unified technology ecosystem that can accelerate the implementation of solutions that are scalable along with being operationally efficient and service quality-driven with business value creation.

According to figures from the GSMA’s The Mobile Economy China 2026 report, RCR Wireless News said that by 2025 end, 5G-Advanced coverage in mainland China had expanded to more than 330 cities. By the middle of 2025, the number of 5G-Advanced users exceeded 10 million.

The report also said that 5G made up 55% of the mobile connections in China by 2025 end. Major operators such as China Mobile, China Telecom as well as China Unicom have begun offering commercial 5G-Advanced services across mainland China, whereas operators in Hong Kong and Macau have also entered the market.

China Telecom Shanghai has also launched what GSMA described as the first commercial 5G-Advanced × AI massive-uplink network of China. The rollout includes more than 5,000 refurbished sites, maximum uplink speeds of 1Gbps, and constant 20Mbps uplink coverage imajor urban areas.

Ericsson Mobility Report, has pointed towards rising demand for uplink capacity from AI, cloud as well as mobile services. The report said connected devices are anticipated to send far more data to cloud platforms. Examples of enterprise and industry include autonomous vehicles, AI-enabled IoT devices as well as humanoid droids, drones and 5G-native laptops.

5G-Advanced is not all about speed

The GSMA report said that operators are implementing 5G-Advanced in stadiums, tourism sites, transportation hubs and real-time events venues. These deployments were linked to improved uplink capacity, differentiated packages along with novel monetisation models, the report said.

5G Americas sees 5G-Advanced as one step on the technical path to 6G. Its white paper outlines 5G-Advanced based on 3GPP Release 18 and subsequent releases as an upgrade of 5G Standalone incorporating AI and machine learning, XR, enhanced energy efficiency as well as low-latency capabilities.

The GSMA report says that the next phase of 5G development in China will see a more diverse set of interconnected devices and traffic types,” said the GSMA report. Examples include industrial cameras, wearables, connected vehicles, drones, and asset tracking devices

It is well to be noted that Nokia has linked 5G-Advanced positioning as well as RedCap functionality to enterprise uses like industrial automation, asset tracking, logistics, automotive and public safety.

The GSMA also gave examples of more dynamic resource allocation in 5G-Advanced. These consist of the premium service packages from China Mobile for high-density events, China Telecom and joint resource orchestration work by China Unicom across shared infrastructure, and China Telecom and ZTE’s AI-based network allocation initiatives.

GSMA Intelligence said that operators who are investing in 5G Standalone along with 5G-Advanced are progressively focusing on experience-based consumer offerings, such as differentiated services as well as service assurance, with AI and core network intelligence utilized to improve network performance.

The GSMA report also forecast mobile technologies and services to represent 7.2% of China’s GDP in 2025, or $1.5 trillion. It projected the mobile sector to add $2.1 trillion by the end of the decade, at a CAGR of 7%.

China will continue to build next-generation digital infrastructure and at the same time also promote research on 6G, chief engineer at the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of China, Zhong Zhihong, said at the opening keynote of MWC Shanghai 2026.

China needed to organize and develop new communications and computing networks including an evolution from dual gigabit networks to dual 10-gigabit networks, Zhong said. He also highlighted the continuing efforts in 6G core technologies, standards development and related industrial ecosystems.

The MIIT official additionally linked communications infrastructure to the implementation of AI in different sectors. He said they should be more integrated with sectors like agriculture, education and healthcare.

China Telecom names AI-native 6G

With the roll out of 5G-Advanced in China, future AI-native 6G networks will need to have tighter coordination of networking and computing resources, says chief technologist at China Telecom, Yue Wang.

Most telecom systems today are still built around deterministic architectures, Wang said at the Telco AI Forum from RCRTech. These systems are built on top of predetermined interfaces, rules-based logic, and control mechanisms.

AI-native networks should be considered spanning three layers, predominantly infrastructure and operations, as well as services, Wang said. The infrastructure layer comprises a network, compute, and storage as well as AI resources, whereas the operational layer is responsible for optimization as well as orchestration, and the service layer provides AI-driven services.

Connectivity alone will not be enough for future AI services, Wang said. They will also need compute resources along with latency adaptation to be handled along with the network.

There are limits to adding AI capabilities to present systems, since existing networks have not been built around AI workflows, added Wang. Current networks are not designed for AI-ready data, AI lifecycle management, closed-loop control, or real-time decision-making, she said.

Industry needs to be able to organize network and compute capacity together to promote new AI services, she said.

The GSMA gives instances of 5G-Advanced, such as dynamic network resource management, stronger uplink performance, and support for a more diverse mix of device categories. Wang’s 6G comments centered around the joint control over connectivity, intelligence, compute, and data as well as assurance capabilities.

Wang also said the shift will call for modifications from both the telecom and AI industries. Live carrier networks are essential infrastructure and cannot depend on uncontrolled decisions, so AI systems must satisfy telecom standards.

At the same time, she pointed out that telecom architectures must be adaptable enough to leverage AI-driven operations. This means making AI trustworthy enough to be used in telecom environments but also enabling network systems to provide more flexible control.

Wang pointed out the importance of AI-native 6G when it comes to future applications like robotics and industrial automation, which belong to physical AI systems. One of the first abilities needed for 6G networks will be the joint orchestration when it comes to communications and computing, she said.

Wang said the development of AI-native 6G will rely on whether networks are able to open up and integrate communication, compute, data, and intelligence as well as assurance capabilities for customers collectively.

Operators still struggle with 5G returns

China is still the largest 5G market in the world; however, the growth in revenue from mobile services is projected to be moderate, owing to structural as well as competitive pressures, added an analyst at GlobalData, Hrushikesh Mahananda, who told this to RCR Wireless News.

Price competition, market saturation, and regulatory demands in order to keep connectivity cost-effective keep affecting average revenue per user, Mahananda said. The operators are thus increasingly focusing on enterprise 5G applications as well as industrial digitalization.

Chinese carriers are also transitioning into private 5G networks, cloud computing, and edge services as well as AI-enabled platforms. Hrushikesh Mahananda says there are more obvious enterprise use cases when it comes to 5G capabilities like low latency, network slicing, etc. in areas such as mining, manufacturing, ports, and healthcare as well as transport, Mahananda said.