UKTIN recently hosted a free webinar uncovering critical industry trends and insights for 2025, including new technological solutions such as AI, quantum computing and cyber security. The session highlighted opportunities and tips for overcoming barriers in the multifaceted telecom sector.
Future trends
Ian Smith, Head of the UK Telecoms Innovation Network (UKTIN) opened the event by describing the UK telecoms sector as “thriving” and “vital to the economy”. He pointed to a timeline of the industry, detailing its evolution from the 1970s to today, stating, “Telecoms technology and its applications continue to evolve rapidly, with trends beingshaped by innovations in connectivity, customer demands, and the increasing convergence of telecoms with other sectors”.
Smith said the role of UKTIN is to uncover industry trends and new emerging technologies while capturing and generating interest in the sector. He identified 12 future trends:
- 5G Expansion and Beyond
- Artificial Intelligence and Automation
- IoT and Edge Computing
- Network Virtualisation
- Fibre Deployment and Fixed Wireless Access
- Enhanced Cybersecurity
- Sustainability and Green Telecoms
- Open RAN and Interoperability
- Digital Transformation and B2B Solutions
- Immersive Technologies
- Satellite Internet and Non-Terrestrial Networks
- Enhanced Customer Experiences
The value of 5G
Lia Tzifa, Head of Networks Sales UK & Ireland at Ericsson, said, “5G is the platform of innovation.” She highlighted the benefits of 5G technology for people, businesses, and society: sustainability, quality of life, efficiency, productivity, and safety.
Tzifa celebrated Belfast becoming the smartest port in the world in partnership with BT and Ericcison’s private 5G networks. The benefits include a 50% reduction in time spent inspecting inaccessible assets, a 56% reduction in installation and maintenance costs for CCTV cameras, and 20% cost-saving related to condition-based monitoring.
She identified three key 5G themes for 2025:
- Service Differentiation
- Widespread 5G Stand Alone & Midband Coverage
- Programmable Networks
Business opportunities and overcoming challenges
Chris Pett, Sector Specialist and Business Advisor at SETsquared noted the telecoms skills gap, emphasising the importance of broadening and deepening skills in telecoms and adjacent technology areas to encompass future applications. He also emphasised the significance of innovation: “Inaction is a greater risk than market and technology exploration. Deploy capital and entrepreneurial know-how to stimulate change,” he said.
Pett discussed the importance of enterprise, government and researchers working collaboratively on the key challenges and opportunities. He referred to the success of Finchetto, Quantum Dice and Ethicronics: all three companies have received fully-funded business support from the UKTIN Transforming Telecoms Programme.
Emerging business opportunity areas:
- Non-terrestrial networking (space applications)
- Network management (optimisation and virtualisation)
- AI (for everything)
- Photonics/ fibre (to everywhere)
- Quantum (downstream applications/ early adopters)
Promising research areas identified by UKTIN’s expert working groups:
- Optical Wireless Technology
- Network Intelligence and AI
- New spectrum and multi-access
- Wireless Communication Advancements
- Non-terrestrial Networks
- Optical Fibre Innovations
- Convergence and Architecture
- Adjacent research areas (software, edge, cloud, semiconductors and quantum)
The day concluded with a Q&A: participants submitted questions using the chat function and panellists offered their expertise.
