A running list of original notes, curated reading and short case write-ups on telco strategy, technology transformation, procurement and M&A integration. Updated as things land on my desk.
The new space race gets covered as a billionaires' contest. I think it's really a telco story. Part one of a series on low-Earth-orbit constellations — the technology, the impact on operators, and the scramble for sovereignty — read through the one lens that matters most: for an operator, is each player a partner, a competitor, or something in between?
A few busy and inspiring days at MWC26. It was great to be there in person, meeting people, exchanging ideas, and getting a firsthand view of where the telecom industry is heading. A few takeaways from my side:
- AI is everywhere, but for network engineers, the real shift is AI becoming embedded directly into network equipment, unlocking new possibilities in optimisation, automation, and operations.
- Some concepts, such as NVIDIA in the baseband for edge use cases beyond classical network functions, still seem a bit ahead of the market’s immediate needs. Still, innovation often starts there, so it will be fascinating to watch how fast this develops.
-6G is clearly getting closer, although still some years away. Even now, we can already see products around active antenna solutions in sub-6 GHz. At the same time, I do not think the industry has yet fully captured the real value of 5G, particularly with SA, uRLLC, mMTC, and slicing still far from broadly activated and monetised.
- In network automation, it was interesting to hear even the biggest names speak quite openly about being at Level 2 or 3 in many areas, while gradually building toward Level 4. The importance of strong data foundations came up repeatedly. My own view is that deeper collaboration across the industry could accelerate progress, because many of the underlying problems and much of the data needed to make LLMs and SLMs effective are remarkably similar.
- Mobile Private Networks had a very strong presence. Sandboxing by industry vertical could be one of the best ways to accelerate adoption by making benefits easier to demonstrate and solutions easier to adapt. The strategic question is whether CSPs will establish a strong role or if this will remain mainly the domain of ICT system integrators.
And finally, beyond the technology, it was simply fun. Meeting people, discussing both business and life, and enjoying the energy of the event are still among the best parts of MWC. Catching up with former colleagues over dinners, talking about completely unrelated topics, was a great enjoyment.
Looks like my next MWC may be in 2028.
Over lunch with Ran we got into TV streaming quality over unstable home connectivity — the kind of misery a misbehaving router produces. My own experience matched the pattern: Netflix kept delivering watchable video while every other service I tried fell apart. Ran's post is a sharp take on why that gap exists.
Nothing in this category yet — check back soon.
New notes land here irregularly — when there's something worth saying. Connect on LinkedIn or get in touch directly.