Network Transformation 2025
Access this insight with a Standard plan. Contact our sales team to get started.
Or
Report details
Network Transformation 2025
£3250
EX. VATThis report is one of more than 140 published annually as part of the GSMA Intelligence data and research subscription, which is designed for organisations that require regular access to our insights. Contact our sales team for details.
Contact usInnovation in the evolved 5G era
Midway through the 5G era, operators face a growing set of network transformation imperatives. The priorities (familiar to anyone in the mobile ecosystem) include emerging technologies and those that have been deployed for years: 5G standalone and 5G Advanced; open networking technologies; network slicing and edge networking; public cloud and network automation; artificial Intelligence; non-terrestrial networks; spectrum management technologies; and 6G.
To understand how operators are balancing these competing demands, GSMA Intelligence surveyed 100 telcos from around the world, gaining insights into their deployment plans and challenges, where they plan to invest, how they see the value of new technologies, and what they think is needed to meet end-user demand.
As we move into 2025, this year’s survey includes some of the biggest changes in operator thinking, in line with the emergence of new priorities. As operators roll out the networks and capabilities that drive the ecosystem, anyone competing in mobile needs to understand these dynamics and how they can profit from them.
Report details
Network Transformation 2025
£3250
EX. VATThis report is one of more than 140 published annually as part of the GSMA Intelligence data and research subscription, which is designed for organisations that require regular access to our insights. Contact our sales team for details.
Contact usRelated research
Global Mobile Trends 2026
Global Mobile Trends 2026 highlights the opportunities and innovations ahead, as well as the challenges facing the mobile industry and beyond. Covering topics including AI, 5G, autonomous networks, devices, security, quantum, satellites, energy innovation and eSIM, the report focuses on what matters in 2026 and the implications for the industry. The latest edition of Global Mobile Trends delivers expert insights into the key trends that will define the mobile ecosystem in 2026 and beyond. Backed by GSMA Intelligence’s industry-leading research and data, the report provides an authoritative look at the forces shaping the next wave of connectivity and innovation.
How the entitlement server is driving impact for mobile operators
Initially deployed for niche use cases, the entitlement server (ES) has expanded to become the intermediary between mobile network infrastructure and the universe of devices. It authenticates a number of services, including RCS messaging, eSIM, network slices and satellite connectivity. The investment logic for the ES is strengthened by clear cost savings and revenue opportunities post deployment. Operators should consider a strategy for monetisation and identity management based on ES deployment.
The Mobile Economy 2026
The mobile industry underpins global connectivity, enabling seamless communication, real‑time data exchange and an expansive ecosystem of consumer and enterprise applications. While extending ubiquitous connectivity through advanced 4G and 5G networks remains a core priority, the industry is also entering a new era shaped by intelligent, adaptive and value‑added digital services. This shift is being enabled by next‑generation mobile networks, such as 5G standalone architectures, and the rapid integration of AI and other transformative technologies across consumer applications and enterprise solutions.
Authors
How to access this report
Annual subscription: Subscribe to our research modules for comprehensive access to more than 200 reports per year.
Enquire about subscriptionContact our research team
Get in touch with us to find out more about our research topics and analysis.
Contact our research teamMedia
To cite our research, please see our citation policy in our Terms of Use, or contact our Media team for more information.
Learn moreRelated research
Global Mobile Trends 2026
Global Mobile Trends 2026 highlights the opportunities and innovations ahead, as well as the challenges facing the mobile industry and beyond. Covering topics including AI, 5G, autonomous networks, devices, security, quantum, satellites, energy innovation and eSIM, the report focuses on what matters in 2026 and the implications for the industry. The latest edition of Global Mobile Trends delivers expert insights into the key trends that will define the mobile ecosystem in 2026 and beyond. Backed by GSMA Intelligence’s industry-leading research and data, the report provides an authoritative look at the forces shaping the next wave of connectivity and innovation.
How the entitlement server is driving impact for mobile operators
Initially deployed for niche use cases, the entitlement server (ES) has expanded to become the intermediary between mobile network infrastructure and the universe of devices. It authenticates a number of services, including RCS messaging, eSIM, network slices and satellite connectivity. The investment logic for the ES is strengthened by clear cost savings and revenue opportunities post deployment. Operators should consider a strategy for monetisation and identity management based on ES deployment.
The Mobile Economy 2026
The mobile industry underpins global connectivity, enabling seamless communication, real‑time data exchange and an expansive ecosystem of consumer and enterprise applications. While extending ubiquitous connectivity through advanced 4G and 5G networks remains a core priority, the industry is also entering a new era shaped by intelligent, adaptive and value‑added digital services. This shift is being enabled by next‑generation mobile networks, such as 5G standalone architectures, and the rapid integration of AI and other transformative technologies across consumer applications and enterprise solutions.
- 200 reports a year
- 50 million data points
- Over 350 metrics