This article has been provided courtesy of NCTA – The Internet & Television Association
Earlier this month, more than 100,000 thought leaders, technologists, and policymakers from around the world converged in Barcelona for the annual Mobile World Congress (MWC), an event that sets the tone for the coming year’s developments in mobile connectivity. NCTA leaders attended the event to learn and to participate in critical technical and policy discussions.
With all the activity in the wireless connectivity industry, here are a few themes that dominated this year’s MWC and thoughts on how the cable industry plays a key role in delivering and advancing them.
A.I.
As expected, AI was at the center of everything at MWC 2025. A key trend was the integration of AI-driven features into consumer technology, enhancing everyday tasks such as photography, personal scheduling, and real-time translation.
Network providers showcased AI-powered virtual assistants designed to streamline interactions, automate services, and improve customer experience. On the network side, AI-driven 5G solutions combined communication, sensing, and computing to support industrial applications and smart city initiatives. These developments highlight AI’s growing role in redefining connectivity, optimizing network efficiency, and enhancing digital experiences across industries.
6GHz & Wi-Fi 7
In Barcelona, experts around the world discussed potential ways to best utilize the 6 GHz band, either in its entirety or by splitting it up, to enable next-generation connectivity.
Part of that discussion stems from Wi-Fi 7 technologies, which have hit the market and are expected to become widely adopted this year. Wi-Fi 7 builds upon the features from Wi-Fi 6E that allow the network to operate on the 6 GHz band for indoor use. Given that the proliferation of Wi-Fi 7 access points will bring with it the ability to utilize 6 GHz, discussions around the band benefit greatly from looking at examples of how this approach has shaken out.
A few years ago, the United States strategically opened 6 GHz to unlicensed use. In the years since, the economic benefits have been substantial, especially as Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 deployments quickly grow.
- A Wi-Fi Forward report released at the end of last year confirms that the FCC’s 6 GHz decision was a massive policy success, fueling the adoption of Wi-Fi 6 and setting the table for the rapid deployment and success of even faster and more powerful Wi-Fi 7.
- The FCC’s decision generated an estimated $870 billion of incremental economic value in 2023 and 2024, projected to increase to $1.2 trillion by 2027.
- The study estimates that by 2027, over 50% of all U.S. Wi-Fi traffic will travel over Wi-Fi 7 technology.
Additionally, continuing the international expansion of 6 GHz for unlicensed technologies advances U.S. competitiveness on the global stage.
- Today, 63 countries, including Turkey, Thailand, France, Argentina, and Austria, have adopted either all of the 6 GHz band or at least some of it, according to the Wi-Fi Alliance.
- Meanwhile, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has prioritized advocacy favoring the 6 GHz band’s allocation for licensed high-power use around the world.
- This approach would only maximize the influence of state-backed corporations like Huawei and ZTE and undercut U.S. and western leadership in the space.
Private 5G, powered by shared spectrum
Private 5G networks emerged as a focal point at MWC 2025, highlighting their transformative potential across various industries. The projected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) for 5G private networks is expected to reach 44.7% from 2024 to 2030, underscoring the increasing adoption of these networks to enhance operational efficiency and innovation.
- Private 5G networks are often used for enterprise solutions, such as warehouse automation and inventory tracking, and for providing connectivity solutions at large sporting events.
- These networks address the specific needs of specific customers in ways that high-power, one-size-fits-all networks cannot.
- Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) has been pivotal in advancing the adoption of private 5G networks. By offering more flexible and cost-effective solutions, CBRS has become both the most widely used and fastest-growing band globally for private mobile network deployments.
Supporting national security & innovation
As discussed previously, the CCP continues to push for global regulatory changes that help advance the growth of China’s state-owned wireless device manufacturing giants, particularly ZTE and Huawei. By countering this push, the U.S. and other countries can maintain the security and integrity of their critical communications networks.
Shared-spectrum models support the growth of mid-band spectrum availability for commercial use by enabling continued access by agencies that protect national security. By embracing shared models, regulators can avoid the costly process of relocating critical users while facilitating the much-needed expansion of key spectrum bands.
- By embracing innovative access models, policymakers can also help spur technological advancement by allowing multiple players to access key spectrum instead of cordoning it off to a single license holder.
- The shared models embraced by the cable broadband industry have led the way in advancing smart solutions to managing the critical and increasingly congested wireless ecosystem.
The coming year will see how these trends and advancements shake out as experts return home and utilize what they learned in Barcelona. One thing is for sure though–the future of connectivity is rapidly expanding, benefitting anyone who uses wireless technology.