Digital Lifescapes

Satellite communications is now driven by Low Earth Orbit (LEO) networks. From once niche technology serving remote outposts, LEO satellites are becoming mainstream — delivering high-speed, low-latency broadband everywhere from city centers to far-flung islands. According to Gartner's latest market study, global spending on LEO satellite communications services will reach $14.8 billion in 2026, marking a 24.5 percent jump in just a single year. LEO Satellites Market Development Unlike traditional geostationary satellites positioned tens of thousands of kilometers above the Earth, LEO satellites orbit at much lower altitudes — typically between 500 and 2,000km. This proximity yields two key advantages for modern communications: 1) Lower latency: Data can travel from ground station to satellite and back much faster, unlocking real-time internet use and interactive applications. 2) Broader coverage and capacity: Large, multiplying constellations can tile the planet, reaching regions w...

The evolution of network APIs is one of the telecom sector’s most compelling growth opportunities. Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) have long connected disparate systems, but within telecommunications, their transformation holds a pivotal role in ushering networks from siloed infrastructure toward open, programmable platforms. Juniper Research’s latest market study underscores how global network operators can unlock new applications, reshaping digital connectivity and enterprise innovation. Network API Market Development Historically, telecommunication networks have operated under a closed model, restricting third-party access and fostering complexity for developers. The new paradigm, supported by initiatives such as GSMA Open Gateway and CAMARA, is shifting the narrative. Operators are now embracing standardized APIs, allowing developers to integrate advanced network capabilities directly into their applications, bypassing proprietary barriers and unlocking greater innovative...

The contact center industry stands at a pivotal moment. What began as simple call routing systems has evolved into sophisticated customer experience platforms that leverage artificial intelligence (AI), rich messaging capabilities, and omnichannel communications. The shift from traditional Contact Center-as-a-Service (CCaaS) to conversational messaging platforms represents more than just technological advancement; it's a fundamental reimagining of how businesses connect with their customers. Today's customers demand personalized interactions across their preferred channels, whether that's voice, SMS or emerging platforms like Rich Communication Services (RCS). They expect immediate responses, contextual understanding, and the ability to switch between channels without losing conversation history. Intelligent CCaaS Market Development The results tell a compelling story of market evolution and opportunity. According to the Juniper Research latest market study, the global CCa...

As new app demand grows, we're witnessing a surge in mobile data traffic.  This trend, driven by the proliferation of bandwidth-intensive services such as video streaming, augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and next-generation cloud applications, is reshaping the telecommunications industry. According to the latest market study by ABI Research, global mobile data traffic is set to triple by 2030, challenging network operators to keep pace with this escalating demand and evolving user expectations. Mobile Data Market Development The exponential growth in mobile data usage is a function of more devices being connected -- it also reflects fundamental shifts in how mobile subscribers and enterprises use technology. The ubiquity of smartphones, the rise of the Internet of Things (IoT), and the adoption of immersive digital experiences are all contributing to this surge in mobile data. Mobile network operators now find themselves at the center of a data-driven economy, where t...

The telecom industry stands at a pivotal moment of transformation. As mobile network operators grapple with the challenges of creating new revenue streams, artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as an enabler of next-generation capabilities. The recent Juniper Research worldwide market study illuminates how AI is not merely an add-on but increasingly the foundation of transformative cellular network evolution. According to the study, network operators are projected to invest more than $86 billion in developing and deploying AI in their platforms over the next four years. Mobile Network AI Market Development Annual investment is expected to grow from $13.5 billion in 2025 to $21.9 billion by 2029, representing a substantial 62 percent increase. This investment surge is primarily driven by operators' pursuit of zero-touch operations, where human intervention in network management is minimized or eliminated entirely. What's particularly notable is that while AI is being deployed...

As international travel rebounds to pre-pandemic levels in 2025, the mobile communication roaming market is at an inflection point. Emerging technologies and changing customer preferences are challenging traditional wholesale roaming agreements between mobile network operators (MNOs). The global wholesale roaming market is projected to more than double, from $9 billion in 2024 to $20 billion by 2028. This surge will be fueled by the expanding deployment of 5G Standalone (SA) technology, which enables real-time roaming connections and activity monitoring. But beneath this headline figure lies a complex landscape of regional variations and technological mobile service disruptions. Global Mobile Roaming Market Development Western Europe dominates inbound roaming connections, largely thanks to its Roam Like at Home (RLAH) initiative, which eliminates roaming charges among member countries.  Meanwhile, the Indian Subcontinent is emerging as a growth hotspot. Between 2024 and 2029, inbou...

The global Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) and Direct-to-Cell (D2C) markets are poised for growth, driven by unprecedented collaboration between technology giants, satellite operators, and mobile network operators (MNOs). According to the latest worldwide market study, these sectors will collectively generate over $25 billion in revenue by 2035, reshaping connectivity paradigms. This convergence represents a strategic response to the escalating demand for ubiquitous, low-latency wireless connectivity across industries and geographies. Global Connectivity Market Development    The NTN market (encompassing satellite, airborne, and maritime connectivity) and D2C services are converging to create hybrid infrastructure models. By 2035, NTN services alone will account for $15 billion of the total revenue, driven by applications in IoT, emergency communications, and rural broadband. D2C apps enabling satellite-to-smartphone connectivity will grow at 32 percent CAGR to $10 billion by 20...

The semiconductor industry is poised for a significant resurgence in 2025, with artificial intelligence (AI) and high-performance computing (HPC) as the primary catalysts for growth. According to the latest worldwide market study by International Data Corporation (IDC), the semiconductor market is expected to experience 15 percent growth in 2025, largely propelled by the increasing demand for AI and HPC applications. This surge is not merely a continuation of existing growth trends but represents a paradigm shift in the industry's dynamics. Global Semiconductor Market Development One of the most striking statistics from the IDC study is the projected 24 percent growth in the memory segment. This exceptional increase is primarily attributed to the rising adoption of high-end products such as HBM3 and HBM3e, which are essential components for AI accelerators. The anticipated introduction of HBM4 in the latter half of 2025 is expected to further fuel this ongoing growth trajectory. Me...

The semiconductor and smartphone industry stands on the brink of a transformative era, driven by the rapid integration of Generative AI (GenAI) technology into mobile devices. According to the latest global market study by International Data Corporation (IDC), GenAI smartphone shipments are forecast to grow by 363.6 percent in 2024 alone, reaching 234.2 million units. This surge represents 19 percent of the overall smartphone market. As we look toward the future, the adoption of GenAI is anticipated to redefine mobile device user interaction. GenAI Smartphone Market Development GenAI smartphones are defined by their ability to run on-device generative AI models efficiently, thanks to a system-on-a-chip (SoC) featuring a neural processing unit (NPU) with a performance capability of 30 tera operations per second (TOPS) or more, using the int-8 data type. This technological advancement promises to enhance the mobile user experience by enabling more personalized and proactive GenAI tool f...

The global telecommunications market is forecast to reach $900 billion in operator-billed revenue in 2024, according to the latest worldwide market study by Juniper Research. This represents a pivotal juncture for telecom operators as they navigate emerging technologies' challenges and opportunities.  While telecom operators have invested heavily in deploying 5G networks, the study highlights their struggle to effectively monetize widespread 5G adoption among wireless network service subscribers. A key issue has been the inability to command a significant price premium over 4G services, despite the superior performance and capabilities of 5G. This challenge underscores the need for operators to explore new revenue streams beyond traditional mobile services. Telecom Services Market Development As Juniper analysts indicate, a promising avenue for revenue growth lies in the enterprise Internet of Things (IoT) market. With the IoT connectivity revenue market forecasted to expand from $...

The business technology community is at a critical juncture in 2024. Global market pressures are starting to ease, but persistent geopolitical threats are somewhat hindering progress. As a result, telecom network providers and their customers are under pressure to make strategic near-term decisions to drive positive impact and ROI within their organizations. "The rapid rise of private cellular, huge growth in 5G mMIMO radio deployments, and a big bet on network slicing are just some of the many changes on the horizon of which companies and organizations must be aware to make mid-course corrections or complete roadmaps," said Stuart Carlaw, chief research officer at ABI Research . Mobile Wireless Market Development The total addressable market for private networks, encompassing elements such as the Radio Access Network (RAN), Mobile-access Edge Computing (MEC), the core, and professional services, is poised to grow significantly. Anticipated to surge from $6.1 billion in 2023 ...

Soon you will start to experience Artificial Intelligence (AI) benefits everywhere -- in the public cloud, at the edge of mobile networks, and on many personal digital devices. Generative AI (GenAI) workloads have moved beyond the bounds of cloud environments and can now run on-device supported by implementing heterogeneous AI chipsets. Combined with an abstraction layer that can efficiently distribute AI workloads between processing architectures and compressed LLMs with under 15 billion parameters, these advanced chipsets can enable us to run generative AI inferencing locally. On-Device AI Market Development ABI Research estimates worldwide shipments of heterogeneous AI chipsets will reach over 1.8 billion by 2030 as personal computers, smartphones, and other form factors will increasingly ship with on-device AI capabilities. "Cloud deployment will act as a bottleneck for generative AI to scale due to data privacy, latency, and networking cost concerns. Solving these challenges...

Mobile communications applications continue to evolve in response to new technology use cases. Telecom service providers and software vendors are now exploring applications for Artificial Intelligence (AI) capabilities. Generative AI (GenAI) is a type of artificial intelligence that can create new content, such as text, images, audio, and video assets. Applications of GenAI within the communications sector include generating personalized messages for each customer, chatbots that can answer customer queries, and creating targeted marketing campaigns to generate leads and sales for brands and enterprises. Telecom GenAI Market Development According to the latest worldwide market study by Juniper Research, enterprise spending on GenAI over mobile messaging channels will grow by 1,250 percent over the next four years -- that's from $830 million in 2024. Juniper predicts that the ability to automate the personalization of content, including marketing efforts and customer interactions ov...

Societal shifts have affected how retail customers shop. The move toward a 'cashless' society was accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to more eCommerce transactions and online spending. Meanwhile, in-store retail Point of Sale (POS) terminals transformed. Traditional hardware-based POS systems evolved into specialized solutions, which provide compact mobile terminals. However, the arrival of software-based 'Soft POS' solutions will disrupt this market. Soft POS Market Development All POS systems process payment transactions by forming a connection between a buyer’s and a seller’s respective bank accounts for the transaction to occur, and actioning the exchange of funds. According to the latest worldwide market study by Juniper Research, the global transaction value processed via Soft POS solutions will reach $11.8 billion by 2028, which is up from $1 billion in 2023. New growth will be driven by Apple’s launch of 'Tap to Pay', coupled with the Soft...

The global 5G mobile communications sector continues the remarkable progress across many key markets. As of Q3 2023, the world added 537 million 5G wireless connections, bringing global totals to 1.6 billion, which represents an increase of 71 percent over the past year. This growth trajectory suggests an optimistic outlook for the future of 5G adoption according to 5G Americas, and the latest market data from Omdia research. "The global 5G landscape shows positive momentum as innovation and collaboration continue to be the mainstays for long-term progress," said Chris Pearson, president of 5G Americas . 5G Networks Market Development Looking ahead, Omdia forecasts that the global 5G connection base will likely reach 1.8 billion by the end of 2023 and 7.9 billion by 2028, as 5G-Advanced network improvements are implemented and work towards 6G is completed. While this represents a significant expansion, it is important to note that this growth may not be linear.  Factors such ...

5G is quickly becoming the predominant network for mobile communications. In 2023, there will be 1.6 billion 5G connections, with growth forecast to reach 6 billion in 2028. Mobile network roaming connections are anticipated to grow 350 percent over the next five years, with the growing presence of 5G and IoT roaming devices being major driving factors of this growth. To capitalize on this demand, data and financial clearing houses must identify the key drivers, as this will allow them to produce targeted services, optimized to help providers in monetizing these trends. 5G Mobile Roaming Market Development According to the latest worldwide market study by Juniper Research, the average revenue leakage per 5G roaming connection will decrease from $1.72 to $1.20, as mobile network operators leverage artificial intelligence (AI) based solutions.  Mobile service provider revenue leakage refers to the value of services provided but not monetized by the network operator. This reducti...

Virtual payment cards, also known as temporary cards, are randomly generated temporary card numbers linked to a payment account that is used to process payments in place of genuine payment details. A virtual card is an online payment tool that has similar attributes as a traditional Credit or Debit card, with key components including a 16-digit card number, an expiry date, and a CVV number. These cards are digitized versions of a physical card or a card that only exists in its virtual form and is stored in digital wallets. The distinctive feature of virtual cards is the enhanced layer of security. Virtual Card Market Development According to the latest worldwide market study by Juniper Research, by 2028 global virtual card spending will have increased by 355 percent -- that's from $3.1 trillion in 2023. The key growth driver will be the adoption of API-based virtual card issuing platforms. Juniper analysts explored the use cases where virtual cards use temporary card numbers linked...

Digital identity verification is a security method applied in the processing of digital transactions. Digital identity verification is used to enable the remote verification of an individual’s identity, ensuring that they are who they claim to be online. This is most often used for digital onboarding customers onto an online service, but can also be used to verify identity when authorizing Fintech money transfers, or for access management. With the growing threats and increasingly complex fraud methods used by malicious actors, it is vital that institutions that handle sensitive data use up-to-date methods to protect their end-users. Digital Identity Market Development Many digital identity verification vendors offer solutions that increase the accuracy, security, and user experience of the digital onboarding process, and of other digital identity verification use cases. It's important that due to the variety of digital business use cases, other secure forms of identity verificatio...

The evolution of mobile networks has witnessed a shift with the advent of Open RAN (Radio Access Network) solutions. Historically, traditional network architectures were characterized by proprietary, monolithic systems, and limiting flexibility. Open RAN represents a paradigm shift in the mobile sector with an extended and disaggregated approach to network infrastructure. The concept gained momentum as a response to the desire for greater interoperability, vendor diversity, and cost efficiency. This approach enables the decoupling of hardware and software components. Open RAN enables the deployment of adaptable systems that can keep pace with the advancements in wireless technology. Open RAN Market Development  Emerging Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) innovations in Open RAN Massive MIMO (mMIMO) solutions will play a pivotal role in improving performance to match that of traditional RAN mMIMO, according to the latest worldwide market study by ABI Research. Wh...

The total number of roaming connections is anticipated to grow 350 percent over the next five years, with the growing presence of 5G and IoT roaming devices being major driving factors. According to the latest worldwide market study by Juniper Research , growth in global roaming clearing revenues will reach $2.5 billion in 2024. This 30 percent increase will be driven by the rise in 5G roaming connections as mobile service providers continue 5G network expansion. 5G Roaming Market Development For network operators and clearing houses to capitalize on this opportunity, Juniper says they must focus on implementing new technologies and new growth strategies. A major trend is the growth in Internet of Things (IoT) roaming devices, anticipated to reach 595 million globally by 2028. While this brings opportunities, mobile operators see limited revenue per Low Power Wide Area (LPWA) connection. Clearing houses can help by providing highly scalable cloud-based services to handle increasing dat...