MWC Barcelona 2025 once again proved to be the world’s premier stage for innovation in mobile technology, and Global Telco Consult (GTC) was right at the heart of it. This year, we were represented by José A. García Martín, Giovanni Benini, Guillaume Bourcy, Erik van Stokkom, Bahadir Yavuz, and Craig Allen. Judging by the quality of the events, launches, and business meetings, one thing is certain: MWC is still the reigning champion of telco-themed events and shows no sign of slowing down.
From AI breakthroughs to network API advancements, MWC 2025 delivered on its promise to showcase the next wave of technological evolution. Let’s dive right in!
Messaging
While specific messaging news was less prominent at MWC 2025, the event showcased advancements in related technologies. Mobile Ecosystem Forum (MEF) refreshed its board with global messaging talent, including representatives from Bandwidth Inc. and Cisco, indicating ongoing industry focus on messaging technologies.
Another piece of news worth mentioning is that Glide Identity partnered with Google Cloud to demonstrate a significant Open Gateway deployment milestone featuring the Firebase phone number verification service. This innovative SIM-based cryptographic solution offers an alternative to traditional one-time passwords for user authentication.
AI AI AI AI AI AI!
As was expected, MWC 2025 solidified AI as the dominant force shaping the mobile industry’s future. The event showcased a surprisingly rapid integration of AI across devices, networks, and services. Let’s look at some examples.
Arm demonstrated significant advancements in on-device AI, including a 30x improvement in audio generation speed and enhanced multimodal AI workloads at the edge.
Intel’s Technology Showcase highlighted AI-powered solutions, including gesture-controlled city building and enterprise-focused demos.
Major smartphone manufacturers like Honor and Oppo unveiled ambitious AI initiatives. Honor committed $10 billion to an “intelligent phone.” Oppo focused on AI-enhanced productivity and creativity.
The integration of AI with 5G networks, particularly through AI-RAN (Artificial Intelligence in Radio Access Networks), emerged as a key trend for optimizing network efficiency and creating new business opportunities.
Finally, Eriksson presented edge computing powered by AI as a potential goldmine for telecom operators, enabling more responsive and personalized digital services.
Digital Identity
The Digital Identity Summit at MWC 2025 highlighted the growing importance of mobile identity in elevating digital trust and unlocking new revenue streams for telcos. Deutsche Telekom showcased cross-border digital identity potential, demonstrating faster and more secure SIM card activation using their EUDI wallet.
Lithuania-based deverium launched alongID, a cross-border digital identity orchestration engine supported by 2 million euros in EU funding. The product aims to address critical cross-border identification challenges and give users control over their data privacy. These developments underscore the evolution of digital identity from a compliance tool to a strategic business imperative, aligning with regulatory frameworks like eIDAS 2.0.
Network APIs: Unlocking New Revenue Streams
Network APIs took center stage at MWC this year, showcasing their potential to revolutionize the telecommunications industry. MEF unveiled its NaaS Network APIs, enabling AI-driven applications to dynamically adjust network resources on demand.
Deutsche Telekom’s T Wholesale and Nokia announced a commercial deal to make SIM Swap and Number Verification APIs available through Nokia’s Network as Code platform, targeting Germany initially with plans to expand to other European markets.
Orange LiveNet presented demonstrations of Industry 4.0 Network APIs and Quality-on-demand (QoD) solutions, highlighting the potential for improved productivity in hybrid work environments. These developments underscore the industry’s shift towards a compute-centric outlook, with ABI Research projecting a US$13.4 billion network API market by 2028.
“I’m really happy to see that Open Gateway is becoming more than just an initiative; it’s a reality that empowers the monetization of telco assets. After spending over 10 years preaching and evangelizing Mobile Identity through either Mobile Connect or proprietary solutions – I’m very pleased to see the ecosystem coming together.” – Guillaume Bourcy
And to top it off, as a clear sign of success, just two years after its launch, the GSMA Open Gateway initiative is now supported by 72 mobile operator groups representing 284 networks, representing around 80% of the global mobile connections.
Smart Devices Are Getting Smarter
Of course, what would an MWC digest be without referencing the most important gadget launches? Historically, MWC was the place where most of the latest flagship handsets were launched. However, it seems that it’s becoming less of a trend now. Nevertheless, many other devices were launched, and they are definitely worth highlighting.
New Smartphones
- Xiaomi 15 Ultra: This flagship phone was launched globally at MWC. It features a powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite chip and a notable camera system.
- Nothing Phone (3a) and (3a) Pro: These phones were unveiled by Nothing, known for their distinctive design and the illuminated glyphs on the back.
- Samsung Galaxy A56: Although not a new flagship, the Galaxy A56 was highlighted for its mid-range capabilities and AI features.
- Infinix Note 50 Series: Infinix introduced the Note 50 and Note 50 Pro. Both have 4G capabilities and impressive display features.
- Meizu Note 22, mblu 22, and mblu 22 Pro: Meizu announced these phones during the event.
- Tecno Camon 40 Series: Tecno launched this series, focusing on AI and camera capabilities.
Other devices
- TECNO AI Glasses Pro: A MWC 2025 highlight, feature a 50MP camera, AR display, and translation/object recognition.
- RayNeo’s X3 Pro AR glasses: These include a micro-LED display, Qualcomm AR1 Gen 1 chip, and offer translation/audio summarization.
- Lenovo ThinkBook Flip AI PC: A 13-inch laptop that transforms into an 18.1-inch display, enhancing workspace flexibility.
- TCL Nxtpaper 11 Plus: A tablet promising improved visual clarity while maintaining 100% sRGB coverage.
- Tecno Megabook S14: A lightweight 14″ laptop with an OLED display and choice of Snapdragon X Elite or Intel Core Ultra processors.
- Mudita Kompakt: A minimalist E Ink phone designed to reduce distractions.
- BleeqUp Ranger: AI sports glasses primarily designed for cyclists, integrating an action camera, open-ear headphones, and a walkie-talkie feature.
- Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro: The first wireless earbuds to run on Wi-Fi. They feature Qualcomm’s S7 Pro chip for lossless audio playback.
- Honor Pad V9: An ultraportable Android tablet with eye-protection features and long battery life.
Looking Ahead to MWC 2026
As the dust settles on another incredible MWC, GTC is already looking ahead to 2026. Next year, we plan to have an even stronger presence, diving deeper into AI-powered telecommunications, network monetization strategies, and the evolving landscape of digital identity. If MWC 2025 taught us anything, it’s that innovation is accelerating at an unprecedented pace, and GTC will continue to be at the forefront of these transformations. See you in Barcelona next year!
Any questions?
Global Telco Consult (GTC) is a trusted independent business messaging consultancy with deep domain knowledge in application-to-person (A2P) services. GTC provides tailor-made messaging strategies to enterprises, messaging service providers, operators and voice carriers. We have expertise in multiple messaging channels such as RCS, Viber, WhatsApp, Telegram and SMS for the wholesale and retail industry. Additionally, GTC offers Digital Identity and Fraud advisory services, aiding clients in navigating the complexities of digital identity verification and fraud prevention, while also providing Recruitment services, assisting businesses in acquiring top talent within the telecom and technology sectors.
GTC supports its customers from market strategy through service launch, running the operations and supporting sales and procurement. The company started in 2016 with a mission to guide operators and telcos to embrace new and exciting opportunities and make the most out of business messaging. For more information or industry insights, browse through our blog page or follow us on LinkedIn.