Our Bridge Alliance API Exchange (BAEx) showcase at the GSMA Open Gateway Zone at MWC Barcelona.
Hi everyone!
We were excited to be able to catch up with many of you at MWC Barcelona 2025 back in March!
Among the many themes of focus, it is fair to say that AI took centre stage at MWC 2025; in fact, the AI conversation – – whether agentic AI, generative AI (GenAI), or predictive AI – virtually overshadowed every other topic with vendors and telcos has been showcasing their most representative AI technologies and applications.
Topics like AI, not forgetting Network APIs, IoT and Private Networks were also discussed. These are just some of the other interesting trends observed around MWC 2025:
- More than just a telco event – reflecting the evolving nature of the telecom business, at MWC there are now less displays by the operators and a more robust presence in terms of floorspace and announcements by the larger technology ecosystem of hyperscalers, vendors, partners, system integrators, device manufacturers and more.
- Satellite connectivity is taking off – Discussions about integration of NTN and terrestrial (4G and 5G) connectivity are becoming commonplace; in particular, satellite is becoming a key part of IoT strategies, especially for extending coverage into remote areas.
- Data centers are increasingly becoming part of the telcos’ strategy, again all fueled by the drive to monetize the AI opportunity. There are discussions over whether telcos are becoming data centre operators. In this respect, it is worth highlighting SK Telecom which made several announcements with regards to their data center solutions, with GPUaaS, optimizing cooling and developing artificial intelligence data center (AIDC) solutions.
- AI and Consumers – Since AI is everywhere, AI can be seen as a major driving force in smartphones and consumer services. Deutsche Telekom showed their AI phone centred on Magenta AI, while a Korean startup showed us the future through its Hybrid OS that uses customers’ personal data on the device to create an AI assistant.
Read on for more about what went on with Bridge Alliance and Bridge Member Operators (BMOs) in the past quarter, in particular at MWC!
Cheers
Bridge Alliance Research & Analysis team
AI
Agentic AI was definitely one of the major themes around AI at MWC; having an AI-powered digital assistant that can do more than just answer a simple query, but that can make AI solutions easier for organisations to adopt while also further increasing efficiency is proving to be a massive game changer.
Some interesting announcements from the BMOs:
Maxis introduced Mia (Maxis Intelligent Assistant), a Gen AI powered concierge service jointly developed with AWS for its business customers. Designed to simplify customer experience on the Maxis Business Hub (MBH) digital self-serve portal, Mia combines conversational AI with intelligent workflow automation to deliver seamless roaming service management for businesses. At launch, Mia features 24/7 instant roaming support, smart travel recommendations and context-aware conversation capabilities at launch.
In Europe, Deutsche Telekom and Google Cloud announced a new partnership on Agentic AI for Autonomous Networks, specifically to improve Radio Access Network (RAN) operations through the development of a network AI agent. Built using Gemini 2.0 in Vertex AI from Google Cloud, the agent can analyze network behavior, detect performance issues, and implement corrective actions to improve network reliability, reduce operational costs, and enhance customer experiences.
Telkom Group will implement Meta’s LlaMa, an open-source AI model, into the customer chatbots of its enterprise clients. This integration will enable businesses to create tailored and engaging experiences for users interacting with businesses on WhatsApp. Veronika, Telkomsel’s chatbot, is already live on WhatsApp for sales and customer support. In the future, this chatbot will be powered by LlaMa, enhancing its capabilities and providing a more personalized experience for users.
In South Korea, SK Telecom will bring its AI agent ‘Aster’ to the US market; SKT is also partnering with Schneider Electric to collaborate on mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) systems for artificial intelligence data centers (AIDCs), and has also signed an MoU with Giga Computing and SK Enmove to jointly develop next-generation cooling solutions. They will collaborate on extensive R&D efforts, including validating technologies to optimize liquid cooling performance and developing AIDC solutions.
SKT has joined the MIT GenAI Impact Consortium as a founding member (together with Analog Devices, The Coca-Cola Co., OpenAI, Tata Group, and TWG Global) with the aim to broaden the scope of its AI initiatives to cover next-generation research areas and verticals, such as manufacturing and biotechnology.
SKT also entered into a strategic partnership with IonQ, a US quantum computing company, with plans to integrate IonQ’s quantum computing technology with its own AI capabilities, including its Personal AI Agent (PAA) services such as A. (A-DoT) and Aster (A*), AI data centers (AIDC), GPU-as-a-Service (GPUaaS), and Edge AI. Additionally, SK Telecom aims to combine cryptography technologies, including quantum key distribution (QKD) and post-quantum cryptography (PQC), with IonQ’s technology to strengthen its AI business competitiveness.
In Australia, Optus is accelerating data and AI transformation with a consortium led unified data platform. Optus, Microsoft, Tech Mahindra and Databricks have partnered to implement the first unified data platform in the Asia-Pacific region. It has reduced Optus’ core operational processing time by up to 50% and data engineering pipeline development time by up to 20%.
SoftBank is making significant strides in its collaboration with OpenAI. They announced a partnership and joint venture company to develop and market Advanced Enterprise AI called “Cristal intelligence”, which will securely integrate the systems and data of individual enterprises in a way that is customized specifically for each company. SoftBank will spend $3 billion US annually to deploy OpenAI’s solutions such as ChatGPT Enterprise across its group companies, making it the first company in the world to integrate Cristal intelligence at scale, as well as deploying existing tools like ChatGPT Enterprise to employees across the entire group.
Over in the Middle East, Stc has announced a strategic collaboration with Cohere, a specialist in secure enterprise AI. This collaboration is set to redefine stc’s AI-driven operations, enhance customer engagement, and unlock new digital growth opportunities through state-of-the-art AI solutions. Through its AI arm, stc.AI, stc and SambaNova launched a LLM sovereign cloud platform, which will run the world’s largest open-source frontier and drive innovation across sectors.
In Macau, CTM in collaboration with Baidu has established the “City Digital Economy (Macau) Innovation Center” at the CTM Original Store, showcasing the latest AI application scenarios. Additionally, CTM cooperated with Baidu and Macau Productivity and Technology Transfer Center to provide the first recognised AI training course in locally.
In Singapore, Singtel and Qualcomm announced the completion of a POC of an AI-enabled Home Wi-Fi Gateway that intelligently prioritises traffic based on the application type and could results in latency reductions. Following this POC, Singtel will work on commercialising this capability across markets within the Singtel Group, starting with Singapore, as well as explore future AI capabilities enabled by Qualcomm Dragonwing NPro 7 and N7 Platforms to further enhance customer experience and satisfaction.
APIs
Like last year, telco APIs continued to be a prominent topic at MWC Barcelona, with an increasing range of API announcements, use cases, and demos, as well as several new alliances. The spotlight is on the GSMA Open Gateway initiative to show that strong progress has been made in the past couple of years.
New members continue to join Open Gateway with a number of announcements made by the likes of aggregators like Aduna, CPaaS providers like Infobip, Vonage, and Telefonica. Strong emphasis remains on the potential for network APIs to drive innovation and new revenue streams for telcos.
We were at the GSMA Open Gateway Zone with BMOs like Telkomsel and Taiwan Mobile to showcase the major developments of our Bridge Alliance API Exchange (BAEx). To date, 14 operators have pledged their commitment to BAEx, which simplifies API access and adoption with its unified integration, simplified commercial framework and common operational support model. We also co-hosted the Open Gateway Global Use Case Innovation Challenge launched by China Unicom Global and the GSMA, and have established multiple new channel partnerships. Congratulations to the winners who will receive support for technology incubation, resource matching, and global marketing!
Globe’s 917Ventures has partnered with GSMA Open Gateway to integrate Concati, its API marketplace, into a global initiative; 917Ventures is also collaborating with us as a BAEx channel partner.
In Kuwait, stc and IPification are partnering to bring seamless mobile authentication to users in the country, while in Malaysia, Maxis has showcased its Maxis Mobile Identity solution which leverages a suite of advanced telco verification APIs starting with Number Verify API, that will deliver seamless, secure and simplified authentication experiences for mobile users.
IOT/M2M
Although still in the early stages of adoption, AI is getting more embedded in nearly every IoT solution. There were some interesting IoT-related announcements made at MWC by our BMOs and partners.
Our IoT partner Aeris has launched Aeris IoT Watchtower, the world’s first fully integrated security solution for cellular IoT. Aeris IoT Watchtower delivers enterprise IoT visibility and control to prevent IoT security breaches, significantly reduces the impact of any IoT security event, improves operational efficiency and ensures regulatory compliance. We will work with Aeris to deliver the solution to BMOs to add further value to their existing enterprise IoT offerings.
With its “MECC” (Make Everything Cellular Connected) offer with Nordic Semiconductor, Deutsche Telekom has a new offer for manufacturers where connectivity via an IoT module with integrated SIM is already pre- installed as a low-cost standby mode in products such as robotic lawnmowers, kitchen appliances or smart bikes and activated only when needed.
DT and metr, a provider of smart building solutions, are digitalizing over 120 heating systems in multifamily residences of Stadtsiedlung Heilbronn GmbH, a housing community. metr’s manufacturer-independent IoT solution enables remote monitoring and fully automatic optimization of the systems. Operating data is securely transmitted to the metr platform via Deutsche Telekom’s mobile connectivity, reducing energy consumption and CO2 emissions and lowering costs for tenants.
SoftBank-owned Cubic is partnering Thales to drive innovation and simplify connectivity management. Leveraging Thales’s eSIM management platform, Cubic will enhance its eSIM solution capabilities to align with the latest GSMA standards, ensuring seamless global connectivity particularly for its automaker customers.
Telkomsel and Pegatron 5G signed an MOU at MWC Barcelona . This strategic collaboration marks a new step in the implementation of 5G Smart Manufacturing solutions at Pegatron’s production facilities in Batam, Indonesia. Tapping on Telkomsel’s 5G network, this solution enables full integration between IoT and automation in the production process.
In Malaysia, China Unicom Operations (Malaysia) and local operator U Mobile have inked an MoU to drive innovation in IoT, smart mobility and sustainable connectivity for businesses.
5G & Innovation
On the 5G and innovation front, the telecom industry is still working on monetising 5G. Telcos are increasingly caught between cutting costs to improve profitability or pushing ahead with innovative services to secure new revenue streams.
The announcements by BMOs reflect a broad range of activities.
In Australia, Optus has fast-tracked its 5G network rollout in connecting regional Australia, tapping on the regional Multi-Operator Core Network (MOCN) agreement that allows it to leverage the start of its network and spectrum sharing arrangement with TPG Telecom.
China Unicom officially unveiled its 5G-Advanced action plan. The operator will launch 5G-Advanced services in the central areas of 39 key cities and key locations in over 300 other cities by the end of 2025, and also industry progammes aimed at promoting industry-specific applications and AI applications. It will also lead the establishment of a device ecosystem alliance for converged innovation to deepen collaboration with upstream and downstream partners and jointly build up the 5G-Advanced industry ecosystem.
SoftBank and Ericsson have inked an MoU to establish a partnership focusing on evaluating and co-creating “NextWave Tech”, which encompasses advancing technologies to next stage, including AI, Cloud RAN, XR, 6G. SoftBank has also developed a new Large Telecom Model (LTM), a genAI foundation for the telecom industry. The LTM is trained on diverse datasets and enables advanced inference in the design, management, and operation of cellular networks and optimization of base station configurations.
Airtel and Ericsson have strengthened their longstanding partnership through a new collaboration to deploy Ericsson’s secure, high-performing 5G Core network offerings Airtel customers across India. The collaboration will enable Airtel to seamlessly transition to a commercially live, full-scale 5G Standalone network over time, bringing the high-end capabilities of 5G to their customers.
In a groundbreaking step towards leveraging 5G Advanced in the industry, Airtel, Ericsson and Volvo Group have announced their research partnership to explore the potential of Extended Reality (XR), Digital Twin technologies and AI in the manufacturing sector. This collaboration aims to transform industrial operations, enhance workforce training, and drive real-time process optimisation. The research engagement will be conducted at the Volvo Group Factory and Volvo Group’s R&D Centre in Bangalore
Over in Taiwan, Taiwan Mobile announced a collaboration with the BMW Group to introduce Taiwan’s first 5G “One Number for Car” service, becoming the first telco locally to extend mobile number connectivity into smart vehicles. Powered by personal eSIM technology, the service enables users to make calls and use mobile data in supported BMW models using their existing mobile number—even when their smartphone is not on hand. BMW’s flagship models equipped with the Theatre Screen further enhance the in-car experience by offering access rich multimedia content on the go.
In health innovation, Deutsche Telekom and pharmaceutical giant Boehringer Ingelheim have developed a GCP-compliant documentation system TrialComplete Early Phase for Phase 1 clinical studies. The standardised platform enables access by any user regardless of location, secure data storage and precise control of blood draws and examination.
For the first time, Deutsche Telekom has used a drone to provide mobile network coverage to customers on a live commercial network: From an altitude of 2.3 kilometers in the sky, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) with an integrated mobile base station provided coverage on the slopes at the legendary Jizerská 50 race, part of Ski Classics, in the Jizera Mountains. This makes Deutsche Telekom the first ever carrier in Europe to deploy this type of flying base station.
Telkomsel and TikTok are focusing on leveraging Telco Verify and Telco Insight Collaboration to provide a safer digital experience for TikTok users in Indonesia. Both companies inked a MoU at MWC Barcelona on this front and will explore further collaboration.
Enterprise
On the enterprise front, telcos are betting on cybersecurity as a growth opportunity. There are more partnerships with cybersecurity majors as telcos build their expertise in security. Similarly, telcos are taking a prominent role in combating fraud announcing partnerships across disciplines (digital platforms, finance, law enforcement) to address this problem.
Singtel has partnered Palo Alto Networks to launch two solutions that will help consumers and businesses strengthen their cybersecurity posture. Singtel’s Unified Secure Access Service Edge Convergence (Unified SASE Convergence) powered by Palo Alto Networks Prisma SASE, leverages the power of Precision AI, combining Software-Defined Wide Area Networking (SD-WAN) and SIM-based authentication to help enterprises verify a user’s identity and IoT devices connected to Singtel’s network. Singtel has also expanded its pioneering 5G Security-as-a-Slice (SecaaS) capabilities with Palo Alto Networks Next Generation Firewall to protect roaming and IoT customers from foreign network vulnerabilities, surveillance risks and hacking attempts.
Also in cybersecurity: Singtel has partnered Singapore’s Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA) and HTX (Home Team Science and Technology Agency) to deploy network slicing technology islandwide to bolster their capabilities and the national security of Singapore.
At MWC Barcelona, Telkomsel and Huawei signed a 1-y agreement to establish a partnership to accelerate digital business growth in 5G, Cloud and Enterprise Solutions, focusing on two aspects: joint innovation in digital technology development, and talent development programs to enhance the competencies of the telecommunications workforce in Indonesia.
Over in Bahrain, stc and Fortinet signed an MoU to introduce Bahrain’s first Sovereign Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) solution.
HKT’s wholly owned subsidiary received approval to participate in the pilot programme to expand the opening-up of Value-Added Telecommunications (VAT) services in mainland China. It is the first Hong Kong-funded telco to obtain qualifications for Internet Service Provision (ISP) and Internet Content Provision (ICP). This marks an important step in HKT’s participation in the opening up of the country’s telecommunications industry since the group began developing its business in mainland China in 1992. Last October, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) of China launched the pilot programme to expand the opening-up of VAT services to foreign enterprises in designated areas of Beijing, Shanghai, Hainan and Shenzhen.
In India, Airtel and Bajaj Finance, the country’s largest private-sector Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC), announced a strategic partnership to create one of India’s largest digital platforms for financial services and transform last mile delivery. Airtel will initially offer Bajaj Finance’s retail financial products on its Airtel Thanks App for seamless and secure customer experience, and later through its nation-wide network of stores.
Edge/MEC/Cloud
MWC 2025 showcased a strong emphasis on cloud computing and its integration with other technologies, particularly AI, 5G, and edge computing. The integration of edge computing and cloud will become more seamless, allowing for real-time data processing at the edge while leveraging the cloud for storage and analytics. Major cloud vendors were highlighting how AI-powered solutions can be deployed and managed effectively through cloud platform.
Telkomsel had two announcements. It established a collaboration with Ericsson to introduce Far Edge Core Solutions and advance talent development focused on 5G advanced technology, AI-driven networks, cloud-native architecture, and related digital innovations. The telco also announced a strategic partnership with Tencent Cloud on AI and cloud-based solution development. Telkomsel will harness B2B and B2C solutions such as AI Generated Content (AIGC), AI Translation, and eKYC solutions like Palm Verification, and other AI capabilities, while Tencent Cloud will support the cloud cost optimization for Telkomsel, including public and hybrid cloud collaborations with Telkomsel.
Meanwhile, SoftBank Corp announced the deployment of its its ‘AITRAS’ converged AI-RAN solution at NVIDIA headquarters in Santa Clara, California, USA. The live implementation will facilitate innovation and advanced AI-and-RAN and AI-for-RAN experiments, as well as enable the development of new AI-on-RAN applications.
Private Networks
The hype from two to three years ago has died down a bit but the private mobile network market continues to grow with a focus on refining and scaling solutions for specific industries, like manufacturing and healthcare. Telcos are increasingly been seen as strategic partners for enterprises looking to deploy private 5G.
In the past quarter, Globe, HKT, and stc Group have been active in this space. HKT announced the launch of Asia’s first 800Gbps WAN solution serving enterprises in Hong Kong. HKT’s 800Gbps AI Superhighway is a dedicated, fibre-based private network.
Stc Group and Celona have partnered to launch a new generation of private 5G digital solutions allowing businesses to scale up their wireless connectivity in a cost-efficient manner; while Globe successfully deployed the Philippines’ first fully functional Private 5G Network designed to address major operational pain points and challenges in different industries.
Could 2025 be the year that China finally opens up 5G private networking to enterprise? The big three telcos are clocking big numbers in terms of networks deployed and applications developed and launched over those networks. For example, China Telecom says it has built more than 16,000 5G private networks and launched more than 40,000 applications, with China Unicom reporting 15,000 networks. China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) is signalling its clear intent to change this. The latest and strongest indication has come in its call for “the orderly implementation” of “independent” 5G private network trials, and instructs telcos and provincial governments to help “large enterprises and special industries” obtain spectrum for pilot networks.
Unified Communications/CPaaS
On the UC/CPaaS front, some key trends in 2025 include enhanced AI integration, robust security measures, and a continued focus on cloud-based solutions. These trends are expected to drive improved customer experiences, streamlined workflows, and greater agility for businesses.
CPaaS players are increasingly incorporating genAI, offering features like intelligent virtual assistants and predictive analytics, enhancing efficiency and user experience. Infobip and Sinch were among the most active players during Q1 2025. There have been also a few announcements by operators around Rich Communications Services (RCS) Business Messaging (RBM) showing the potential for growth of the RCS business messaging market over the next few years.
Singtel was active in this space during Q1: it is partnering Twilio to offer businesses in Singapore a platform to connect with their customers through secure and branded messaging like RCS.
At MWC Barcelona, Telkomsel, Google, together with Indonesia’s Ministry of Communications & Digital Affairs, announced a strategic collaboration to strengthen digital communication security in Indonesia through the implementation of RCS. With enhanced security features, the Ministry also has the potential to utilise RBM as an official and verified channel for directly delivering information to the public.
Web 3
The Metaverse seems here to stay at least with a few players like Roblox, and Fortnite continuing to drive the development and adoption of metaverse platforms. Meta has also launched a $50 million Meta Horizon Creator Fund (even though it just announced layoffs in its Reality Labs division), aimed at rewarding creators who can innovate and earn with Meta Horizon Worlds. The fund will support Meta Horizon Worlds creators with new opportunities to create, monetize and earn rewards.
We can also expect AI to play a crucial role in the metaverse, enhancing experiences and creating new possibilities.
Our BA operators remain keen on areas like blockchain and cryptocurrencies: HKT, Standard Chartered Bank Hong Kong and Animoca Brands are planning to establish a JV to apply for a license from the Hong Kong Monetary Authority in the new regulatory regime, in order to issue a HK dollar-backed stablecoin. HKT has also launched Go Wallet, a blockchain-based marketing and loyalty platform designed to empower SMEs in the retail sector of Hong Kong.
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