The Taipei-based Market Intelligence & Consulting Institute (MIC) is set to host the seminar "MWC 2025 Key Takeaways: Smartphones, Next-Gen Mobile Communications, and Emerging AI Applications" on March 14. This event will provide in-depth analysis of industry insights gathered from the MWC (Mobile World Congress) exhibition in Spain. MIC's findings indicate that global telecom operators and equipment manufacturers are placing a strong emphasis on AI as they explore new revenue opportunities in mobile communications services. MIC has identified seven major trends emerging from MWC 2025:
- Smartphones as the Central Hub of Smart Homes, with Different Large Language Models (LLMs) Integrated
- The AI-Radio Access Network (AI-RAN) Ecosystem Takes Shape, Facilitating Consensus for 6G Standardization
- Equipment Vendors Focus on Supporting 5G SA (Standalone) and Private Networks
- Network Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) Redefining the Telecom Landscape, Driving Telcos Toward Tech Company Transformation
- AI Agents Becoming a Standard Service for Telecom Operators
- Enterprise AI Agents Addressing Key Business Challenges Across Industries
- Chinese Enterprises Integrating DeepSeek to Upgrade Services, Enabling Cost-Effective AI Applications in Telecom
- Smartphones as the Central Hub of Smart Homes, with Different LLMs Integrated
According to MIC, two key trends are shaping the smartphone industry. First, beyond continuous enhancements to core specifications, manufacturers are aggressively developing diverse AI applications and new peripheral devices. AI-powered features such as translation and summarization, image editing, and real-time conversation translation have become standard. Notably, smart rings and AR/AI glasses have emerged as the most sought-after accessories in recent years.
Second, smartphones are increasingly becoming the control hub for smart homes. While South Korean brands have led this trend, Chinese manufacturers are expanding their smart home ecosystems with more integrated and interactive products, even extending their reach into electric vehicles. This strategy continues to solidify smartphones as the foundation of a broader hardware-software ecosystem.
MIC industry analyst Aurelius Chen highlights two critical industry developments: (1) The same smartphone models integrating different LLMs based on region. Apple's launch of Apple Intelligence comes with regional considerations, leading to its partnership with Chinese AI firms to integrate local LLMs into iPhones sold in China. Conversely, Chinese smartphone brands targeting global markets have opted for international LLMs like Google Gemini to mitigate sales risks, resulting in region-specific AI strategies. (2) Apple's push for in-house chip development. In February 2025, Apple announced the C1 modem chip for the iPhone 16e, fueling speculation that the iPhone 17, set for release in the second half of 2025, will feature Apple’s proprietary Wi-Fi chip. Currently, Apple, Samsung, and Huawei have established in-house smartphone chip development capabilities, and reports suggest Xiaomi is preparing for mass production of its own chips. Whether other manufacturers follow suit and how major chip suppliers respond will be key industry focal points later this year.
- AI-RAN Ecosystem Takes Shape, Facilitating Consensus for 6G Standardization
MIC reports that AI-driven Radio Access Networks (AI-RAN) are accelerating the development of intelligent, self-optimizing networks. The AI-RAN Alliance is expanding rapidly, with MWC 2025 showcasing real-world AI applications in RAN automation. This year, 10 AI-RAN Alliance partners demonstrated their latest developments at the event.
Industry analyst Lee Ren Shyang notes that while Nvidia remains the dominant chip player in the AI-RAN Alliance, only about four telecom operators have joined so far. However, just before MWC, Alliance Chair Alex Jinsung Cho revealed that three additional telecom companies and over fifty firms are currently applying for membership. With 6G standardization entering its preliminary 3GPP phase, a more open and structured AI-RAN ecosystem will help industry players align their efforts and contribute recommendations to standards bodies.
- Equipment Vendors Focus on Supporting 5G SA and Private Networks
Despite the slow commercial deployment of 5G-Advanced and 5G Standalone (SA) networks, major global equipment vendors remain committed to optimizing both hardware and software solutions. Their strategies include:
- Enhancing the efficiency of 5G SA network upgrades and supporting network slicing to enable private network services.
- Integrating mmWave spectrum and MIMO array antenna technologies with small cells and indoor FWA solutions for superior 5G transmission quality.
- Promoting the convergence of mobile and fixed networks, as well as integrating satellite communications with terrestrial transmission.
- Leveraging AI to optimize network transmission, reduce energy consumption, and lower operational costs.
- Providing data center hardware and software solutions to facilitate telecom operators' infrastructure transformation.
- Network APIs Redefining the Telecom Landscape, Driving Telcos Toward Tech Company Transformation
MIC highlights two core strategies among leading telecom operators: (1) Using Network APIs to reshape their role in the value chain, and (2) transitioning into technology companies to unlock new revenue streams.
Since 2024, telecom operators have increasingly integrated Network APIs into applications such as:
- Smart video surveillance
- Seamless device authentication
- Frictionless employee onboarding and identity verification
- Smart city infrastructure management
- Real-time emergency response coordination
Network APIs are bridging the gap between telecom infrastructure and app development, offering universal network access to developers. As a result, they have become critical for delivering seamless, secure digital services and are expected to redefine the telecom landscape.
To transition into technology-driven enterprises, MIC analyst Lee suggests telecom operators should:
- Diversify revenue streams and maximize 5G investment returns.
- Adopt an Everything-as-a-Service (XaaS) model for greater flexibility and customization.
- Strengthen enterprise network slicing and private 5G networks.
- Leverage GSMA Open Gateway APIs and cloud partnerships to accelerate digital transformation.
- Shift from infrastructure-driven models to service-oriented business approaches, utilizing AI to optimize networks and enhance customer experiences.
- AI Agents Becoming a Standard Service for Telecom Operators
AI-powered virtual agents are rapidly transforming the telecom industry. Helen Liu, a senior industry analyst at MIC, explains that traditional chatbots lack the versatility to handle diverse customer inquiries. With advancements in generative AI and multimodal technologies, AI Agents can now deliver more accurate, personalized, and intuitive customer service experiences. Additionally, AI-driven automation will streamline business processes, reducing operational strain on telecom service teams. As a result, AI Agents are expected to become a standard feature in telecom customer service operations in the near term.
- Enterprise AI Agents Addressing Key Business Challenges Across Industries
Enterprise AI solutions were a major highlight at MWC 2025. Helen Liu notes that businesses are increasingly leveraging AI Agents to enhance cross-platform data retrieval, analytics, and AI-driven process automation. Innovations include:
- Google's AI-powered enterprise agent acting as a unified system gateway.
- Multi-agent AI platforms enabling businesses to integrate predictive and generative AI seamlessly.
- Industry-specific LLMs for manufacturing, allowing workers to monitor production lines and equipment via voice commands.
- Chinese Enterprises Integrating DeepSeek to Upgrade Services, Enabling Cost-Effective AI Applications in Telecom
Chinese cloud service providers (CSPs) such as Alibaba Cloud and Tencent Cloud made a significant impact at MWC 2025, particularly through their adoption of DeepSeek—an open AI model widely used in China's ICT sector. MIC analyst Aurelius Chen reports that China's three major CSPs, telecom operators, and various hardware and software companies are actively integrating DeepSeek into their services, enabling faster model training and product upgrades. By leveraging MWC 2025 as a global showcase, these enterprises are signaling that telecom operators can now access cost-effective, open-source AI models to accelerate innovation and deployment of new applications.
About Market Intelligence & Consulting Institute (MIC):
Established in 1987, the Market Intelligence & Consulting Institute (MIC) is a division of III (Institute for Information Industry), a leading government think tank and one of Taiwan's foremost IT research institutes. With over three decades of experience, MIC specializes in industry and market research, delivering data-driven insights and strategic recommendations to assist businesses in making informed decisions.
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