Telecom’s next chapter begins at the edge — where intelligence, security, and agility are converging to redefine how networks create value.
The industry is moving beyond connectivity-as-a-service to intelligence-as-infrastructure. Edge computing is becoming the new operating layer where data meets decision. AI workloads are migrating out of hyperscale clouds and into distributed systems, unlocking faster processing, lower latency, and new economics for automation.
In the debut episode of Juan Pedro’s new Rack to RAN video series, KPMG’s Phil Wong explains how AI is driving this fundamental shift — transforming how computing power is deployed and consumed as enterprises redesign their digital stacks to support emerging workloads and smaller, specialized models. “Some enterprises are now creating their own small language models that are trained and learn in context — whether it’s the process or the organization,” he said.
That shift demands a parallel evolution in security. Israeli startup OneLayer, fresh off a $28 million funding round, is helping enterprises bake zero-trust defenses directly into private 5G networks — ensuring industrial connectivity is secure by design, not by patch. “AI is a major driver of private 5G adoption,” OneLayer CEO Dave Mor told RCR Wireless News, adding that as edge connectivity grows, enterprises are demanding not just speed, but verifiable trust, visibility, and security across every link.
Meanwhile, SK Telecom’s 90% profit plunge following a costly security breach underscores the price of neglecting edge-first vigilance, suggesting that the winners in this race won’t just connect data, but convert it into intelligence, insight, and trust in real time.
Catherine Sbeglia Nin
Managing Editor
RCR Wireless News
RCR Top Stories
Default P5G security?: Security startup OneLayer has $28 million of new funding, and a big plan to expand further into Europe and Latin America as industrial enterprises go all-in on private 5G, and prioritize security from the start.
Plunging profits: SK Telecom added nearly 240.000 5G users in Q3, but operating profits plunged more than90% after a costly data breach compensation program, marking one of its most challenging periods.
Edge era for AI: AI workloads are moving from hyperscale clouds to distributed and edge systems, as enterprises seek faster, cheaper, and more efficient computing. KPMG’s Phil Wong explains what’s driving the shift.
Turning networks into intelligence: Telcos must evolve from data carriers to intelligence platforms, monetizing AI at the edge by transforming predictable network functions into adaptive, revenue-generating ecosystems.
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Beyond the Headlines
5G momentum in India: India’s 5G expansion gathered pace in September with more than 6,400 new sites, lifting the nationwide total beyond 500,000 and highlighting operators’ continued commitment to large-scale 5G rollout.
The industrial AI race: The next decade’s defining competition isn’t about who builds the best AI, but who learns fastest — pitting U.S. frontier research against China’s deployment-driven iteration for 21st-century infrastructure dominance.
The memory wall: AI workloads are soaring, but memory bandwidth isn’t keeping pace — the “memory wall” is tightening. That’s why high-bandwidth memory (HBM) is emerging as a critical enabler of next-gen AI hardware.
The four paradoxes of AI: As hundreds of billions are invested in AI infrastructure, intelligence is becoming a utility, and utilities come with their own economic implications. Watch Signal & Noise to explore the paradoxical nature of AI.
What We're Reading
FCC C-Band auction proposal: The FCC will vote on a draft proposal to auction up to 180 MHz of Upper C-Band spectrum, advancing U.S. wireless leadership and expanding mid-band capacity for 5G and 6G services.
AT&T, Thales launch eSIM: AT&T and Thales have launched a next-gen eSIM solution for IoT deployments powered by Thales Adaptive Connect, enabling large-scale device activation, global fleet control and stronger cybersecurity.
Strong demand for Costa Rica 5G: State-owned operator ICE (Costa Rica) has drawn strong interest in its $250 million 5G-network tender from firms including Huawei, Nokia, and Ericsson.
Google, Jio partner on AI: Google has partnered with Reliance Industries to offer millions of Jio users in India 18 months of free access to Google AI Pro — valued at ₹35,100 — and boost its AI hardware and enterprise tooling.
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