After a decade defined by 5G buildouts and incremental modernization, operators and vendors are now restructuring themselves — organizationally and technologically — to compete in an AI-driven, software-defined future.
On the organizational side, legacy cost structures are no longer sustainable in an AI-first market. Verizon’s 15,000 job cuts and shift to store franchising reflect a deliberate effort to compress fixed costs, streamline decision-making, and prioritize customer retention amid postpaid softness. SK Telecom’s decision to separate its MNO and AI units into distinct businesses follows the same logic — aligning accountability with growth mandates and enabling capital allocation that more accurately reflects future revenue engines.
Network architectures are also moving into a new design phase, one defined by autonomy, cloud nativity, and flexibility. Globalstar’s XCOM RAN and Celona/Sutherland’s AI-enabled private 5G platforms demonstrate how software-defined RAN, AI-guided operations, and deterministic connectivity are becoming baseline expectations for Industry 4.0. Transatel’s deployment of Oracle’s cloud-native 5G SA core further illustrates how lightweight, programmable signaling systems are replacing monolithic network stacks.
And finally, underpinning all this is a surge in infrastructure investment designed for the demands of AI and edge computing. See: Zayo’s new 622-mile inland fiber route optimized for AI workloads.
Taken together, these moves signal a telecom sector simultaneously trimming legacy complexity and building the foundation for its next era. This reset is, of course, about cutting costs, but it’s also about aligning workforce, networks, and infrastructure with the intelligence and agility required to support the AI age.
Catherine Sbeglia Nin
Managing Editor
RCR Wireless News
RCR Top Stories
A ‘scrappier’ Verizon: Verizon will cut 15,000 jobs and shift roughly 200 stores to franchise operations, marking the company’s largest single-round restructuring as it pushes for leaner, more efficient operations.
Software-defined private 5G: Globalstar’s XCOM RAN brings a software-defined approach to the IT/OT challenge in Industry 4.0, via an open RAN private 5G with licensed spectrum and satellite comms.
SKT splits MNO and AI: SKT is restructuring its organization for 2026, separating its telecom and AI operations into two CICs, and reshaping teams to improve accountability and generate clearer business results.
The neocloud shift: Neoclouds are reshaping the AI landscape with GPU-focused architectures and transparent pricing, but hyperscalers still dominate. ABI Research explains how these challenger clouds are emerging.
Synopsys to lay off 10%: The Silicon Valley company is set to cut approximately 2,000 jobs worldwide following its Ansys acquisition as it looks to redirect investment towards high-growth opportunities.
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Dream match at the edge?: Private 5G and generative AI are reshaping industrial connectivity, but do they rely on each other? This discussion explores where the technologies overlap, complement, and diverge.
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The telco AI race: ABI Research’s Larbi Belkhit says operators are racing to build AI-ready data centers, balancing CapEx intensity, sovereignty goals, and in-house innovation to turn infrastructure into monetizable AI compute.
New Signal & Noise episode: If 95% of gen AI projects fail, what do the 5% getting it right know? We discuss with Geoff Hollingworth, chief marketing officer of Rakuten Symphony.
What We're Reading
Ericsson expands India 5G R&D: Ericsson is accelerating its India footprint by launching a Bengaluru R&D unit dedicated to 5G/5G-Advanced software for its RAN baseband, reinforcing India’s role in global telecom innovation.
Transatel deploys Oracle 5G SA: Transatel is deploying Oracle’s cloud-native 5G Standalone signalling core to scale connectivity for automotive, travel and industrial IoT use-cases, leveraging its global carrier partnerships.
Ericsson opens 6G lab: Ericsson has launched a new 6G research laboratory in Budapest, focused on core network evolution, programmability, open interfaces and partnering with Hungarian universities to shape next-generation connectivity.
5G drives LVGP advancements: T-Mobile US is revving up the Las Vegas Grand Prix with 5G cameras, drones, mission-critical systems, and exclusive app content — delivering faster, smarter fan experiences.
$29B A2P gap uncovered: A new study from Enea and Mobilesquared has found that mobile operators could unlock up to $29.4 billion in A2P SMS revenue by 2030 by shifting from flat-rate to value-based pricing and better traffic categorization.
Western fiber route completed: Zayo has completed its new 622-mile Umatilla–Prineville–Reno fiber corridor across the western U.S., creating a high-capacity inland route designed for AI and cloud workloads.
OKI selects Sequans IoT: OKI has selected Sequans’ Monarch LTE-M/NB-IoT platform to power its Zero-Energy IoT Series, enabling ultra-low-power monitoring of critical infrastructure and disaster sites across Japan.
Wi-Fi 7 for MDUs: Ruckus Networks has introduced its MDU360 AI-driven platform and Wi-Fi 7 access points aimed at multi-dwelling units, enhancing resident experience while reducing operational costs for property stakeholders.
Autonomous private 5G: Sutherland and Celona has unveiled an AI-powered private 5G and autonomous network solution for enterprises and service providers — delivering intent-based automation, improved uptime.
Verizon expands cybersecurity for MSE: Verizon Business has rolled out a dedicated 100G optical ring for Monumental Sports & Entertainment, enabling centralized production across four venues.
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