Private 5G continues its steady march from pilot projects to production. New Dell’Oro data shows near double-digit growth, with deployments shifting decisively toward industrial-scale applications — from smart factories and logistics hubs to energy and transport.
Meanwhile, just weeks after launching a dedicated AI division, SK Telecom is restructuring again — this time offering voluntary retirement as it consolidates overlapping teams and refocuses on future growth. The move underscores a broader truth: Building an AI-first telco isn’t just about deploying new technology; it’s about reshaping the organization around it.
Across the U.K., operators are investing in capacity too. EE, O2, and VodafoneThree spent a combined £39 million on new mmWave spectrum aimed at strengthening 5G performance in stadiums, transport hubs, and other high-density environments.
I’ll keep it short today so that you can get to your weekend — see you Monday!
Catherine Sbeglia Nin
Managing Editor
RCR Wireless News
RCR Top Stories
Industrial 5G – in numbers: Private 5G is outpacing the broader telecom market, with near double-digit growth as deployments expand and use cases evolve from enterprise pilots to large-scale, production-grade industrial applications.
SKT resets for the AI era: Just weeks after launching its AI division, SK Telecom is offering voluntary retirement to staff as it consolidates operations, highlighting the scale — and depth — of its organizational transformation.
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Beyond the Headlines
Verizon and Nokia’s “special” one: Verizon Business and Nokia showcased their special relationship at the U.S. firm’s first European “innovation session” yesterday at the Eiffel Tower by way of a “special” private 5G deployment in the U.K.
Bell bets big on AI: Bell aims to double AI-related revenue to $1.5B by 2028 through new data centers in British Columbia, partnerships with investors and chip players, and enterprise-focused AI solutions.
The compute industrial complex: The AI boom is colliding with industrial limits. Semiconductor bottlenecks, energy constraints, and capital costs are redefining the race for compute — shifting power from cloud software to physical infrastructure.
What is a CNF?: Cloud-native functions (CNF) are transforming 5G architecture — using containerized microservices, orchestration, autoscaling, resilience, and self-healing to make networks more flexible, efficient, and robust.
P5G India, Croatia, U.K.: Private 5G spreads across India, Croatia, and the U.K., powering mining, smart ports, and rail infrastructure with bespoke deployments, proving the technology’s growing reach and versatility.
What We're Reading
EU eyes telecom bid: A proposed €20 billion French bid for a major European telecom operator could challenge EU competition policy and political unity, raising questions about sovereignty, consolidation, and market power.
Comcast job cuts: Comcast is laying off workers in Atlanta and Denver as part of a broader restructuring effort, reflecting shifting priorities, cost pressures, and evolving strategies in its cable and broadband business.
HPE + Ericsson 5G core lab: HPE and Ericsson have collaborated to validate a dual-mode 5G core, aiming to help operators deploy seamless, next-generation core networks that support both 4G and 5G services efficiently.
Telstra boosts APAC capacity: Telstra International has added 200 Tbps, boosting Asia-Pacific network capacity by 30%, leveraging Ciena, Nokia, and AI-driven operations to slash provisioning times and cloudify its systems.
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