Welcome to the Next Smartphone Moment

After years of anticipation and deployment hurdles, 5G standalone (SA) networks are finally scaling. By mid-2025, 71 telecommunications operators launched public 5G SA networks, with several more underway. From the outset, 5G required SA to deliver on its mission. While deployments have been slow, ubiquity is now within reach. The shift from non-standalone (NSA) to SA networks unlocks ultra-low latency, network slicing and guaranteed service levels — capabilities that provide the platform for a new wave of services.

5G Knocking On the Door

Yet commercial transformation lags. At a recent 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) workshop that initiated 6G planning, more than 200 submissions from operators, vendors and other industry players echoed a common concern: 5G commercialization has not delivered as expected. There is ongoing fear of repeating the first smartphone moment in the mid-2000s, where third-party over-the-top players captured the rewards from a new data usage paradigm while mobile operators who built the 3G and 4G networks bore the costs.

With the next smartphone moment imminent, operators must act now to ensure the tide turns in their favor.

6G: Evolution, Not Revolution

With over $1 trillion invested globally in 5G, operators are approaching 6G with pragmatism. The consensus: build on 5G’s foundations—including cloud native architectures, network slicing and edge integration — rather than reinvent the wheel.

Operators are demanding that technical capabilities be directly tied to commercial outcomes. The leap to be made in 6G is strategic, not architectural. Propelling this shift is the realization that AI, embedded with meaningful data sources, can drive telco service innovation and redefine customer engagement.

On the Threshold of a New Device Paradigm

Verizon SVP and CTO, Yago Tenorio, recently declared, “We are on the cusp of another smartphone moment.” He envisions a future where wearables, glasses, wristbands and other lightweight devices enable AI to see and hear what users do, exponentially accelerating learning and interaction.

To support this paradigm, networks will be required to deliver continuous high-definition uplink streams and intelligent processing across device, edge and core — capabilities already enabled with 5G SA and further evolving with 6G.

A Brave New World of Commercial Models

Telco operators are investing in these technologies that support both operational efficiency and commercial agility:

• Cloud Native: Enables rapid onboarding, scalability and resilience through microservices and unified management. The key to telcos’ future as networks must be more dynamic and responsive to real-time user needs.
• Automation and AI/Ops: Powers predictive maintenance, self-healing networks and intent-based orchestration, critical as networks grow more complex and dynamic.
• GenAI With Purpose: Integrates emerging service patterns for new devices, network dynamics and multi-party models. Establishes GenAI as essential to driving revenue, reducing churn and enhancing customer experience through personalized, contextual engagement.

These investments are beyond technical — they are strategic. As operators transform operations and processes, these technologies will form the foundation for future growth.

AI as the Catalyst for Immersive Services

AI is already transforming how telcos deliver and monetize services. Verizon’s 5G-powered remote broadcasting and immersive virtual experiences illustrate how AI can enhance user engagement and unlock new revenue streams. Telstra is investing in AI-driven automation and 5G-Advanced software to support real-time services such as predictive maintenance and AR/VR prioritization. Vodafone is pioneering XR experiences and monetizing network APIs, positioning itself as a platform for innovation.

Meanwhile, tech giants like Meta, Google, Apple and Amazon are racing to develop AI-enabled wearables, while Bill Gates is talking about electronic tattoos as a future interface.

The tech world’s leaders see the future of connectivity, and it’s something entirely new. The implications for consumers, enterprises and operators are profound.

It Starts Now

5G is reshaping connectivity, and 6G is on the horizon. Telco operators who want to lead must transform their commercial models, embrace change and fully leverage available capabilities.

This means holistic solutions involving cloud, AI, edge computing and network APIs. Despite limited traction today, immersive applications attract significant attention, and the pace of change is accelerating.

5G and 6G success is not simply technical. It requires process change, business adoption and willingness to transform. Advanced telco networks are table stakes for ubiquitous connected services, and to remain viable, operators must participate meaningfully. They must deliver innovation, embrace new ways of interacting with customers and partners, evolve business models and establish the technical foundation for the next wave of devices.

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NOTE: This post was adapted from an article that appeared in Forbes, October 1, 2025.