David Joosten is President and CEO of Vodafone US Inc., leading Vodafone Business commercial operations throughout North America.
When 2024 arrived, we knew it was going to be a year of remarkable technological achievements. And we were right. 5G established itself the world over, and ChatGPT—and similar AI-powered breakthroughs—began to redefine how we did anything. And in December (at the time of this writing), Google revealed Willow, its new quantum chip that could pave the way to a useful, large-scale quantum computer.
As disruptive technologies appear at a breathtaking pace, it’s almost hard to imagine what’s next. How can we possibly improve on what we have available to us now? Computer chips are already microscopic, and global communications are effectively taking place in real time thanks to the best infrastructure the world has ever seen.
But when has that ever stopped us?
I believe 2025 will be the year in which technology begins to fundamentally alter our vision of the future. 5G networks will shine, and quantum-safe networking will become a priority. AI will close the trust gap between businesses and consumers, we’ll see more data processing at the edge, and finally, cybersecurity will become a profitable revenue generator. Based on these predictions, it’s going to be a wild year—let’s dive in.
Private 5G Networks Will Fuel The $2 Trillion 5G Economy
5G isn’t a new technology. It’s been around since about 2018, but in recent years, we’ve really seen the impact. It started in cities and is now gradually spreading out to more remote parts of the world. Sure, 6G is actually breathing down its neck, but 5G is far from done. But how will 5G help shape 2025?
Put simply, private 5G networks will fuel the $2 trillion 5G economy, with sectors like healthcare, manufacturing and logistics seeing the most adoption. Private 5G networks are dedicated cellular networks made for one or more specific organizations that offer better security and customizable connectivity. Unlike public 5G, private 5G networks operate on dedicated spectrums, which provide low latency, high bandwidth and strong security. They are ideal for latency-sensitive applications—whether that’s robotics, telemedicine or smart warehouses.
Advancements in this space in 2025 will drive operational efficiency, increased automation and, crucially, more innovation for legacy industries. This will enable them to leapfrog digital-first sectors in emerging technology adoption.
Quantum-Safe Networking Becomes A Priority
Quantum investments will be on the rise in 2025, as telcos race to make quantum-safe networking a standard requirement across global telecom networks. By 2030, we can expect the majority of major telecom providers to be implementing quantum-resistant encryption protocols to protect critical infrastructure and customer data from quantum-computing threats.
How far off is a quantum-powered world? Well, not that far, as I pointed out a few paragraphs above. 2030 is roughly when we’ll likely start to see quantum computing start to make an impact. But how?
Quantum computers rely on quantum mechanics to process information. Classical computers process information in 1s or 0s. Unlike these classical bits, qubits (quantum bits) can exist in a superposition of states (both 0 and 1 simultaneously) and become entangled, enabling them to influence each other regardless of distance. This means quantum computers can explore multiple possibilities simultaneously, so they can complete more calculations at the same time.
As quantum computers become more capable, telcos will prioritize quantum-resistant measures in data transport, network slices and IoT device communications. Telcos will also use the burgeoning technology to their advantage, leveraging quantum tech to plan networks and assist with network optimization, traffic management and capacity planning.
AI Will Close The Trust Gap
In 2025, AI will play a pivotal role in closing the trust gap between businesses and consumers. As skepticism toward digital interactions rises, forward-thinking companies leveraging AI-driven solutions will gain a competitive edge by enhancing trust through speed, reliability and transparency.
Those three criteria are up there with what customers value most from a business. This obviously varies between countries and the type of business, but largely, speed, reliability, and transparency are non-negotiables. Getting them right is massive for organizations, so when something like AI comes along and helps them achieve that, you can bet it’s going to make an appearance in boardrooms pretty quickly.
Data Processing Will Increasingly Go To The Edge
Telecom providers will continue to invest heavily in edge computing infrastructure to process data closer to end users, reducing latency and enhancing immersive experiences and great automation in entertainment, industrial and healthcare applications.
Edge computing is a decentralized computing model where data processing and storage happen on devices or sensors rather than relying on a centralized cloud. Computing at the “edge” of the network reduces latency, improves response times and minimizes bandwidth usage. This is ideal for real-time requirements made by hallmarks of modern life like the IoT and smart cities.
Cybersecurity Becomes A Revenue Generator
Cybersecurity will never not be important, especially as more of our lives take place in cyberspace. Today, the cybersecurity landscape is powered by bleeding-edge technologies that quash threats quickly. But they’re not perfect.
That’s why telecom providers will seek alternative revenue streams as managed security solutions providers and new cyber threats create more demand. Cybersecurity as a service will be a new offering for many telcos in 2025 and beyond, providing businesses with tools like endpoint protection, threat monitoring and zero-trust network access alongside core connectivity solutions.
2025—The Year Of Our Lives
It’s not bold to say that 2025 will be a transformational year. We live in a time when technology is changing at a pace the likes of which we have never seen before. I’m convinced that 2025 will continue this trend and be the point at which the past ends and the future begins.
New ways of working with 5/6G, quantum computing, AI, edge computing and cybersecurity will change everything. It’s an exciting time to be steering a telco, and I hope you’ll agree that if the last few years are anything to go by, it’s also an exciting time to be anyone.
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