ATxSG's CommunicAsia 2026: Redefining telecom in the age of 5G and AI

The transformation of Asia-Pacific’s telecommunications landscape is being shaped by the rapid rise of 5G, AI-driven networks, and evolving enterprise connectivity needs. These were key themes across panel discussions at Asia Tech x Singapore’s CommunicAsia 2026, held from May 20–22 at the Singapore Expo, where telecom industry leaders and experts shared insights on how operators are adapting to shifting market dynamics, infrastructure demands, and new monetization opportunities beyond traditional consumer connectivity.

The Take

• 5G is expanding into enterprise use cases, with 5G Advanced and AI enabling more automated, intelligent networks.
• Operators are moving beyond consumer connectivity toward enterprise services and new revenue models.
• Growth depends on infrastructure sharing, neutral-host models, and ecosystem partnerships, alongside modernizing networks with fiber, satellite, and edge computing to support future demand.

5G and Future Connectivity

At the "5G and Future Connectivity" panel at CommunicAsia 2026, industry leaders said telecom operators are increasingly shifting focus beyond consumer connectivity toward enterprise services, AI-driven networks, and new infrastructure-sharing models to unlock future growth. David Soldani, senior vice president of innovation and advanced research at Rakuten Mobile Inc., said 5G is already delivering value through broadband and fixed-wireless access, particularly in rural regions, adding that the industry is moving "from connecting people and things to connecting intelligence" as 5G Advanced and AI reshape network operations. Justin Lee, vice president of sales at Druid Software, pointed to the logistics, mining and industrial sectors as key enterprise opportunities, noting that operators should better leverage existing assets such as spectrum and core networks and that "the core is a good choice for scalability and fast deployment."

Luke O’Kelly, vice president of sales at Ceragon Networks Ltd., said enterprise monetization remains challenging but promising, stressing there is "no one-size-fits-all" approach and highlighting infrastructure-sharing and neutral-host models as ways to improve efficiency and reduce costs. Dr. Zhang Kai, Vice President at China Unicom, emphasized the growing role of AI and collaboration in future networks, pointing to spectrum leasing and expectations that "AI-embedded services will help operators provide better services while improving operational efficiency," signaling a shift toward more automated and optimized 5G and future 6G networks.

Aligned to the discussions at the panel, S&P Global Market Intelligence Kagan data models that 5G will account for over 83% of total mobile subscriptions in Asia-Pacific by 2030, underscoring the region’s transition into a "mass 5G adoption phase," where 5G is becoming the default connectivity layer for both consumer and enterprise use cases. 5G adoption in the region continues to accelerate, with subscribers growing 55% year-on-year, while overall mobile subscriber growth remains relatively flat. This divergence reinforces the shift highlighted by panelists toward monetization beyond traditional consumer connectivity, as operators increasingly focus on enterprise services, infrastructure-sharing models, and AI-driven network capabilities to drive future growth.

Digital Telcos: Transforming Connectivity in a Hyperdigital World

At the "Digital Telcos: Transforming Connectivity in a Hyperdigital World" session, speakers discussed how telecom operators can remain competitive in a rapidly evolving digital landscape by prioritizing customer experience, innovation, and ecosystem partnerships. They highlighted that rising consumer expectations are making seamless digital experiences a key differentiator, alongside more purposeful, outcome-driven use of AI. Ecosystem-led business models were identified as a major growth driver, enabling operators to expand beyond traditional connectivity into payments, retail integration, and mobility services.

Kelvin Chua, head of research and development at Circles.Life, noted that consumers now expect instant, frictionless digital services, making customer experience a key differentiator. He highlighted ecosystem partnerships as central to future growth, including models that integrate mobile services with retail ecosystems and digital financial offerings, adding that "the telco that loves collaborations will be the future." Ashique Rahman, associate director at Robi Axiata PLC. stressed the importance of a customer-first approach in digital transformation, with intuitive design and simplified user journeys. He also cautioned that AI should be applied only with clear use cases to ensure meaningful impact. Overall, the session underscored a shift toward experience-led innovation, practical AI deployment, and deeper ecosystem integration across the telecom sector.

Connectivity and Infrastructure Modernization

The session focused on how the telecommunications and technology sectors are evolving network infrastructure to meet rising demands from AI, data-intensive services, and digital transformation. The discussion centered on building scalable, interoperable, and energy-efficient networks while balancing regulatory requirements, sustainability goals, and data sovereignty considerations.

Experts from the International Telecommunications Union, BT International (Nigeria) Ltd., HGC Global Communications Ltd., and the LoRa Alliance Inc noted the importance of closing connectivity gaps through a combination of fiber and satellite solutions, strengthening edge computing capabilities for AI workloads, and addressing emerging cybersecurity risks, including those posed by quantum computing. The session also examined operational and regulatory challenges in Southeast Asia, alongside opportunities in underserved markets and the growing role of Internet of Things connectivity models. Overall, speakers emphasized the need for greater collaboration across industry and policy stakeholders to build resilient, future-ready digital infrastructure.

As operators pivot toward enterprise services, ecosystem collaborations, and smarter, more sustainable networks, the region is poised to unlock new growth opportunities. Embracing these advancements will be essential for building resilient, future-ready digital ecosystems that meet evolving market demands and foster sustained innovation.

Mobile Investor is a regular feature from S&P Global Market Intelligence Kagan.

This article was published by S&P Global Market Intelligence and not by S&P Global Ratings, which is a separately managed division of S&P Global.