MWC26: The AI Continuum

This IDC Market Perspective analyzes key themes discussed at Mobile World Congress 2026 (MWC26), held from March 2 to 5, 2026, in Barcelona, Spain, in the context of IDC's global telecoms coverage. MWC26 highlighted the telecom industry's shift toward value creation, with AI, 5G Advanced, network APIs, and satellite connectivity driving innovation. Operators are redefining their roles, balancing horizontal platforms and vertical solutions, while enterprise demand for security, sovereignty, and managed services grows. The competitive landscape is evolving, with system integrators leading the transformation. Despite progress, commercial models for AI infrastructure and sovereign networking remain unresolved, making strategic adaptation essential for sustainable growth in the digital connectivity ecosystem."As AI transforms telecom, the industry faces a pivotal question: will operators become mere connectivity providers, or orchestrators of the digital economy's next era," said Masarra Mohamed, senior research analyst, IDC Communication Platform as a Service.