Global Scans · Telecoms · Weekly Summary

• [New] With additional demand from consumer electronics, telecommunications, and military technology, global trade in critical minerals is expected to triple by 2030 and quadruple by 2040, from approximately $2.5 trillion in 2023. New Atlas
• [New] AI-enabled network automation solutions are projected to reach $8 billion by 2026 within the telecom sector. Careertrainer.ai
• [New] Asia Pacific is expected to witness the fastest CAGR for AI in telecom from 2023 to 2030. Careertrainer.ai
• [New] Cloud-native networks will help industry leaders enhance their telecom software in 2026. Avenga
• [New] The United States and allied nations should expect future drone and missile threats against critical infrastructure such as data centers, nuclear facilities, rail, ports, telecom nodes, and logistics hubs. Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance
• The Radio Frequency (RF) segment is expected to dominate in 2026, accounting for approximately 58.0% share, driven by its extensive use in telecommunications, radar systems, and antenna-based metamaterial applications across defence and wireless communication networks. Dimension Market Research
• MWC 2026 made one thing clear: The telecoms that lead in the next cycle will not just deploy AI, they will operationalize it. The Microsoft Cloud Blog
• Mexico published its National Connectivity Plan 2026-2030 in the DOF, giving formal policy backing to a broader push to expand spectrum, public telecom infrastructure and internet access nationwide. Mexico Business
• The National Telecommunications and Information Administration at the Department of Commerce announced the debut of its Space Launch Frequency Coordination Portal, which will streamline federal reviews of spectrum requests by commercial space launch providers. Benton Foundation
• The U.S. consumer and business telecom sector is expected to evolve steadily through 2030, driven by expanding fiber deployments, rising demand for symmetrical multi-gigabit speeds, and greater network convergence. GlobeNewswire
• Enterprise spending on private telecoms infrastructure will reach $45 billion globally, representing a 280% increase from 2024 levels. BUSINESS 2.0 NEWS
• 52% are concerned telecom networks could be monitored or disrupted - a tangible risk already demonstrated by espionage campaigns targeting network operators, such as Salt Typhoon and more recently, UNC3886 in Singapore. Stock Titan
• The National Institute for Science and Technology and International Telecommunication Union - a specialized United Nations agency, along with numerous tech companies have set a goal of having everything Quantum compliant by 2030. Forbes
• Telecom regulators around the world are working to address the many issues surrounding emerging D2D services, from interference concerns to the effect D2D satellites might have on astronomy. Ookla
• The most far reaching threat, by far, has been the emergence of Salt Typhoon, a China-linked hacking group that has infiltrated global telecommunications networks, including in the United States. Federal News Network

Last updated: 11 May 2026