FROM THE INDUSTRY
R&D becomes pragmatic Despite all this innovation won’t stop but it will change direction with the focus shifting to: n Cost reduction n Automation
For telcos, major platforms and global providers, partnerships are going to be as important as competition.
and this is further exacerbated by supply constraints.
Ultimately, the result is a reset. The sector must move from growth to discipline, from expansion to selection, and from innovation to application. MEF data shows this is already happening. The slowdown is not theoretical, it is real and can be seen in transactions, behaviour and markets. The next phase will reward those who adapt early, control costs, protect margins, and build services that users cannot cut. Even with the consequences of the Middle East oil shock, mobile remains central to the digital economy, but the rules are changing.
Expansion becomes selective
Global expansion won’t stop, but it will narrow.
n AI for operations n Fraud prevention n Compliance
Mature markets in Europe and North America will begin to slow, as growth is weak and costs are high. However, emerging markets will remain attractive. These have younger populations with mobile-first behaviour. This results in higher growth but also increased risk. Plus, many of these markets have currency volatility and political uncertainty.
As customer acquisition becomes more expensive retention is clearly even more critical. Messaging APIs, identity, and authentication will all gain greater importance, with trust becoming an essential product. Consolidation accelerates This new environment favours scale, as smaller firms struggle with cost pressures and financing. Larger players, on the other hand, will look for efficiency as well as ensuring that acquisitions are truly strategic. This leads to market consolidation.
All of which requires that companies target their expansion with great care.
www.mobileecosystemforum.com
Pressure, not collapse
The current crisis certainly does not break the mobile ecosystem but it does compresses it. The demand is there and it remains, but the value is weakened,
Hall 8 | Booth A14 19.05. - 21.05.2026
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Adaptive Bitrate Receiver ABR-Empfang und Umsetzung in IP und DVB-C
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MAY 2026 Volume 48 No.2
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