Entries by Chris Antlitz, Principal Analyst

5G’s Next Act Is About Monetization, While 6G Builds on the 5G Foundation

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TBR believes the path to 6G runs directly through unfinished 5G work. Operators that expand 5G SA, improve spectrum efficiency, commercialize differentiated connectivity and build programmable, AI-ready networks will be better positioned for an economical 6G migration. FWA will remain the near-term revenue anchor, but longer-term value will increasingly depend on whether CSPs can turn AI, sensing and network capabilities into standardized services that enterprises and governments can easily buy. The transition to 6G is about proving that operators can finally monetize the capabilities 5G was designed to enable.

ISAC will be the Next Big Thing in Telecom

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TBR believes Ericsson is the best-positioned RAN vendor to support ISAC in the Western world because it remains hyperfocused on RAN innovation and holds the largest market share in mobile infrastructure when excluding China. Western governments also view Ericsson as a trusted supplier of critical technology. The company’s sprint to obtain security clearances and other certifications to support government initiatives also puts it in an advantageous position to win related deals across the public sector, not only in ISAC but in the broader domain of mission-critical communications.

Governance Becomes a Prerequisite for Success with AI 

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Governance was a recurring theme across content sessions and executive meetings at Mobile World Congress 2026. As telecom operators move from experimentation to operational in AI, creating a corporatewide, centralized framework for data management, model oversight and regulatory compliance is becoming essential. Without clear governance, AI initiatives often remain fragmented across business units, leading to inconsistent outcomes, duplicated efforts and limited enterprise impact.

Bad Debt Expenses Will Rise for CSPs in 2026

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In a K-shaped economy that increasingly separates financial winners from losers, the majority of households and businesses on the lower arm of the “K” are under mounting financial strain and are finding it more difficult to pay their bills. As these economic pressures persist, communications service providers (CSPs) should expect bad debt expenses to continue rising, with the potential to meet, or even exceed, levels experienced during the Great Recession. 

Telecom Industry Will Adapt to K-shaped Economy in 2026

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TBR Insights Live session, TBR Telecom Principal Analyst Chris Antlitz shares an in-depth review of our 2026 Telecom Predictions special report, Telecom Industry Will Adapt to K-shaped Economy in 2026. This session examines what the K-shaped economy means for communication service provider (CSP) balance sheets, customer behavior and competitive strategy, and how scaled providers can adjust to protect growth and margins.

The U.S. doesn’t have a Spectrum Shortage — It has a Utilization Problem

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The mobile industry continues to beat the drum for more spectrum, but it should instead focus on fully utilizing the spectrum already allocated. TBR notes there are vast tranches of spectrum in the U.S. market that are broadly underutilized, either for technical or economic reasons. And challenges will only worsen as the industry aims to bring upper midband frequencies into the fray, which have greater propagation challenges and are less suited for macro coverage.