Entries by Chris Antlitz, Principal Analyst

ISAC will be the Next Big Thing in Telecom

/by

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 

/by

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

/by

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

/by

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

/by

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.

2026 Predictions: Telecom Industry Will Adapt to K-shaped Economy in 2026

/by

The K-shaped economy that emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic will likely become more pronounced through 2026, and the telecom industry will need to adapt to this new economic reality. Based on balance-sheet strength, earnings power, and real, inflation-adjusted wage growth and revenue increases, as well as a host of other economic KPIs, the top 10% to 20% of households and businesses are doing exceptionally well financially (on average) while the bottom 80% to 90% of households and businesses are doing worse financially (on average) compared to historical metrics. In 2026 communication service providers (CSPs) will need to cater better to each arm of the “K” and better navigate the negative aspects of this ongoing economic situation.