Network X 2026 Vienna frames the telecommunications industry’s technology and business-model shift through three connected themes: the reorganization of operator structures, the implications of 6G, and the role of AI and network APIs. It draws on insights from Dario Talmesio, Research Director at Omdia, focusing on Service Provider Strategies.
On the operating-model side, the article describes a movement away from traditional integrated operators toward three models: Utility Operators, TechCo Operators, and Orchestrators. It also notes that infrastructure separation is continuing across the industry, with strategies ranging from separation to divestment or co-investment.
For 6G, the discussion emphasizes AI integration from the start and highlights non-terrestrial networks as a core part of the 6G standardization process, aiming at truly global coverage. It also points to different regional appetite for 6G and the need for new device form factors beyond smartphones, tied to AI traffic and XR devices.
The piece further argues that network operations are moving beyond basic automation toward agentic AI, while addressing operational challenges such as skill gaps, data quality, privacy and security, and governance. It closes by positioning network APIs as a bridge between telecom capabilities and developers, noting the importance of discoverability, ease of implementation, and commercially viable operating models.