For most of the mobile data era, operators have watched the same two lines on a chart drift toward each other: return on capital employed and the cost of capital. GSMA Intelligence's July 2026 report puts numbers on it. Across 24 major operator groups, pre-tax ROCE fell from around 13% in 2015 to roughly 9-10% today, while the cost of capital has barely moved. The gap that used to justify investment is narrowing — and in some markets it has vanished.
Two developments in the mobile industry, taken together, say something important about where networks are heading — and about the decisions operators will face sooner than they think. One is about how coverage will be delivered. The other is about how it will be paid for. Both point to the same conclusion about the network core.
A new TM Forum report just put numbers to something operators have been sensing for a while: the race to adopt AI in telecom isn't just about technology. It's about control.
According to TM Forum research published ahead of DTW Ignite 2026, 72% of communication service providers (CSPs) are already investing in or exploring sovereign AI.
Summa Networks provides cloud-native Subscriber Data Management for 4G and 5G networks, with the flexibility to integrate with 2G environments when required. This allows operators to manage subscriber profiles, authentication and service access while supporting a smooth evolution from legacy core architectures to modern, modular networks.
As mobile networks evolve towards more dynamic and distributed architectures, multi-IMSI SIM deployments are becoming increasingly common. These configurations enable greater flexibility for operators, but they also introduce new challenges at the signaling level—particularly when different IMSIs are associated with distinct core network identities.
ICS International Carrier Services GmbH (ICS), a specialist in lawful interception and regulatory compliance solutions, and Summa Networks, a provider of modular and cloud-native core network technology, have entered into a strategic partnership to deliver fully integrated lawful interception capabilities for telecom operators and service providers.
