What does the future hold for Verizon with a new CEO at the helm? Does the $42.5 billion BEAD program have staying power? Can telcos fend off a space-based market invasion?
A new year brings a fresh start, but there are some trends that are bound to carry over from 2025. We gathered the whole Fierce Network crew to get their top takes on what's in store for the year to come in the wireless, wireline, AI and cloud realms.
Here's a handy guide to the discussion:
Wireless predictions: 0:52
Broadband predictions: 4:17
Fierce Network Research predictions: 7:43
Editor in Chief predictions and the AI bubble: 17:54
Dissecting ChatGPT’s telecom predictions: 26:57
Catch the video at top, listen to the audio edition below on the go or watch this and future episodes on YouTube!
This podcast is written and hosted by Diana Goovaerts. It is edited by Diana Goovaerts and Matt Rickman. Liz Coyne is our executive producer. Special thanks to our guests Masha Abarinova, Monica Alleven, Dan Jones, Linda Hardesty and Mitch Wagner.
To learn more about the topics in this episode:
- SpaceX to buy EchoStar AWS-3 spectrum licenses for $2.6B
- The most exciting news in telecom: Musk vs. Bezos in the satellite race
- FCC Chair Brendan Carr champions direct-to-cell satellite technology
- AT&T’s Stankey shares perspective on competition from LEO satellites
- T-Mobile's network chief talks about 2026 5G-Advanced plans
- SoftBank treads the path to 5G-Advanced
- Pew: Public accountability is the way for timely BEAD rollout
- Trade groups urge Congress to double down on fixing USF
- Thunderheads or happy little clouds? 2026 predictions
- Telcos brace for coming AI storm
- OpenAI deal could help DT unlock new AI revenue
Check out our full archive of episodes of The Five Nine right here.