Deloitte’s 2025 Telecom Forecast Warns of Disruption as AI and 6G Race Ahead

As telcos accelerate AI adoption and push for 6G leadership, Deloitte warns that hyperscaler network ambitions could upend traditional telecom profit models.

Deloitte’s 2025 Global Telecom Outlook, published February 26, reveals an industry at a technological inflection point, driven by the dual engines of generative AI and next-generation wireless innovation. The report notes that telecom providers are rapidly deploying gen AI to streamline operations, reduce customer churn, and offer ultra-targeted experiences—efforts aimed at breaking a cycle of flat growth and thinning margins. Simultaneously, telecom players are pushing to shape global 6G standards before commercial deployment, expected by the early 2030s. This preemptive positioning marks a strategic pivot—from traditional infrastructure roles to platform-driven ecosystems enabled by AI-enhanced radio networks and intelligent edge capabilities.

However, the rise of hyperscalers poses an existential threat. Cloud providers are laying private global fiber, developing RAN virtualization solutions, and encroaching on enterprise connectivity—challenging telcos’ dominance in core infrastructure. Deloitte’s report warns that without strategic alliances and accelerated automation, telecom incumbents may lose relevance in both consumer and enterprise markets. In 2024, telco equities saw an 11% uptick, yet underperformed the S&P 500, reflecting investor caution around long-term innovation potential. Deloitte emphasizes that growth will rely on more than network expansion—it demands a shift to software-defined, AI-native operating models.

The forecast concludes that telecom leaders must act decisively: investing in AI-governed infrastructure, rethinking monetization through intelligent orchestration, and taking active roles in 6G consortiums. In a sector where speed, adaptability, and platform control now define the competitive edge, those stuck in legacy strategies risk becoming suppliers to the very networks they once controlled.