This article first appeared in UC Advanced magazine issue#22.
Prem Sivasamy, Deputy Chairman of Lyca Mobile discusses preparing for 5G-Advanced and what the future holds for mobile technology in 2026 and beyond.
The evolution of smartphones shows no sign of slowing. Every year brings faster processors, more intelligent software, and increasingly immersive displays. Yet, the real revolution is happening in the networks powering our digital lives.
By 2026, the next stage of connectivity, 5G-Advanced, will redefine what our devices can do and what users expect from them. This evolution marks a turning point and will push mobile performance, intelligence, and reliability to unprecedented levels.Â
Without the right SIM and data infrastructure in place, consumers risk missing out on the full potential of the digital experiences now on the horizon. In the same way that 4G enabled the rise of mobile streaming and app-based lifestyles, 5G-Advanced will underpin the next wave of intelligent, always-on services that require speed, precision, and consistency.
5G-Advanced: Faster, Smarter, and More Consistent
Within the next year or two, 5G-Advanced will move from emerging technology to global standard. It will supercharge existing 5G networks with higher speeds, broader coverage, and pinpoint location accuracy.
By 2026, more than 2.6 billion people are expected to be on 5G networks worldwide, reflecting the accelerating demand for richer, data-driven services, from real-time gaming to immersive streaming and smart city applications. For businesses, this shift represents an opportunity to deploy technologies like edge computing, cloud robotics, and industrial IoT with greater reliability and lower latency than ever before.
Video calls will be ultra-clear, location services will be accurate to within a few centimetres, and coverage gaps, particularly indoors or in rural regions, will continue to disappear. The difference may feel subtle day to day, but behind the scenes, networks will be handling data with millisecond precision, supporting autonomous vehicles, drone deliveries, and connected healthcare systems that rely on zero-delay communication.
AI-Powered Networks That Think for Themselves
Artificial Intelligence is also transforming the networks behind them. By 2026, AI-driven, self-optimising networks will become the norm. These intelligent systems will identify congestion or interference instantly and adjust network parameters on the fly.
The result? Fewer dropped calls, smoother streaming, and longer battery life, thanks to more efficient resource management. Networks will learn from usage patterns, ensuring the best possible experience in any environment, whether a packed train or a remote village.
This evolution represents a major shift in how connectivity is managed – networks will monitor themselves, predict demand, and even pre-empt problems before they occur. Over time, they will become as adaptive and personalised as the apps they support — intelligently balancing speed, energy efficiency, and cost for every user. Reliability will be An expectation not just a selling point.Â
From Connecting Devices to Understanding Environments
Another leap forward is the development of sensing networks, systems that do more than just connect devices; they perceive the world around them.
Imagine airports where your phone guides you directly to your boarding gate, cars that detect hazards in real time, or cities that can monitor air quality and crowd movement automatically. This technology will give mobile networks a new level of environmental awareness, improving navigation, safety, and situational intelligence in countless ways.
Beyond convenience, sensing networks will also play a critical role in public safety and environmental monitoring. Emergency responders could use them to locate people in disaster zones, while energy companies might rely on them to track environmental conditions around remote infrastructure. Connectivity is evolving from passive transmission to active perception, making our networks smarter, safer, and more responsive.
Global Coverage Through Satellite Connectivity
By 2026, 5G-Advanced will enable direct satellite connections for smartphones, ensuring communication even when you’re far beyond the reach of a cell tower.
For consumers, this means being able to call, message, or access data anywhere, whether hiking through remote terrain or during a network outage caused by severe weather.
This merging of terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks will also open doors for industries like aviation, shipping, and logistics, where maintaining connectivity across long distances is essential.Â
Laying the Groundwork for 6G
Although several years away, 6G building blocks are already forming within 5G-Advanced. Integrated AI, advanced sensing, and near-instant responsiveness are early indicators of what’s to come.
The future 6G era will bring hyper-fast data speeds and fully immersive experiences, from realistic holographic events to smart homes that anticipate user needs in real time. It will also enable new forms of communication that blur the line between the physical and digital worlds, such as tactile feedback and fully virtual workspaces.
By the time 6G officially launches, users will already have experienced much of its promise, thanks to the solid foundation being built by 5G-Advanced.
The Road Ahead
As we move toward 2026, mobile networks are transitioning from connecting people to empowering intelligent, interconnected ecosystems. From AI-driven optimisation to satellite-enabled coverage, the next wave of connectivity will make mobile technology more resilient, responsive, and indispensable than ever before.
