The inaugural MWC Doha marked a defining moment for the Middle East and North Africa, positioning the region as a global hub for digital innovation. Aligned with Qatar’s National Vision 2030, the event showcased ambitions to unlock $470 billion in economic value by 2030 through advanced connectivity and next-generation services. With over 9,500 attendees from 110 countries, 300 speakers, 250+ exhibitors, and 60 official delegations, MWC Doha set the stage for transformative collaborations and future-ready technologies.
The core themes at MWC Doha revolved around AI Nexus, positioning AI as a catalyst for new economic models, agentic AI, and AI-powered telcos. The focus on Intelligent Economies highlighted advancements in 5G, the emergence of 6G, technology sovereignty, and smart city innovations. Additionally, Connected Industries emphasized the integration of IoT, big data, and edge computing to accelerate Industry 4.0 and enable smart mobility.
Technology Highlights
5G-Advanced (5G-A): Keynotes emphasized the shift from Non-Standalone to Standalone networks, enabling ultra-low latency, improved uplink, and immersive services like AR/VR, cloud gaming, and drone operations.
AI Integration: AI-driven network automation, predictive analytics, and agentic AI systems for autonomous operations.
Private Networks & Edge Computing: Growing adoption for industrial automation, smart factories, and urban air mobility.
Network APIs: Unlocking New Opportunities
One of the key topics that stood out was Network APIs. Momentum around network APIs is accelerating, with GSMA Open Gateway and CAMARA APIs showcasing capabilities like quality-on-demand, device location, and KYC match. Telcos are introducing API marketplaces to enable on-demand access and new models such as Network-as-a-Service and GPU-as-a-Service, positioning APIs as key drivers for enterprise solutions in smart cities, manufacturing, and IoT. While monetization opportunities alongside 5G Standalone are promising, widespread adoption is still evolving.
Autonomous Networks: The AI-Driven Future
Another key topic that was highlighted at MWC Doha was Autonomous Networks. The spotlight was on agentic AI as the next frontier for telco innovation, enabling networks to self-optimize and make decisions with minimal human input. The rise of AI-native architectures is paving the way for self-healing, self-configuring networks that deliver SLA-backed services, while autonomy unlocks new monetization models like network slicing and programmable APIs, empowering CSPs to offer differentiated solutions.
Tata Elxsi at MWC Doha 2025
Tata Elxsi showcased TETHER, its flagship connected digital platform at the GSMA Pavilion in MWC Doha along with sharing insights on Network APIs & Cognitive networks as part of the thought leadership sessions.
TETHER offers a unified connected platform that transforms data into actionable insights and monetization across smart mobility, Industry 4.0, smart living, and healthcare IoT ecosystems. Through collaboration with GSMA Open Gateway and CAMARA APIs, we enable advanced features like quality-on-demand, device location, geofencing, and KYC match. Backed by an innovation ecosystem combining design, digital, and engineering expertise, we deliver scalable platforms for smart cities and enterprises.
Connected platforms are the foundation for next-generation digital experiences, enabling businesses to unlock new revenue streams and deliver hyper-personalized, AI-driven services across diverse domains.
Rajagopalan Rajappa, CTO - Communication Tech & Platforms, Tata Elxsi shared his insights at GSMA Fusion Roundtable on 25 November & AI Powered Telco Summit on 26th Nov.
The key takeaways from the above sessions is covered below:
Telecom networks are shifting from infrastructure to innovation platforms, with APIs at the heart of this transformation. Tata Elxsi is driving this change through API-driven, AI-enabled architectures that power smart cities, industries, and emerging use cases like connected drones and urban mobility. By leveraging Open Gateway APIs, digital twins, and edge-cloud solutions, we help operators unlock new monetization opportunities and deliver next-generation connectivity.
Session 2: AI Powered Telco Summit - Cognitive Networks: Rethinking Architecture for the AI Era
As AI transforms industries, networks are evolving into cognitive architectures that prioritize intelligence, adaptability, and sovereignty. Tata Elxsi is driving this shift with AI-driven orchestration, digital twins, and multi-agent systems, enabling models like Network-as-a-Service and AI-as-a-Service for smart cities and autonomous systems. This positions telcos as key enablers of AI-powered ecosystems, unlocking innovation and monetization at scale.
MWC Doha presented a great opportunity to connect with regional telco leaders and ecosystem partners, who are shaping the future of connectivity in the region.
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