Mobile World Congress 2026 reinforced that the telecoms industry is entering a new phase. The focus is shifting away from deploying connectivity infrastructure toward extracting economic value from networks through real-world applications.

The UK’s Industrial Strategy focuses on AI, semiconductors, telecoms, cloud, and data infrastructure to drive national competitiveness. Fibre, 5G, and data centres are key to economic security and industrial leadership. Local Authorities can align regional strategies with national priorities, while Investors and Operators are encouraged to scale investments. Intelligens Consulting helps with digital strategy alignment, infrastructure planning, and securing funding.

Even a 1% productivity boost across UK SMEs could unlock £94 billion over five years. Digital tools—like AI, automation, and advanced connectivity—are key to driving growth, efficiency, and resilience. Local authorities and enterprise agencies can lead this transformation by delivering tailored support that helps SMEs adopt and scale the right technologies. Now is the time to act and unlock the digital dividend for local economies.