Networks and Cloud

The Networks and Cloud research practice provides a holistic and detailed analysis of the market for telecoms intelligent digital infrastructure (including wireless and wireline networks, cloud infrastructure and data centres) and spectrum. Our eight programmes provide extensive datasets, forecasts and in-depth analyses of every aspect of digital infrastructure.

Our analysis focuses on three aspects of telecoms network and cloud assets: technology architectures and decisions, techno-economics including sustainability and ecosystem mapping.

• Technology architectures and decisions: What are the new enabling technologies? What do they entail in deployment and investment terms? What can they deliver? Who are their suppliers? What is the total addressable market (TAM) for vendors?

• Techno-economics including sustainability: What is the cost of a new generation of connectivity? Who will invest in it? What are operators’ spending intentions and opex strategies? What are the return-on-investment (ROI) scenarios?

• Ecosystem mapping: Who are the key suppliers for every element of this sector? What are the significant partnerships? Who will own or share the underlying infrastructure? How will it be regulated?

We ensure that our analysis reflects the most significant trends that will drive change and opportunity in networks and digital infrastructure. In 2025, there is a particular focus on:

• the evolution and impact of AI (especially AI-native networks)
• convergence of networks and cloud and of multiple connectivity networks such as RAN and low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite
• sustainable infrastructure strategies.

Our coverage provides a complete picture of the changing investments in the essential, fundamental underpinnings of telecoms assets, and benchmarks telecoms industry adoption of new technologies and business models.