Actualizado el 17/02/2026
Actualizado el 17/02/2026
5G is transforming mobile messagingEscrito por Dario Betti el 17/02/2026 a las 11:38:51419
(CEO of MEF (Mobile Ecosystem Forum) ) The UK’s mobile sector has passed a tipping point. According to Ofcom’s Connected Nations report, overall 5G coverage now reaches 97 % of UK premises from at least one mobile operator, and 4G still extends to 96 % of the geographic landmass and more than 99 % of premises, maintaining its role as the workhorse of mobile data.
Mobile IP connectivity can now be reliably assumed for almost every citizen, most of the time. That single shift changes how engineers, application designers, and service architects must think about voice and messaging for the rest of the decade.
No more coverage excuses A profound market shift is the decline of coverage anxiety. With broad 5G availability complemented by near universal 4G reach, the narrative has shifted from whether people can connect to how well they can connect. Consumers want to know how fast, how reliably, and how deeply inside buildings and high-demand environments their devices can sustain rich interactions without fallback.
Losing old friends At the same time that 5G expands, older network generations are approaching retirement. UK operators have published timelines for phasing out 2G and 3G, signalling the eventual disappearance of circuit-switched voice. SMS itself remains viable in an all-IP world, delivered through LTE and modern network cores, but legacy machine-to-machine devices (millions of alarm panels, meters and terminals that still rely on 2G?based SMS alerts) standards need to be upgraded within a few years - the earliest switch?offs begin in 2029.
For enterprises, the challenge lies in execution. Device replacement, certification processes and operational planning must accelerate to meet sunset deadlines. Connectivity is no longer simply a technical concern; it is a strategic lifecycle issue affecting fleets of deployed equipment and long-term service continuity.
Looking ahead Against this backdrop, messaging is evolving rather than disappearing. Person-to-person SMS continues its gradual decline, yet application-to-person messaging remains resilient thanks to its universality and reliability for alerts, authentication and service updates. The strategic shift is that SMS becomes the safety net rather than the primary user experience.
Meanwhile, richer channels benefit directly from improved network performance. Lower latency and more consistent uplink on Standalone 5G make interactive messaging — from RCS conversations to in-thread transactions — more responsive and engaging. For enterprises, the opportunity shifts from sending volume to completing tasks within a single trusted interaction, blending identity verification, support, marketing and payments into continuous conversations.
Taken together, these developments signal a broader change in how mobile communications are conceived. For years, strategy centred on mitigating failure. Now, the emphasis is on exploiting capability. Networks are reliable enough to support conversational services at scale, enabling operators to focus on monetising quality and programmable features rather than simply expanding coverage.
CPaaS platforms are evolving into orchestration layers that select the most effective communication channel based on context and outcome. Enterprises can redesign customer journeys around successful completion rather than click-through rates, positioning messaging as a primary interface between organisations and users.
As Standalone 5G matures, attention is beginning to shift toward future network generations. Early concepts for 6G point to AI-native architectures that dynamically optimise performance and integrate sensing with communication. Deeper integration of satellite and non-terrestrial connectivity may extend consistent service to remote or mobile environments without altering the user experience.
However, these advances will also bring challenges. AI-driven fraud, synthetic media and increasingly sophisticated social engineering will require stronger identity frameworks, continuous authentication and privacy-conscious design.
Preparing for the future We don’t need to wait for 6G. The practices emerging today—including identity-centric messaging, outcome-driven orchestration, IoT modernisation and stronger fraud protection—form the foundation for next-generation communications.
The UK’s infrastructure is now robust enough to support a new phase of innovation. Messaging is evolving from a delivery mechanism into the primary interface through which organisations and consumers interact. With networks ready and expectations rising, the advantage will lie with those who design services for a world that is 4G-first, 5G-enhanced and already preparing for what comes next.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Dario Betti is CEO of MEF (Mobile Ecosystem Forum) a global trade body established in 2000 and headquartered in the UK with members across the world. As the independent voice of the mobile ecosystem, MEF focuses on cross-industry best practices, anti-fraud and monetisation. The Forum provides its members with global and cross-sector platforms for networking, collaboration and advancing industry solutions.
Web: https://mobileecosystemforum.com/ Twitter/X: https://x.com/mef LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mobile-ecosystem-forum |
