The future of communication has nothing to do with phones. This is what’s coming next

The mobile industry has been focused on making connected devices accessible to everyone for the past four decades. Now that nearly everyone owns a smartphone, the industry's goal is shifting to machines communicating with each other. The Mobile World Congress, the industry's main trade show, showcased this shift with exhibits on autonomous vehicles, drone fleets, satellite constellations, and warehouse robots.

The industry's focus is on machines exchanging data with each other, edge servers, and the cloud, as these devices rely on fast and reliable connectivity. China, with its extensive 5G infrastructure, is leading the way in deploying robots for various industries, such as aviation, logistics, and chemical plants. In the United States, satellite connectivity and self-driving cars are paving the way for similar advancements.

The companies that can profit from this shift are those that own the network infrastructure. As the demand for connecting machines grows, the number of new phone buyers remains stagnant. This presents opportunities for businesses to develop innovative solutions that rely on fast and reliable connectivity, such as driverless delivery services, remote inspection crews, and self-coordinating fleets.

While these developments are still in the early stages, they represent a significant shift in the future of communication, as machines begin to reach each other and the systems above them.