TMT trends set to shape 2026
2026 is shaping up to be another transformative year for the Telecom, Media, and Technology (TMT) industry.
The ideas that were only starting to surface last year, such as agentic AI, are beginning to show up in ways people can see and feel.
2026 will be less about hype and more about real change taking shape around us.
With things moving quickly, we’ve pulled together the major trends to watch in the TMT sector this year and what they could mean for the industry.
AI But Not As You Know It
After dominating headlines throughout the last year, AI will continue to shape the industry conversation, but there will be a notable shift.
Much of the conversation so far has centered on AI as an efficiency tool for businesses where it is playing a central role in driving productivity and streamlining workflows. Now, meaningful progress is accelerating around AI as a consumer-facing service, and in particular how it is distributed. This shift looks set to intensify in the year ahead, and telecommunications providers are poised to become a primary channel through which consumers access and experience AI.
The transition is already underway with the emergence of immersive consumer technologies, particularly physical AI devices including wearables that were considered futuristic just a few years ago. Telco distribution channels will continue to be highly valued by partners as AI services become increasingly bundled with connectivity products, either through native on-device intelligence or packaged access to premium LLMs included at the point of purchase and through loyalty programs.
This is why it’s an exciting development for telcos. They can enable the underlying performance required for advanced AI features while also shaping the broader consumer ecosystem through enhanced AI-network capabilities, AI Agents to enable automation, integrated digital experiences, and value-added service bundles. In doing so, telcos can redefine their role: moving from connectivity providers to strategic curators of the consumer AI landscape.
A New Space Race?
The aforementioned rise in demand for AI is consequently driving demand for energy infrastructure at a higher pace than supply can meet. The global build-out of hyperscale data centers has already reached unprecedented levels, and current investment patterns suggest this growth will continue in the short to medium term. As traditional energy infrastructure strains to keep pace, the energy required to power these data centers has prompted consideration of some rather unconventional solutions.
The most intriguing concept, and one that would have been unthinkable just a short time ago, is the deployment of data centers in space. What began as a fringe idea is now being given serious consideration by several enterprises, with feasibility studies and early prototypes used to test the idea. I’m not expecting to see real feasibility progress yet, but I do expect more investment into this, as witnessed from SpaceX and other satellite players in this space.
There are some clear potential advantages including continuous solar energy and heat dissipation into the vacuum of space, but the operational challenges are enormous. I am not suggesting we will see data centers in space in the near future, or perhaps ever, but I do expect there to be conversations around the topic given the rising energy demands of advanced AI workloads.
Satellites
While we’re talking about space and Low Earth Orbit, it’s impossible not touch on Satellites. I spoke about this sector in last year’s predictions and 2026 is shaping up to be the point at which satellite networks become meaningfully integrated into mainstream consumer and enterprise communications, and we’ve already seen the beginning of that with VM02’s partnership with Starlink last year.
Direct-to-device (D2D) connectivity, a technology which didn’t exist before 2025, is shifting from proof-of-concept to real-world deployment as the technology, devices, and business models start to mature.
But the really interesting part is the number of companies competing in this sector, including Starlink, AST SpaceMobile, and more. There could be clear separation from the early leaders and the rest of the field as regulatory approvals take shape and commercial launches accelerate. Expect some clear winners in this space to emerge and consolidate.
Live Events and the Experiential Economy
From talk of space to being grounded in the moment. Live events is another sector set for further expansion in 2026 as consumers embrace the experiential economy.
In simple terms, it’s ‘moments over materials’. We’ve already seen a shift at sporting events, with stadia being designed with fan zones, VIP experiences, and activities in mind to elevate the overall fan experience.
This appetite for richer experiences is pushing organizers to rethink what a live event actually is. It’s no longer just about the performance; it’s about the entire experience, from the moment a fan arrives to the moment they leave. Our friends at Formula E have a unique proposition in this field by virtue of their majority city-circuit format, which manages to blur the line between the venue and the host location, allowing fans to explore adjacent areas, branded installations, and partner activations both pre-race and post-race.
Across the live events sector, expect more experimentation around immersive staging, interactive zones, AI-powered content, and digital add-ons that follow the attendee beyond the venue. The companies that successfully blend these elements into a cohesive experience will be the ones that set the pace in 2026.
