Ookla on the network trends shaping 2026
Ookla expects mobile and fixed networks in 2026 to be shaped less by marketing promises and more by how people actually use them. Higher data consumption, more connected devices and new types of applications are pushing operators to focus on reliability, consistency and smarter use of existing spectrum, not just headline speed.
In a discussion with RCR Wireless News, Kerry Baker, who leads Ookla’s research and content work in North America, points to continued evolution rather than a sudden shift: operators will tune networks to handle denser traffic, manage congestion better and support a wider mix of devices and services. The direction of travel is clear — networks will be judged on how well they handle real-world load and new usage patterns, not on theoretical peak performance.
More from Technology
Boldyn Networks, a neutral host infrastructure provider, has committed to bringing full 4G and 5G mobile coverage to all 121 stations on the London Un
Apple plans to start mass production of its own AI server chip in the second half of 2026, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. The move comes as demand
South Korea and the Netherlands have agreed to step up cooperation on semiconductors and quantum computing as global trade tensions and supply chain s
UK-based analyst firm Juniper Research has published its "Top 10 Emerging Tech Trends for 2026," highlighting technologies it says will shape how orga
Unequal modulation (UEQM) in Wi‑Fi 8 lets a device use different modulation levels on different spatial streams in the same MIMO connection. Instead o
Daniel Kokotajlo, a former OpenAI researcher and co-author of the “AI 2027” scenario, has revised his forecast for when artificial general intelligenc