Name: 2026 Trends to Watch for Optical Components and Advanced Fiber Technologies
Start: 2025-09-11T09:00:00Z
End: 2025-09-11T09:00:46.000Z
Location: BrightTALK
Rating: 5

Intelligence and advice powered by decades of global expertise and comprehensive coverage of the tech markets. From R&D to ROI, we identify your greatest opportunities and move the industry forward.
At Omdia, we are different because we have the humility to listen. It’s what sharpens our intelligence and powers our partners into action. We believe that true leadership isn’t just about giving direction. It starts with listening and understanding, then acting decisively and with purpose.When we partner together, we can move your business forward, and with it, the entire industry.

Discover how telcos are reinventing their networks and strategies to thrive in a fast-changing digital world. This session dives into how AI, optical innovation, and fixed-mobile convergence are powering new revenue opportunities and enabling next-generation connectivity.

Networks Reimagined: AI, Monetization, and the Next Wave of Telco Innovation

Join us for an in-depth look at the future of connectivity. We’ll explore the shifting landscape of fixed broadband and emerging access technologies, examine how telcos are redefining the connected home experience, and uncover the transformative impact of edge AI on network infrastructure and service delivery.

Broadband Futures: Innovation, Access, and Intelligence at the Network Edge

Join Omdia's experts for a dynamic, insightful webinar diving into the trends shaping media today and the predictions that will define its future. From the rise of microdramas and the growing influence of gaming in the attention economy, to evolving video strategies, next-generation partnerships, and the unstoppable global impact of Korean content, this session will explore what's driving audiences and revenues right now.

Key topics include:
• How short-form storytelling will mature and monetize
• Where gaming and video will converge next
• The next wave of global content powerhouses
• New hybrid business models across streaming, social, and platforms
• How AI will accelerate creation, distribution, and personalization

Whether you're a streamer, broadcaster, studio, brand, or tech company, you'll gain fresh data, strategic foresight, and actionable takeaways to navigate this rapidly evolving landscape.

What's hot in media and entertainment

Three major shifts are redefining the MSSP market right now. Driven by macroeconomic pressure, geopolitical conflict, and rapid AI adoption, customers are demanding more from their security partners. Here is what stands out:

- Tightening Compliance: Organizations need partners to navigate complex, multi-market regulations.

- Infrastructure Regulations: Expanding rules in BFSI, telcos, and manufacturing require a mix of technical and regulatory expertise.

- Service Expectations: There is a premium on "white glove" service and tailored, long-term guidance.

Watch the full Trend Watch for the complete analysis and stay tuned for our upcoming Omdia Universe on Managed Detection and Response.

MSSP in 2025 and beyond

What key factors will define the telecom industry in 2026? Our latest analysis identifies several key trends:

- Cash flow has reached record levels for the second consecutive year. 
- Capital efficiency is improving as revenue growth returns. 
- Investor confidence is increasing, reflected in stock performance. 
- Regulatory barriers are easing in major markets. 
- Next-generation infrastructure development is accelerating, including 5G evolution and 6G testing.

Financial recovery, regulatory changes, and technology development are creating new opportunities for the telecom industry.

Watch our expert analysis to understand how these trends are impacting the industry.

2026 Telecoms - A year of positive momentum

The managed services industry is rapidly evolving toward "MSP 3.0," moving beyond traditional break-fix support and proactive monitoring. In this new phase, MSPs help clients achieve business outcomes through advanced automation, integrated technology ecosystems and consultative partnerships that deliver strategic value. This is driving explosive market growth, with global revenue projected to reach $595 billion by 2025 and nearly $800 billion by 2033. For executives navigating this landscape, understanding the forces reshaping the MSP ecosystem is essential for survival and competitive advantage. 

Today's service providers face a key inflection point. As buying behaviors evolve, technology stacks grow more sophisticated, and industry consolidation accelerates, the traditional MSP model is giving way to more specialized, security-focused approaches. 

Join Jay McBain, Chief Analyst at Omdia, for an evidence-based examination of the managed services landscape and actionable strategies to capitalize on emerging market opportunities.

Key Takeaways from this session will be:

• Gain insights into how the B2B marketplace ecosystem is redefining channel relationships and creating new revenue opportunities
• Explore how leading MSPs are introducing AI-augmented operations to scale service delivery while maintaining margins in an increasingly competitive landscape
• Understand the strategic advantages of specialization versus generalization, with data-driven insights on which vertical markets offer the highest growth potential
• Examine how M&A trends are reshaping the competitive landscape and creating both threats and opportunities for MSPs of all sizes
• Discover how innovative MSPs are exploring blockchain technologies to enhance security offerings and create new service revenue streams

The State of Managed Services

Global AI glasses shipments are forecast to exceed 10 million units by 2026. Ambient AI is now moving from concept to everyday life.

This is a pivotal step in a more "Connected Life," where devices, services, and ecosystem, and service work as one.

* Ubiquitous AI: Mobile AI app downloads surpassed 1.4 billion in just three years, signaling mainstream demand.

* Ecosystems approach: We are shifting from standalone devices to scenario-driven ecosystems that adapt to diverse contexts and use cases.

* Service Innovation: AI agents are evolving to anticipate needs and redefining user interactions.

Explore our new forecast analysis for the implications for product, partnerships, and go-to-market.

Connected Life - AI Glasses to exceed 10 million units by 2026

How can service providers break the 2% growth ceiling in the $1.3 trillion global telco consumer market and unlock new revenue? In our latest Omdia analysis, Michael Philpott and Alzbeta dive deep into the strategies that can transform telco growth in an increasingly saturated market.

Key insights revealed: 
- Quality of experience (QoE) now matters more than raw speed; consistency and reliability is the new differentiator. 
- AI-enabled tools can predict and solve Wi-Fi interference issues before customers notice. 
- Premium Gigabit speeds should be reserved for top-tier offerings to avoid a race to the bottom. 
- AI-powered personalization can drive customer segmentation, identify upsell opportunities, and reduce churn risks.

Watch the full video to discover how AI is reshaping customer engagement and driving both operational savings and ARPU growth.

Growing the telco consumer business

In this exclusive interview, Omdia’s Ronan de Renesse explores Europe’s urgent push for digital sovereignty. As AI transforms telecoms, countries like France, Germany, Italy, and Spain are prioritizing local infrastructure to safeguard data, reduce reliance on hyperscalers, and strengthen national security. Discover what this means for the future of European tech independence.

Digital sovereignty & AI: Why local infrastructure matters

In this Network X 2025 interview, Omdia’s Mariana Zamoszczyk explains why cybersecurity tops the list of consumer service priorities for telecom operators. Discover how rising support costs, consumer expectations for secure networks, and shifting market dynamics are turning cybersecurity from a retention tool into a strategic opportunity.

How consumer cybersecurity can unlock new revenue streams for telcos

Edge computing is finally delivering on its promise - and AI is the catalyst. In this exclusive interview, Omdia’s Dr. Kerem Arsal explores how telcos are moving beyond the hype to unlock real commercial value. Learn which markets are leading, the unique challenges facing European distributed RAN, and whether telecoms can truly claim their share of this growing opportunity.

Edge computing meets AI: Real commercial impact

After years of heavy fiber investment, telcos are shifting focus from infrastructure to customer activation. In this exclusive interview, Omdia’s Jaimie Lenderman shares insights from global operators on how the industry is tackling the challenge of turning network deployment into real revenue growth.

From fiber buildout to revenue activation

Despite the buzz around AI at Network X 2025, Omdia’s Dario Talmesio shares a candid view on its real-world impact. In conversation with Scott Bicheno from Telecoms.com, Dario reveals why telcos have yet to see significant cost savings from AI, pointing to data quality issues, system complexity, and the slow pace of transformation. A must-watch for anyone tracking AI’s true role in telecom strategy.

AI in telecoms: Time for a reality check

AI is reshaping the music industry, for better or worse.

From generating new songs to sparking major copyright battles with platforms like Udio and Suno, the technology is challenging how music is made and monetized.

Our latest Omdia Trend Watch video explores:

- Warnings of global revenue losses of up to 25% by 2028
- How leaders like Universal Music Group are pushing for responsible innovation
- The impact of new lawsuits on licensing and creator income
- What comes next for recorded music and publishing in the age of AI

The next year will be pivotal. Watch the full analysis by Simon Dyson, Senior Principal Analyst.

Generative AI and Music

APAC leads AI manufacturing adoption, despite European technology dominance. This East-West divide is shaping the market.

In our new video, Omdia analysts Anna Ahrens and Lian Jye Su explore this paradox and what it means for the industry.

Watch to understand:
- Why APAC manufacturers are scaling AI faster than their Western counterparts
- How a lack of legacy equipment creates opportunities for rapid AI implementation
- The role of massive government investment in driving digital transformation
- How Chinese tech vendors are challenging Western market positions
- Why Chinese manufacturers will need local partnerships for global expansion
- The three key drivers behind China's accelerated AI manufacturing adoption

AI in Manufacturing: East vs West

Our global survey of 20,000 consumers reveals a surprising disconnect: 63% of customers say loyalty programs influence their mobile plan choice, yet 64% don't actually use them.

In this analysis, Omdia experts Nicole McCormick and Pal Karlsen explore what's causing this gap and what telcos can do about it.

Watch the video to discover:
- The #1 reason consumers don't use loyalty schemes
- How HKT's "The Club" and Deutsche Telekom's "Magenta Moments" are succeeding
- The three key ingredients for an effective program: relevance, simplicity, and brand integration

Telco loyalty programs: Are they worth it?

Our latest Omdia Decision Maker Survey of 1,000 IT leaders highlights critical security gaps, revealing that only 11% of organizations can account for 100% of their data amid the rapid deployment of AI.

Watch the new video with Omdia analysts Adam Strange and Don Tait as they explore the findings:

- Why you can't protect what you don't know you have
- How non-human identities are exploding from a 50:1 to over a 100:1 ratio per human user
- Why 60% of respondents lack confidence in securing non-human identities
- How 84% are using or planning to use AI agents in the next 12-18 months 
- What multi-layered security approaches can mitigate these new risks

The convergence of data and identity security

How is AI creating tangible value in the workplace right now?

In our latest Omdia Trend Watch, Principal Analysts Adam Holtby and Prachi Nema break down two key areas where AI is already delivering significant impact:

➡️ Employee Support: AI agents are revolutionizing IT and HR support. This market is already valued at $1.2bn, and Omdia predicts that by 2027, over 50% of large enterprise support interactions will be AI-powered.

➡️ Collaboration: AI is enriching communication tools with smart meeting summaries and intelligent device features. The total Unified Communications and Collaboration (UC&C) market is forecast to reach $55bn by 2029.

Watch the full episode to see the data and trends behind AI's redefinition of productivity and the employee experience

How AI is transforming everyday work?

Join Omdia's leading optical technology experts Daryl Inniss and Ian Redpath for an exclusive webinar exploring the cutting-edge developments shaping the future of optical components and advanced fiber technologies in 2026 and beyond.

Key topics:

• Nvidia kick starts co-packaged optics for AI: Discover how Nvidia's initiatives are revolutionizing AI infrastructure and creating new opportunities for CMOS foundries

• The AI data center requires an optical switch: Learn why optical switching is becoming essential for next-generation AI data centers and what this means for network architecture

• Hollow core fiber and the impact on the AI data center ecosystem: Join our experts for an insightful fireside chat exploring how this transformative technology is poised to reshape data center connectivity

Featured speakers:

Daryl Inniss, Lead Analyst for Advanced Fiber Technologies, Omdia
Ian Redpath, Research Director, Transport Networks & Components, Omdia

2026 Trends to Watch for Optical Components and Advanced Fiber Technologies

Transport Networks and Components

Optical Components

Fiber Technologies

Omdia

Demand generation is the process through which a business integrates marketing and sales to move potential buyers down the sales funnel from interest to payment. The BrightTALK demand generation community is made up of thousands of professionals sharing and learning best practices for engagement marketing, demand generation and lead scoring and nurturing through interactive webinars and videos. Register and join the conversation to attend live webinars and have your questions answered by demand generation professionals and thought leaders.

Demand Generation

The digital content marketing community on BrightTALK is made up of thousands of marketers using rich media and thought leadership content to drive engagement. Join to learn best practices for digital content creation and distribution and explore how content engagement can help you connect with your existing and prospective customers and drive revenue.

Content Marketing

Get powerful advertising insights from influential experts. Connect with thought leaders and colleagues to get the most up-to-date advertising industry knowledge and strategies that are driving brand and demand.

Advertising

The marketing community on BrightTALK is made up of thousands of engaged marketing professionals. Find relevant webinars and videos on marketing strategy, branding and more presented by recognized thought leaders. Join the conversation by participating in live webinars and round table discussions.

Marketing

Welcome to the mobile computing community on BrightTALK! With the consumerization of IT and the widespread adoption of mobile devices across the globe, mobile computing has become an important part of many people's lives in a culture of bring your own device (BYOD). With mobile devices doubling as work phones and more employees working from home, businesses need to provide secure access to data and work applications from anywhere at any time. Join this growing community and hear from industry thought leaders in webinars and videos as they share their insight on mobile computing research and trends.

Mobile Computing

Are you an IT service management professional interested in developing your knowledge and improving your job performance? Join the IT service management community to access the latest updates from industry experts. Learn and share insights related to IT service management (ITSM) including topics such as the service desk, service catalog, problem and incident management, ITIL v4 and more. Engage with industry experts on current best practices and participate in active discussions that address the needs and challenges of the ITSM community.

IT Service Management

Cloud computing has exploded over the past few years, delivering a previously unimagined level of workplace mobility and flexibility. The cloud computing community on BrightTALK is made up of thousands of engaged professionals learning from the latest cloud computing research and resources. Join the community to expand your cloud computing knowledge and have your questions answered in live sessions with industry experts and vendor representatives.

Cloud Computing

The IT security community on BrightTALK is composed of more than 200,000 IT security professionals trading relevant information on software assurance, network security and mobile security. Join the conversation by watching on-demand and live information security webinars and asking questions of experts and industry leaders.

IT Security

Increasing expectations for good governance, effective risk management and complex demands for corporate compliance are presenting a growing challenge for organizations of all sizes. Join industry thought leaders as they provide you with practical advice on how to implement successful risk and compliance management strategies across your organization. Browse risk management resources in the form of interactive webinars and videos and ask questions of expert GRC professionals.

IT Governance, Risk and Compliance

The data center management community focuses on the holistic management and optimization of the data center. From technologies such as virtualization and cloud computing to data center design, colocation, energy efficiency and monitoring, the BrightTALK data center management community provides the most up-to-date and engaging content from industry experts to better your infrastructure and operations. Engage with a community of your peers and industry experts by asking questions, rating presentations and participating in polls during webinars, all while you gain insight that will help you transform your infrastructure into a next generation data center.

Data Center Management

The application development community features top thought leadership focusing on optimal practices in software development, SDLC methodology, mobile app development and application development platforms and tools. Join top software engineers and coders as they cover emerging trends in everything from enterprise app development to developing for mobile platforms such as Android and iOS.

Application Development

Unified communications improve collaboration and increase productivity among employees through technologies such as VoIP, instant messaging and social media. Join this community to learn how to benefit from the full value of unified communications and collaboration technologies.

Collaboration and UC

Enterprise applications have become a crucial piece of infrastructure for many businesses. The enterprise applications community on BrightTALK features the latest insights in enterprise application integration, enterprise application architecture and EAS software. Join the community to gain access to thousands of videos and webinars presented by recognized enterprise information systems experts and arm yourself with the knowledge you need to succeed.

Enterprise Applications

Practicing business intelligence allows your company to transform raw data into sets of insights for targeted business growth. The business intelligence and analytics community on BrightTALK is made up of thousands of data scientists, database administrators, business analysts and other data professionals. Find relevant webinars and videos on business analytics, business intelligence, data analysis and more presented by recognized thought leaders. Join the conversation by participating in live webinars and round table discussions.

Business Intelligence and Analytics

Join thousands of engaged IT professionals in the application management community on BrightTALK. Interact with your peers in relevant webinars and videos on the latest trends and best practices for application lifecycle management, application performance management and application development.

Application Management

The storage community on BrightTALK is made up of thousands of storage and IT professionals. Find relevant webinars and videos on storage architecture, cloud storage, storage virtualization and more presented by recognized thought leaders. Join the conversation by participating in live webinars and round table discussions.

Storage

Network infrastructure professionals understand that a reliable and secure infrastructure is crucial to enabling business execution. Join the network infrastructure community to interact with thousands of IT professionals. Browse hundreds of on-demand and live webinars and videos to learn about the latest trends in network computing, SDN, WAN optimization and more.

Network Infrastructure

Welcome to the big data and data management community on BrightTALK. Join thousands of data quality engineers, data scientists, database administrators and other professionals to find more information about the hottest topics affecting your data. Subscribe now to learn about efficiently storing, optimizing a complex infrastructure, developing governing policies, ensuring data quality and analyzing data to make better informed decisions. Join the conversation by watching live and on-demand webinars and take the opportunity to interact with top experts and thought leaders in the field.

Big Data and Data Management

Get powerful end user computing insights from influential EUC experts. Connect with thought leaders and colleagues to get the most up-to-date knowledge on effective approaches to get non-programmers to create working applications.

End User Computing

Get powerful marketing data and analytics insights from influential experts. Connect with thought leaders and colleagues to get the most up-to-date knowledge on the analytics that quantify your investments.

Data and Analytics

As an IT professional, many of the problems you face are multifaceted, complex and don’t lend themselves to simple solutions. The information technology community features useful and free information technology resources. Join to browse thousands of videos and webinars on ITIL best practices, IT security strategy and more presented by leading CTOs, CIOs and other technology experts.

Information Technology

The channel sales community on BrightTALK is made up of thousands of sales professionals specializing in channel sales strategy, reseller sales and channel opportunities. Find relevant content on demand or engage with peers and industry leaders in live channel sales webinars and round table discussions.

Channel Sales

The sales management community on BrightTALK is made up of thousands of sales management professionals. Learn about sales training ideas and techniques while improving pipeline development strategies. Join the conversation by participating in live sales development and management webinars and round tables.

Sales Strategy

The sales community on BrightTALK brings together thousands of engaged sales professionals. Learn about careers in IT sales and marketing, sales techniques and selling strategies. Join the discussion by participating in on-demand and live sales webinars and summits with leaders in the sales industry.

Sales

The energy community on BrightTALK brings together top experts from around the world. Find relevant webinars and videos on renewable energy, efficiency and more presented by recognized energy management thought leaders. Join the conversation by participating in live webinars and round table discussions on energy trends.

Energy

Get powerful emerging technology insights from influential experts. Connect with thought leaders and colleagues to get the most up-to-date knowledge on technologies like 3D printing, pervasive robotics, natural interfaces, connected everything and cognitive systems.

Emerging Technologies

Get powerful manufacturing insights from influential experts. Connect with thought leaders and colleagues to get the most up-to-date knowledge on strategies and techniques to accelerate production cycles while increasing efficiencies and improving profitability.

Manufacturing

The research and development community on BrightTALK brings together leading professionals in healthcare, technology and manufacturing to present on current topics in their fields. From big data in healthcare to online forensics training and medical research practices, the community is an exceptional resource for those looking to expand their knowledge. Be part of the conversation by joining the community and participating in interactive live webinars.

Research and Development

This community is for investors who work within the European market providing client and portfolio management advice. Join to learn from trusted investors on the latest trends and account strategies for delivering consistent results and long term success.

European Investors

Get powerful financial planning and analytics insights for your business. Connect with experts and colleagues to get the most up-to-date knowledge and drive optimal financial performance for your company.

Financial Planning and Analysis

The accounting and finance community on BrightTALK features presentations from leading accountants and finance professionals. The accounting community includes tax planning strategies, QuickBooks webinars and other accounting webinars, while the finance community features presentations on financial capital regulations and forensic data analytics. Join the conversation by attending live financial and accounting presentations and connecting with industry thought leaders.

2026 Trends to Watch for Optical Components and Advanced Fiber Technologies

Presented by

About this talk

Omdia