01/29/2026
"There was a time when proprietary solutions were the only practical way to deliver reliable service. That time has passed. In 2026, the hardware has matured, the ecosystem has stabilized, and the industry has learned some hard lessons. The foundation provided by 3GPP has proven durable, and the number of viable, interoperable deployment paths has never been greater."
The wireless industry keeps stranding operators with proprietary platforms that age into boat anchors. As grants dry up and fiber competition heats up, it’s time to rethink lock-in, capital risk, and why open standards matter more than ever.
