First-mover advantage: The 5 deep tech areas driving long-term telecoms growth

by Dr Derek LongStewart MarshAashu VirmaniDan Kirk and Michelle Lim | Sep 26, 2025

How can you use technology to disrupt and leapfrog your competitors? Technology can now define market leadership – and those who strike first will harness game-changing telecom architectures, AI-driven network intelligence and next-gen non-terrestrial connectivity.

This report guides you through the 5 deep tech areas driving long-term growth in telecoms. The intention of its expert authors is to provide you with a springboard to a future where connectivity is limitless, intelligence is autonomous, and first-movers don’t just lead – they redefine what’s possible.

Our teams have decades of experience – which has enabled us to identify the five key areas of deep tech. They are human augmentation by AI; network autonomy beyond Level 3; non-terrestrial networks; advanced computing and next-generation radio networks. Download the report now to explore the value they deliver and discover how they can and should be deployed within the telecom ecosystem.

2025 First mover advantage whitepaper

Expert authors

Director of Telecommunications | View profile

Derek leads our collaboration within the telecoms and mobile sector, helping create breakthrough innovations that transforms the delivery of high-performance communication - for mobile carriers and ISPs to vendors and component manufacturers.

Head of Aerospace | View profile

Stewart helps companies achieve technology breakthroughs that unlock transformative business value, including a world-first Push-to-Talk satellite service and a beyond visual line-of-sight UAV solution using low power satellite technology.

Senior Vice President - Business Development | View profile

Aashu Virmani is passionate about simplifying the complex, and articulating the business value of an idea. He has been a Business Development, M&A and Product Strategy Executive for over 20 years. Formally trained in data science, he has invested over two decades in the world of communications, and six years in fintech.

Consulting Director, Business Advisory Team | View profile

Dan advises clients on the strategic and commercial opportunities around deep tech innovation. Most recently, Dan's focus has been on the converging markets of terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks and opportunities from free space optics to AI in autonomous networks.

Principal Behavioural Scientist for Human Machine Understanding | View profile

Michelle's focus is on the intersection between psychology and technology. Her passion is in developing emotionally intelligent technology, human-machine teaming, and real-time adaptative systems to support humans in a wide range of sectors.

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