Insights from Keith Henry, General Manager at CU Phosco Australia and Telecommunications
Attending Mobile World Congress in Barcelona was both energising and thought-provoking, offering a clear view of the direction of the global telecommunications and infrastructure sectors, as well as a valuable opportunity to reconnect and exchange ideas.
A key theme this year was the scale of ambition around the next phase of digital connectivity. The GSMA Mobile Economy 2026 report highlighted this growth, with mobile technologies generating an estimated $7.6 trillion in 2025 (6.4% of global GDP), projected to reach $11.3 trillion by 2030.
The exhibition also showcased the expanding ecosystem around connectivity, from robotics and automation to immersive digital experiences. While these innovations open new use cases, they continue to rely on robust networks and physical infrastructure.
Notably, discussions repeatedly returned to infrastructure. Despite the focus on networks, cloud and devices, these technologies ultimately depend on the right physical assets in the real world.
EVOLVING EXISTING ASSETS INTO SMART INFRASTRUCTURE
Across towns and cities, street infrastructure is increasingly being recognised as part of the digital ecosystem. Lighting columns, connected poles and other street-level assets are being considered as potential locations for small cells, sensors, monitoring equipment and edge devices that support connected services.
Keith Henry, General Manager at CU Phosco Australia and Telecommunications at CU Phosco, believes this is where the conversation around connected cities is beginning to mature.
“Cities already have an extensive network of street infrastructure,” he says. “The opportunity now is to evolve that network. In some locations, existing assets can host new technologies, while in others they can be replaced with smart poles specifically designed to support lighting, connectivity and future digital services.”
INVESTMENT, COLLABORATION AND DELIVERY
The scale of investment expected across the connectivity sector makes this shift increasingly relevant. According to the GSMA report, operator revenues are projected to grow from $1.19 trillion in 2025 to $1.36 trillion by 2030, supported by around $1.2 trillion in capital expenditure during that period.
As networks expand and digital services multiply, infrastructure in the public realm becomes an important enabler. Street-level assets sit close to communities, transport routes and public spaces, making them well-suited to hosting technologies that need to operate within the urban environment.
This is also where collaboration becomes critical. Delivering the next generation of digital infrastructure cannot be achieved solely by telecoms operators. It requires coordination between local authorities, infrastructure providers, technology companies and utilities.
Street infrastructure sits at the intersection of many of these sectors. Lighting assets are often owned or managed by local authorities. Telecommunications equipment may be deployed by network providers. Sensors and monitoring devices can support transport systems, environmental monitoring or public safety initiatives.
Bringing these functions together requires infrastructure capable of supporting multiple uses while remaining reliable, safe, and straightforward to maintain.
CU PHOSCO AT MWC BARCELONA
CU Phosco attended MWC Barcelona this year as part of the British Pavilion, where the CU Phosco Telecommunications team showcased its range of telecommunications structures designed to support network connectivity in both urban and suburban environments. The portfolio includes monopoles suited to suburban deployments as well as the Connected Urban Smart Pole, developed to integrate lighting, connectivity equipment and digital services within a single piece of infrastructure. The team was based in Hall 7 at Stand 7C1.
SECURITY, RESILIENCE AND ACCESSIBILITY
Another topic that surfaced repeatedly during discussions at MWC was security. As connectivity expands and the number of connected devices increases, resilience and cybersecurity are becoming more important considerations across the entire ecosystem. The GSMA report estimates that the global cost of cybercrime could rise to $15.63 trillion by 2029.
For cities, this highlights the importance of designing infrastructure that is secure and adaptable. Lighting columns and smart poles often remain in service for decades, so any integration with digital services must account for long-term resilience.
There is also a broader challenge around access to connectivity. While 96 per cent of the global population now lives within mobile broadband coverage, more than three billion people remain unconnected. The gap is increasingly about usage and accessibility rather than simple coverage.
Urban infrastructure can play a role in addressing this challenge by bringing connectivity services closer to where people live and work. By hosting communications equipment and digital services within a compact footprint at street level, cities have an opportunity to support technologies that improve mobility, safety, environmental monitoring and everyday urban life.
LOOKING AHEAD
MWC Barcelona once again demonstrated the pace at which connectivity technologies are evolving. Yet as these technologies move from concept to deployment, their success will depend not only on networks and platforms, but also on how effectively they can be integrated into the physical environment.
The next phase of digital infrastructure will not only be built in data centres and network cores. It will also take shape on the streets, through infrastructure that is designed from the outset to support lighting, connectivity and the digital services that modern cities increasingly rely on.
Find out more about our Telecoms Range including: Connected Urban, the smart pole for smart cities, and Monopoles for rural connectivity.