Looking back on a strong week at CCW 2026 for critical communications

See how mission-critical broadband moved forward at CCW 2026

Critical Communications World always brings the most important conversations in our industry into one place. At CCW 2026 in London, one message was clear to me: mission-critical broadband is no longer a distant ambition. It is becoming an implementation priority.

This matters because public safety agencies, utilities, rail operators and other mission-critical organizations face a common challenge: modernizing communications, enabling richer services and supporting new operational models without putting continuity at risk. For them, communications are not simply another IT system. They are part of how essential operations stay safe, coordinated and resilient.

That was one of the strongest themes I heard throughout the week. The industry is not asking whether broadband will play a bigger role in mission-critical communications. The question is how to introduce it in a way that is secure, standards-based, operationally manageable and respectful of the systems users already rely on.

Building a foundation for mission-critical broadband

This is why recognition for Nokia Core Enterprise Solutions at the International Critical Communications Awards 2026 was especially meaningful. Nokia Core Enterprise Solutions was named a finalist in the Best MCX product or solution of the year category, reflecting the growing importance of resilient private wireless core networks for mission-critical broadband.

For me, the recognition points to a broader industry need. Mission-critical broadband cannot be treated as a collection of disconnected network components. It needs a dependable foundation for voice, video and data services, with the availability, security and lifecycle discipline required in environments where communications cannot fail.

Nokia Core Enterprise Solutions provides a cloud-native 4G and 5G private wireless core optimized for mission-critical wide-area networks. It is designed to support high availability, security, lifecycle automation and deployment flexibility, giving organizations a practical path from today’s operational environment toward future broadband services.

The integration with Leonardo’s MC_linX Mission Critical Services platform adds standards-based MCX capabilities for mission-critical push-to-talk, mission-critical data and mission-critical video. Together, Nokia and Leonardo bring core network capabilities and mission-critical communications services into an integrated solution designed for real operational use.

Modernizing without disrupting what already works

One reason this is important is that most mission-critical organizations are not starting with a clean sheet of paper.

Public safety agencies have established radio environments, proven procedures and multi-agency workflows. Utilities need secure communications across substations, field crews and distributed assets. Railways are preparing for FRMCS while continuing to operate existing GSM-R systems. In each case, modernization has to protect continuity as it introduces new capabilities.

That is where a standards-based, cloud-native approach can help. It gives organizations the ability to introduce broadband services step by step, support interoperability with existing systems and evolve the network over time without turning every upgrade into a major replacement cycle.

It also helps align the core network, mission-critical services and operational tools within a common architecture. For customers, that can reduce integration complexity and make the transition to broadband more manageable.

Why this matters now

The practical value is not simply more bandwidth or more connected devices. The real goal is to help mission-critical organizations support faster decision-making, richer situational awareness and more resilient operations while maintaining the trust users have built around legacy systems.

That balance came through clearly at CCW 2026. The industry is ready to move forward, but it is focused on solutions that make the transition credible, secure and operationally controlled.

Looking back, CCW 2026 was a strong week for mission-critical broadband. We were proud to see Nokia Core Enterprise Solutions recognized as an ICCA finalist, grateful for the engagement from customers and partners and encouraged by the industry’s focus on practical modernization.

Learn more about Nokia Core Enterprise Solutions and see how Nokia is helping mission-critical organizations build secure, resilient broadband networks for the future.