Discover 2030

A time of unprecedented change and opportunity

Unparalleled technological advancement will shape life as we know it in the upcoming decade

By 2030, the world will have undergone a significant transformation. The global rate of technology adoption will be impacted by trends such as a deepening focus on environmental sustainability, cybersecurity and inclusion. Advances in semiconductors, software, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), metaverse technologies, Web3 and cloud technologies will continue to accelerate.

On this page

Emerging technologies
Rising demands
Network-wide AI

Realizing the synergies of the human, physical and digital worlds

Over the next decade, technology will continue to significantly extend the scope of human possibilities, connecting the human, physical and digital worlds. The human world will be the driving source of technology innovation thanks to our irreplaceable capacity for perception, emotion, logic, intent, culture and aspiration. The advancing digital world is powered by increasingly complex and disruptive technologies, which it utilizes to supervise and automate the tangible objects of the physical world. The convergence of these worlds will transform societies, governments and businesses enabling us to reach our full potential.

Emerging technologies

AI

Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) will play a fundamental role in enabling evolution across networks, devices and applications, advancing possibilities for automation, productivity and sustainability. AI will be embedded in many devices, with interworking required between device-based and network-based AI models. Devices will become 'smarter' with important functionality becoming independent of the network.

Metaverse

Metaverse technologies will be a significant driver of transformation, initially bringing greater efficiencies and productivity to business and industries, then to consumers. Metaverse innovations will steadily progress and take time to be fully realized. XR devices, digital twins and sensors are already delivering tangible value to enterprise and industrial environments. When it comes to providing consumers with a seamless and immersive experience in the metaverse, the quality of networks will be of utmost importance.

Cloud

Cloud computing has become foundational to digital transformation and service delivery across many industries. Cloud computing is rapidly evolving, with new business models and technological advancements addressing different applications. Networks will evolve to become fully cloud-native and better able to maximize user experience and resource utilization, through the deployment of distributed, multi-cloud architectures. Embrace network and cloud as an innovative platform for discovering new ways of operating your infrastructure and services.

Web3

As the internet enters its third stage, Web3, technologies are becoming more decentralized and user-centric. Decentralization, e.g., through the adoption of blockchain, has expanded, and we are already seeing Web3 begin to enable compelling new use cases to meet emerging needs and opportunities.

Devices

By 2030, new connected devices will emerge, but smartphones will remain the most popular. Beginning in 2027, ergonomic and affordable XR devices will fuel mass-market metaverse expansion. Multimodality, use cases, and consumability will increase as devices enable them. Optimized, adaptable connectivity boosts user adoption. Affordable, easy-to-deploy low-energy and energy-harvesting devices will improve dense sensor mesh networks for IoT and automation solutions like digital twins. To connect these solutions everywhere, we need a ‘Network of Networks’ and non-terrestrial networks.

6G

As the physical, human and digital worlds become increasingly linked to the 6G network, 6G will encompass a range of technologies beyond networking. While the first 6G networks are not projected to be commercially operational until after 2030, the groundwork is already being laid, with advancements in 5G-Advanced, as well as crucial stages on the way to 6G. Distributed massive MIMO (DmMIMO), an AI-native network fabric, new spectrum and radio designs, and the advancement of intent-based automation are some of the stepping stones.

Rising security, sustainability and collaboration demands

As data security and control are growing concerns for everyone, people and organizations will increasingly demand self-ownership of their digital identities. Access to meaningful connectivity will become a basic right, including, for example, decentralized connectivity services. For businesses, data sovereignty is already a critical requirement and that will only increase in priority.

Prioritizing sustainable and ESG-conscious providers will become the norm when selecting technology solutions and services, which users will also expect to be consumable, explainable, trustworthy and life-enhancing.

Businesses will need strong developer support to create compelling value within their connected solutions. To attract the best talent, they will favor networks that allow developers to selectively leverage network capabilities. Accordingly, they will prioritize networks that support simple ‘network as code’ APIs and user-friendly platforms, as well as cloud-agnostic software environments.

Meeting the network demands of 2030

Networks are at the heart of realizing the tremendous potential that emerging technologies can offer humanity in 2030. Tomorrow’s networks will sense, think and act, leveraging ubiquitous AI and providing vast capacity and scale to meet massive new digital demands with the lowest possible operating costs. Profound improvements will be required unprecedented performance while interworking between the human, physical and digital worlds.

Networks must evolve in nine key capability areas.

Diagram illustrating nine ways in which networks must evolve

Network-wide AI

The ubiquitous integration of AI and ML will enable the network of 2030 to be truly transformational, delivering:

Network-wide, real-time performance optimization
Intent-based orchestration and zero-touch automation
Customer and service experience analytics and assurance
Automated security, privacy and energy optimization
Network-wide ML inference and training environments
Federated, secure data sharing
Sandboxing and simulation via network digital twins
Co-pilots and virtual assistants for coders, customers and operations

The network of 2030 will incorporate a wide range of AI and ML capabilities, including network-wide AI management and orchestration of AI-native network operations that allow it to act autonomously in real-time to address needs and events. Many network functions have progressed from simple algorithms and processes to highly automated, closed-loop processes and agents for network optimization, efficiency and security. Automation includes interaction between network AI models and corresponding AI models in external applications and devices. Efficiency, sustainability, security and user experience will be top priorities. A holistic and systematic AI/ML data strategy that addresses data ownership, quality and lifecycle management will be essential to the realization of network-wide AI.

Only a collaborative ecosystem can unlock the infinite new opportunities of 2030

In the interconnected future, no business will be an island, and no single organization will be able to dominate the ecosystem of opportunities. It will need an open ecosystem driven by collaborative partnerships and developer-focused innovation to realize what is truly possible. New interaction and governance models and technologies like Web3 will enable new kinds of business interaction and trustless value exchange between players. A rich, open, innovation-focused ecosystem of developers, solution providers and service providers will collaborate to realize value, fueled by emerging digital engagement tools and as-a-service business models. Service providers will create value by exposing their network capabilities through APIs to enable a strong developer ecosystem.

Together, we’re creating the future

Nokia is bringing this vision to life. Our researchers and engineers are harnessing the exponential potential of networks to lead this evolution, creating networks that are dynamic enough to adapt to emerging applications, use cases and business models. We will work together with our trusted ecosystem partners to develop long-term answers to the world’s most pressing challenges and create a more sustainable, productive and accessible future. By 2030, being able to connect to everything will be a big part of almost everything we do. Stay tuned for more thought-provoking ideas from our experts and valued ecosystem partners.