R&D in telecom
Global telecom companies are increasing investments in their own research: South Korean operator SK Telecom in 2025 sent 355.8 billion won ($ 251 million) to R&D, which is 2% of revenue and the highest share among the three largest operators of Korea. China Mobile in the same year reduced capital expenditures by 8% to 150.9 billion yuan ($22 billion) and simultaneously increased revenue from computing services by 11% to 89.8 billion yuan ($13 billion). Telecom companies are redistributing investments from network construction to what can be built on these networks. The Russian telecom sector is on a similar path: telecom operators are investing in R&D to find new niches for development.
Global telecom companies are increasing investments in their own research: South Korean operator SK Telecom in 2025 sent 355.8 billion won ($ 251 million) to R&D, which is 2% of revenue and the highest share among the three largest operators of Korea. China Mobile in the same year reduced capital expenditures by 8% to 150.9 billion yuan ($22 billion) and simultaneously increased revenue from computing services by 11% to 89.8 billion yuan ($13 billion). Telecom companies are redistributing investments from network construction to what can be built on these networks. The Russian telecom sector is on a similar path: telecom operators are investing in R&D to find new niches for development.
