In this crucial week leading up to the holidays, the telecommunications world isn't stopping. In fact, it's accelerating. While many are preparing to celebrate Christmas, the digital connectivity industry has continued to make history with announcements redefining the future of global mobility, the Internet of Things, and internet access. From China to Chile, Europe to Africa, innovations in eSIM, iSIM, 5G, and satellite connectivity technologies are radically transforming the way we connect, travel, and work.
This week has seen the consolidation of trends that until a few months ago seemed futuristic: direct connectivity to satellites from smartphones, the widespread adoption of eSIMs even in emerging markets, and the ever-deeper integration between terrestrial and space networks. For those who live by technology, mobility, and innovation, these developments aren't mere technical curiosities, but concrete signs of a momentous shift in the global telecommunications landscape.
The 10 Most Relevant News of the Week
1. Chile Becomes First Latin American Country with Mobile Satellite Coverage
On December 19, 2025, Chile marked a historic milestone by becoming the first Latin American country to offer satellite coverage for cell phones. Entel, one of Chile's leading mobile operators, implemented Starlink's "Direct to Device" technology, allowing phones to connect directly to satellites in areas without traditional signal.
Why it's important: This initiative represents a fundamental step towards bridging the digital divide in remote and isolated regions. The ability to send messages in critical situations from places currently without connectivity can make a difference in emergencies and in people's daily lives.
Link: UPI - Chile to offer satellite coverage on mobile phones
2. Global eSIM Market Projected to $5.8 Billion by 2030
A strategic report was released on December 10, estimating the global eSIM market at $1.2 billion in 2024, with projections for growth to $5.8 billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 29.1%. Growth is driven by the increasing adoption of IoT devices, expanding network infrastructure, and the demand for flexible, high-speed connectivity.
Why it matters: These numbers confirm that eSIM is no longer a niche technology, but is rapidly becoming the standard for mobile and IoT connectivity. Integration into smart cities, connected vehicles, and IoT ecosystems represents significant opportunities for innovation.
Link: Global Newswire - Global eSIM Market to Surge
3. SGP.32: The New IoT Standard for eSIM Redefines Connectivity
On December 17, IoT Now published an in-depth look at the new GSMA SGP.32 standard for IoT eSIMs, which represents a fundamental transformation in the way IoT devices are deployed and managed. The standard integrates network selection, provisioning, and policy enforcement into a single lifecycle, allowing enterprises to retain ownership of the connectivity.
Why it matters: SGP.32 isn't just an incremental technical update, but the blueprint for the next decade of scalable IoT connectivity. It offers faster deployment times, vendor independence, and true remote lifecycle management without proprietary integrations.
Link: IoT Now - What IoT Decision Makers Should be Asking about eSIM
4. Chinese Operators Enable eSIM Support: Global Impact Expected
Following the launch of Apple's eSIM-only iPhone Air, Chinese telecom operators began offering eSIM support in October 2025. GSMA analysts predict that local manufacturers such as Huawei, Xiaomi, Oppo, and Vivo will launch more devices with native eSIM, significantly impacting price-sensitive markets in Asia and Africa.
Why it matters: China is a key driver of eSIM adoption. With these manufacturers commanding significant market shares in emerging markets, the introduction of eSIM support across multiple price points will dramatically accelerate global adoption of the technology.
Link: TechCrunch - eSIM adoption is on the rise
5. Telecom Sector Consolidation: Three UK - Vodafone UK Merger Completed
Analysts at GSMA Intelligence have identified 2025 as the year "the ice finally breaks on consolidation" in the telecom industry. The merger of Three UK and Vodafone UK has reduced the number of operators in the UK market from four to three, with signs of ARPU (average revenue per user) growth between 5% and 10% in several quarters.
Why it matters: This consolidation represents a structural shift in the European telecommunications landscape, with potential implications for competitiveness and innovation. Regulators are reconsidering merger guidelines to allow operators to achieve the necessary scale.
Link: TelecomTV - Satellites, eSIMs and M&A shape key 2025 trends
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6. eSIM and Virtual Numbers Transform the TV and Streaming Industry
On December 15, Advanced Television published an analysis of how eSIM technologies and virtual numbers are becoming crucial to the television and streaming industry. Production teams operating across borders and streaming platforms pursuing global audiences are increasingly dependent on secure and flexible communications infrastructures.
Why it matters: Mobile connectivity is no longer limited to consumer viewing habits. From international news gathering to live sports production, professionals across the entire TV value chain depend on reliable access to location-independent data and voice services.
Link: Advanced Television - eSIMs and virtual numbers reshaping TV and streaming workflows
7. 5G Wireless Ecosystem Projected to $275.4 Billion by 2034
A new report released on December 18 predicts that the global 5G wireless ecosystem, valued at approximately $45.8 billion in 2024, will reach $275.4 billion by 2034, representing a CAGR of 21.3%. Growth is fueled by the increasing adoption of 5G technology, expanding network infrastructure, and the demand for high-speed, low-latency connectivity.
Why it matters: 5G is fueling innovations in IoT, smart cities, autonomous vehicles, and industrial automation. Telecom operators, device manufacturers, and technology providers are investing heavily in the 5G ecosystem to meet growing consumer and business demand.
Link: OpenPR - 5G Wireless Ecosystem Market Projected to Reach USD 275.4 Billion
8. 5G NTN (Non-Terrestrial Networks): Satellite-Mobile Convergence
On December 16, Comtech Telecommunications published an in-depth analysis of 5G NTN, highlighting how satellites are no longer limited to backhauling mobile networks in underserved areas. Thanks to the new 3GPP standards, satellites can use the same protocols and waveforms as terrestrial mobile networks.
Why it matters: Smartphones, tablets, and IoT devices could connect directly to satellites without the need for special terminals. This capability promises to extend secure, high-speed connectivity to virtually every corner of the globe, serving remote villages, maritime users, and remote oil installations.
Link: Comtech - 5G NTN Is Coming But Only If We Build It Right
9. 5G RedCap: The Technology That Will Redefine IoT in 2025
December 2025 saw a rapid acceleration in 5G RedCap (Reduced Capability) adoption, with carriers like AT&T announcing full nationwide coverage. Omdia forecasts IoT cellular connections to reach 5.9 billion by 2035, with 5G RedCap as a key driver. The launch of the Apple Watch with RedCap technology signaled the beginning of mass adoption.
Why it matters: RedCap bridges the critical gap between low-capacity LPWAN networks and high-complexity full 5G, offering a perfectly balanced "Goldilocks" solution. With throughput of 150 Mbps downlink and 50 Mbps uplink, it consumes 50% less power than traditional 5G, enabling wearables, industrial sensors, and smart city devices with battery life of years. China has already deployed commercial RedCap networks in smart factories, demonstrating how this technology enables autonomous driving vehicles and automated manufacturing at a lower cost than full 5G modules.
Link: Omdia - Cellular IoT connections to reach 5.9 billion by 2035
10. Multi-Carrier Connectivity Becomes Essential to IoT Success
On December 16, Technology Org published an analysis highlighting how multi-operator connectivity is emerging as a key requirement for successful IoT projects. No single telecom network provides perfect coverage in all locations, and without multi-operator capabilities, devices can experience dead zones that impact performance or completely block data flow.
Why it matters: IoT devices are often deployed in unpredictable or challenging environments. Many operate on the move, across rural areas, or in regions where carrier performance levels vary. Multi-operator IoT SIMs and eSIMs allow devices to select the strongest available network in real time.
Link: Technology Org - Why Multi-Carrier Connectivity Is Becoming Essential for IoT Success
Conclusion: The Weekly Trend
This week, December 15-21, 2025, marked a turning point in the history of global telecommunications. The common denominator in all this news is clear: convergence. We're no longer talking about separate technologies operating in silos, but rather an integrated ecosystem where eSIM, 5G, satellites, and IoT work together to create a truly global and resilient connectivity infrastructure.
The fact that a pioneering Latin American country like Chile has successfully implemented direct satellite connectivity to devices, while on the other side of the world China is opening its doors to eSIMs, demonstrates that we are experiencing a democratic transition in connectivity. It's no longer a question of "if" but "when" every corner of the planet will be covered by reliable connectivity.
The eSIM market's explosion to $5.8 billion by 2030 and the projection of 5G to $275 billion by 2034 aren't just numbers from financial reports: they represent millions of people who will have access to previously inaccessible educational, healthcare, and economic opportunities. They represent IoT devices that will monitor our health, optimize energy consumption, and make cities more livable.
The week leading up to Christmas 2025 reminded us that the true gift of modern technology isn't just speed or convenience, but inclusion. When a shepherd in a remote area of the Chilean Andes can call for help in an emergency thanks to satellite connectivity, when an entrepreneur in Africa can manage his business with an eSIM that works in 190 countries, and when IoT sensors can monitor forests, oceans, and critical infrastructure thanks to 5G NTN, then we are witnessing something greater than simple technological evolution: we are experiencing a social revolution.
2026 promises to be the year when many of these technologies, still in the implementation or announcement stages, will become a daily reality for billions of people. And this week in December 2025 will be remembered as the moment when all the pieces of the puzzle began to come together into a clear picture of the connected future that awaits us.
