Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise Reveals Top Trends That Will Impact Business Growth in 2025

Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise, a leading provider of secure networking and communication solutions enabling organisations and industries to accelerate their operational efficiencies and competitiveness, has revealed the top trends that looks to significantly impact business growth opportunities in the Asia Pacific (APAC) region in 2025.

While the global economy is growing at a modest pace—the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s (OECD) latest economic outlook projects global GDP growth of 3.1% in 2024, followed by a slight pick-up to 3.2% in 2025—economic uncertainty remains top of mind for business leaders. It is therefore imperative that strategic investments in technology and digital infrastructure are needed to better position organisations to navigate complexity and drive future growth.

Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise Identifies Key Drivers Shaping the APAC Technology Landscape in 2025

Here are the key drivers in tech as identified by Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise:

Accelerated Adoption of Next-Generation Connectivity

The rapid rollout of 5G networks across APAC will enhance connectivity and support a wide range of IoT applications; industry association GSMA is estimating that 5G will add almost USD $130 billion to the APAC economy in 2030, driven by smart factories, smart grids, and IoT-enabled products. This trend is complemented by the increasing demand for private networks, as organizations seek greater control and security over their communications infrastructure. At the same time, cutting-edge connectivity developments like Wi-Fi 7 promise higher transfer speeds at significantly reduced latency, with great potential for industries like healthcare, where applications include telehealth services and remote surgical robotics.

AI-Driven Networking and Enhanced Cybersecurity

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming the business of network management through automation and predictive analytics. CIOs will look to increasingly leverage AI to optimise network performance and enhance cybersecurity measures; IDC predicts worldwide spending on technology to support AI strategies to reach USD $337 billion in 2025, with this number doubling to USD $749 billion by 2028. At the same time, as organisations continue to execute on their digital transformation strategies, the growing complexity of modern networks will necessitate more robust security frameworks. Now more than ever, one-size-fits-all solutions must be put aside in favour of a more holistic approach such as our Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise Risk, Resilience and Security (RRS) framework, as well as incorporating the practice of Security by Design, where security considerations must be incorporated from the outset of any digital transformation initiative.

The Rise of As-a-Service Models

APAC is expected to lead both Europe and the US in terms of tech spending in 2024 and 2025, with general market trends and the changing competitive landscape being two key drivers of an increased shift towards as-a-service models, which is transforming how organizations consume technology. These models provide flexibility and scalability, allowing businesses to pay only for what they use while reducing capital expenditure. Offerings in this space like Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise’s Network as a Service (NaaS), which simplifies network management and allows companies to scale their infrastructure according to demand, aligns with the growing need for organisations to effectively navigate complexity while remaining agile in a rapidly changing market.

Effectively Navigating Regulatory Compliance

As geopolitical tensions rise and regulatory landscapes evolve across APAC, organisations with skin in the game on a global level must be able to navigate complex compliance requirements effectively. Organisations should look to partner with solutions providers that are compliant with globally recognised cybersecurity standards, including NIS 2 and GDPR. This will in turn help these organizations better align their practices and offerings with global security standards, not just to mitigate risk associated with non-compliance, but also to adhere to local data protection laws while ensuring data sovereignty, and ultimately better position them for success globally.

“For 2025 and beyond, APAC organisations must embrace strategic investments in technology to drive efficiency and enhance collaboration, not just as a response to technological advancements and shifting customer expectations, but also geopolitical dynamics in the region. Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise remains committed to delivering tailored solutions, tools, and the expertise to help them collaborate more effectively, to enhance business agility and resilience, and unlock new opportunities for success,” said Tee Jyh Chong, Vice President, Sales and Services, APAC, at Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise.