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Strategic Intelligence: Tech, Media, & Telecom Themes 2026

Publisher GlobalData
Published Dec 10, 2025
Length 187 Pages
SKU # GBDT20678711

Description

Strategic Intelligence: Tech, Media, & Telecom Themes 2026

Summary

This report provides a comprehensive outlook for the leading players in the tech, media, and telecom (TMT) industry based on the key themes set to transform their industry landscape.

You will not find a better guide to technology in 2026.

Key Highlights
  • Three years after the release of ChatGPT, artificial intelligence (AI) remains a fixture at the top of corporate agendas worldwide. However, the conversation has shifted from a focus on generative AI to discussions around the potential impact of agentic AI: advanced AI systems that act autonomously, making decisions and taking actions with limited or no human supervision.
  • Ongoing geopolitical turmoil and macroeconomic uncertainty make the global outlook for 2026 volatile and unpredictable. Technologies like AI contribute to that volatility but can also help companies succeed in an uncertain world.
Scope
  • At 168 pages, this report is the most concise reference guide to tech that you will read this year. Written by some of the world's leading tech experts, GlobalData's TMT Themes 2026 will help you look credible when discussing tech in your industry. It tells you everything you need to know about disruptive tech themes and which companies can help you digitally transform your business.
  • This report covers 17 TMT sectors, divided into four categories: hardware, software and services, internet and media, and telecom. For each sector, we provide sector scorecards comprising four screens: the company screen, thematic screen, valuation screen, and risk screen.
Reasons to Buy
  • Position yourself for future success by understanding the TMT industry's most important tech, regulatory, and macroeconomic themes. GlobalData provides analysis that will help you look credible when discussing tech in your company.
  • Quickly identify attractive investment targets by understanding which companies are the most advanced in the themes that will determine future success in the TMT industry.
  • Gain a competitive advantage in the future of the TMT industry by reading this report in conjunction with another multi-theme report, Tech Predictions 2026, which covers 20 tech-related themes.

Table of Contents

187 Pages
Executive Summary
Top Themes for 2026
Hardware
Semiconductors
The US-China trade war is pushing China towards greater self-reliance
Top 10 themes: Semiconductors
Sector scorecard: Semiconductors
Component makers
Tariffs remain a headache, but AI and smartphones will be market drivers in 2026
Top 10 themes: Component makers
Sector scorecard: Component makers
Consumer electronics
Tariffs and AI will continue to reshape consumer electronics in 2026
Top 10 themes: Consumer electronics
Sector scorecard: Consumer electronics
IT infrastructure
AI influence will cut both ways in 2026
Top 10 themes: IT infrastructure
Sector scorecard: IT infrastructure
Telecom infrastructure
The growth of AI agents and the potential of space connectivity
Top 10 themes: Telecom infrastructure
Sector scorecard: Telecom infrastructure
Industrial automation
Nascent technologies are enhancing industrial settings
Top 10 themes: Industrial automation
Sector scorecard: Industrial automation
Software and Services
Application software
AI, geopatriation, and zero trust are reshaping application software
Top 10 themes: Application software
Sector scorecard: Application software
Enterprise security software
2026 will be another challenging year for enterprise cybersecurity
Top 10 themes: Enterprise security software
Sector scorecard: Enterprise security software
IT services
Economic headwinds, AI, and regulatory changes disrupt the IT services sector
Top 10 themes: IT services
Sector scorecard: IT services
Cloud services
The pressure to deliver AI-enabled industry solutions is increasing
Top 10 themes: Cloud services
Sector scorecard: Cloud services
Internet and Media
Ecommerce
Ecommerce platforms must adapt if they are to survive in an AI world
Top 10 themes: Ecommerce
Sector scorecard: Ecommerce
Social media
Social media appears to have lost its identity
Top 10 themes: Social media
Sector scorecard: Social media
Advertising
AI will be deeply embedded in the creative process of advertising
Top 10 themes: Advertising
Sector scorecard: Advertising
Music, film, and TV
Music, film, and TV companies must innovate or perish
Top 10 themes: Music, film, and TV
Sector scorecard: Music, film, and TV
Gaming
Gaming is rapidly evolving into a service-first ecosystem
Top 10 themes: Gaming
Sector scorecard: Gaming
Publishing
Trust will become a key battleground as AI continues to shape publishing
Top 10 themes: Publishing
Sector scorecard: Publishing
Telecoms
Telecom services
Carriers must balance investment in infrastructure and growth opportunities
Top 10 themes: Telecom services
Sector scorecard: Telecom services
Our Thematic Research Methodology
About GlobalData
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List of Tables
Table 1: Top 10 themes: Semiconductors
Table 2: Top 10 themes: Component makers
Table 3: Top 10 themes: Consumer electronics
Table 4: Top 10 themes: IT infrastructure
Table 5: Top 10 themes: Telecom infrastructure
Table 6: Top 10 themes: Industrial automation
Table 7: Top 10 themes: Application software
Table 8: Top 10 themes: Enterprise security software
Table 9: Top 10 themes: IT services
Table 10: Top 10 themes: Cloud services
Table 11: Top 10 themes: Ecommerce
Table 12: Top 10 themes: Social media
Table 13: Top 10 themes: Advertising
Table 14: Top 10 themes: Music, film, and TV
Table 15: Top 10 themes: Gaming
Table 16: Top 10 themes: Publishing
Table 17: Top 10 themes: Telecom services
List of Figures
Figure 1: The biggest themes driving growth in 2026
Figure 2: Who does what in the semiconductors space?
Figure 3: Thematic screen - Semiconductors
Figure 4: Valuation screen - Semiconductors
Figure 5: Risk screen - Semiconductors
Figure 6: Who does what in the component makers space?
Figure 7: Thematic screen - Component makers
Figure 8: Valuation screen - Component makers
Figure 9: Risk screen - Component makers
Figure 10: Who does what in the consumer electronics space?
Figure 11: Thematic screen - Consumer electronics
Figure 12: Valuation screen - Consumer electronics
Figure 13: Risk screen - Consumer electronics
Figure 14: Who does what in the IT infrastructure space?
Figure 15: Thematic screen - IT infrastructure
Figure 16: Valuation screen - IT infrastructure
Figure 17: Risk screen - IT infrastructure
Figure 18: Who does what in the telecom infrastructure space?
Figure 19: Thematic screen - Telecom infrastructure
Figure 20: Valuation screen - Telecom infrastructure
Figure 21: Risk screen - Telecom infrastructure
Figure 22: Who does what in the industrial automation space?
Figure 23: Thematic screen - Industrial automation
Figure 24: Valuation screen - Industrial automation
Figure 25: Risk screen - Industrial automation
Figure 26: Who does what in the application software space?
Figure 27: Thematic screen - Software and Services
Figure 28: Valuation screen - Software and Services
Figure 29: Risk screen - Software and Services
Figure 30: Who does what in the enterprise security software space?
Figure 31: Thematic screen - Enterprise security software
Figure 32: Valuation screen - Enterprise security software
Figure 33: Risk screen - Enterprise security software
Figure 34: ho does what in the IT services space?
Figure 35: Thematic screen - IT services
Figure 36: Valuation screen - IT services
Figure 37: Risk screen - IT services
Figure 38: Who does what in the cloud services space?
Figure 39: Thematic screen - Cloud services
Figure 40: Valuation screen - Cloud services
Figure 41: Risk screen - Cloud services
Figure 42: Who does what in the ecommerce space?
Figure 43: Thematic screen - Ecommerce
Figure 44: Valuation screen - Ecommerce
Figure 45: Risk screen - Ecommerce
Figure 46: Who does what in the social media space?
Figure 47: Thematic screen - Social media
Figure 48: Valuation screen - Social media
Figure 49: Risk screen - Social media
Figure 50: Who does what in the advertising space?
Figure 51: Thematic screen - Advertising
Figure 52: Valuation screen - Advertising
Figure 53: Risk screen - Advertising
Figure 54: Who does what in the music, film, and TV space?
Figure 55: Thematic screen - Music, film, and TV
Figure 56: Valuation screen - Music, film, and TV
Figure 57: Risk screen - Music, film, and TV
Figure 58: Who does what in the gaming space?
Figure 59: hematic screen - Gaming
Figure 60: Valuation screen - Gaming
Figure 61: Risk screen - Gaming
Figure 62: Who does what in the publishing space?
Figure 63: Thematic screen - Publishing
Figure 64: Valuation screen - Publishing
Figure 65: Risk screen - Publishing
Figure 66: Who does what in the telecom services space?
Figure 67: Thematic screen - Telecom services
Figure 68: Valuation screen - Telecom services
Figure 69: Risk screen - Telecom services
Figure 70: Our five-step approach for generating a sector scorecard

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