The Distillery #6: The UK's Great Banking AI Experiment & Infobip's Messaging Trends

In this edition:
- UK financial firms can now experiment with AI, thanks to NVIDIA and the FCA
- Infobip's 3 biggest mobile messaging trends examined
- We reveal the opportunities that SGP.32 is set to create within cellular IoT
- Our latest insights on AI in cellular networks, shared mobility, soft POS, and VodafoneThree
TELECOMS & CONNECTIVITY
How SGP.32 is Supercharging the Next Cellular IoT Boom

6.5 billion. That’s the number of cellular IoT connections we’re forecasting by 2030 — and SGP.32 is set to play a huge role in making sure these connections are managed faster, cheaper, and more flexibly than ever before.
To mark the release of our new cellular IoT research, we’re offering an exclusive look at three opportunities SGP.32 will create for operators, IoT MVNOs, and others in the connectivity orchestration space.
🟣 SGP.32 is more than just remote provisioning. It lets enterprises switch providers faster and more often; slashing provisioning time and cost. That places orchestration front and centre, giving operators and platforms who master multi-network management a real competitive edge.
🟣 eSIM becomes viable for low-cost hardware. Simpler integration and fewer hurdles mean eSIMs can now power devices such as alarms and sensors; opening new markets and fresh revenue opportunities for operators to scale IoT like never before.
🟣 Security has long been a barrier for cellular IoT adoption. SGP.32 changes the game by adding stronger lifecycle management and built-in cybersecurity; which should ease enterprises' concerns over device security and embolden wider IoT deployments.
FINTECH & PAYMENTS
FCA and Nvidia Team Up to Help UK Banks Experiment with AI

The UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has launched a “supercharged sandbox” with NVIDIA, giving banks early-stage access to AI tools, data, and regulatory support.
Starting in October, firms can experiment with NVIDIA’s AI Enterprise Software to explore safe AI use; tackling challenges like privacy and fraud. The FCA says the initiative aims to boost innovation and help firms lacking in-house capabilities while supporting market growth.
Distilled...
🟣 This sandbox aims to tackle key barriers to AI adoption within financial services, including data access, compliance uncertainty, and infrastructure gaps. By participating, firms can accelerate the development and launch of advanced, compliant AI solutions - gaining a clear edge over competitors.
🟣 Giving financial services firms a safe space to experiment with AI will be crucial to unlocking efficiency savings from AI integration. Our research on the topic says UK banks are already saving $129 million this year; climbing to $3.9 billion by 2030.
🟣 Smaller firms may struggle to meet the technical, financial, or resource demands needed to participate; risking larger players dominating the field. The FCA introducing scaled participation tiers or subsidised access could balance things and prevent AI advancements from concentrating within a few firms.
TELECOMS & CONNECTIVITY
Infobip Industry Analyst Summit: 3 Messaging Trends to Watch

At last week’s Infobip Industry Analyst Summit, Ivan Ostojić, Chief Business Officer at Infobip, highlighted three key trends shaping the shift from simple messaging to real conversations.
Click below to read our blog unpacking these trends and, together with our own insights, what they mean for the future of mobile messaging.
(A big thank you to the Infobip team for inviting us!)
ICYMI
Signal Boost
Every issue, we highlight the research, blogs, infographics, and insights we're especially proud of.
🔒 Mobile operators clearly don’t need a sandbox, judging by how they're set to invest over $17 billion in AI-driven network security over the next few years.
🚴 Shared mobility and micromobility are transforming travel in cities and rural areas alike, as cash-strapped youngsters move away from car ownership.
💳 Our latest infographic breaks down how soft POS is helping small businesses to boost sales, cut costs, and simplify payments.
📱 And finally, Vodafone and Three have joined forces to become VodafoneThree. Here’s what this means for UK telecoms.
Latest research, whitepapers & press releases
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ReportDecember 2025AI Agents for Customer Experience Platforms Market: 2025-2030
Our comprehensive AI Agents for Customer Experience Platforms research suite comprises detailed assessment of a market that is set to disrupt mobile communications. It provides stakeholders with insight into the key opportunities within the AI agents for customer experience platforms market over the next two years.
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ReportDecember 2025Fintech & PaymentseCommerce Fraud Prevention Market: 2025-2030
Our eCommerce Fraud Prevention research suite provides a detailed and insightful analysis of this evolving market; enabling stakeholders from financial institutions, law enforcement agencies, regulatory bodies and technology vendors to understand future growth, key trends, and the competitive environment.
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ReportNovember 2025Telecoms & ConnectivityeSIMs & iSIMs Market: 2025-2030
Juniper Research’s eSIMs and iSIMs research suite offers insightful analysis of a market set to experience significant growth in the next five years. The research suite provides mobile network operators (MNOs), original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), and eSIM management and platforms vendors with intelligence on how to capitalise on the market growth, and guidance on how eSIM-only devices and sensors, SGP.42, in-factory provisioning, and iSIMs will change the competitive landscape.
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ReportNovember 2025Fintech & PaymentsModern Card Issuing Platforms Market: 2025-2030
Our Modern Card Issuing Platforms Market research suite provides a detailed and insightful analysis of this evolving market; enabling stakeholders from banks, financial institutions, fintech companies, and technology vendors to understand future growth, key trends, and the competitive environment.
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ReportNovember 2025Fintech & PaymentsDigital Wallets Market: 2025-2030
Our digital wallets research suite provides detailed analysis of this rapidly changing market; allowing digital wallet providers to gain an understanding of key payment trends and challenges, potential growth opportunities, and the competitive environment.
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ReportOctober 2025Fintech & PaymentsDigital Identity Market: 2025-2030
Juniper Research’s Digital Identity research suite provides a comprehensive and insightful analysis of this market; enabling stakeholders, including digital identity platform providers, digital identity verification providers, government agencies, banks, and many others, to understand future growth, key trends, and the competitive environment.
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WhitepaperDecember 2025Telecoms & ConnectivityHuman + AI: Drivers of Customer Experience AI Agents in 2026
Our complimentary whitepaper, Human + AI: Drivers of Customer Experience AI Agents in 2026, examines the key drivers of the AI agents for customer experience platforms market in 2025.
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WhitepaperDecember 2025Fintech & PaymentsBeyond Chargebacks: The True Cost of Fraud for Digital Commerce
Our complimentary whitepaper, Beyond Chargebacks: The True Cost of Fraud for Digital Commerce, examines the state of the eCommerce fraud prevention market; considering the impact of evolving digital fraud strategies, including key trends such as identity theft, account takeovers, chargebacks, policy abuse and friendly fraud.
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WhitepaperNovember 2025Telecoms & ConnectivityeSIM-only Devices: The Impact on Operators, Consumers, and IoT
Our complimentary whitepaper, eSIM-only Devices: The Impact on Operators, Consumers, and IoT, explores the challenges and opportunities for the three segments, with a particular focus on eSIM-only smartphones and SGP.42.
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WhitepaperNovember 2025Fintech & PaymentsUnlocking the Next Stage of Growth for Modern Card Issuing Platforms
This free whitepaper analyses key trends shaping the modern card issuing space, and the ways in which modern card issuing platforms can capture growth.
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WhitepaperNovember 2025Fintech & PaymentsTop 10 Fintech & Payments Trends 2026
Fintech is evolving fast. From stablecoins to agentic AI, our annual guide reveals the shifts redefining payments, digital identity, and the future of money in 2026. Download your copy today.
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WhitepaperNovember 2025Fintech & PaymentsDigital Wallets: Empowering Financial Inclusivity
Our complimentary whitepaper, Digital Wallets: Empowering Financial Inclusivity, examines the state of the digital wallets market; considering the impact of digital wallets on different geographies, how they are shaping the modern payments landscape through lower transaction fees and promoting financial inclusivity for underbanked populations, and how they are competing with established payment methods.
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IoT & Emerging Technology
Juniper Research Unveils Top 10 Emerging Tech Trends to Watch in 2026
January 2026 -
Fintech & Payments
Digital Identity App Usage to Hit 6.2 Billion by 2030, Driven by Shift to Decentralised Models
December 2025 -
Telecoms & Connectivity
Travel eSIM Margins Under Pressure as Revenue per Gigabyte Falls 10% Globally in Two Years
December 2025 -
Telecoms & Connectivity
AI Agents to Power 1,000% More Customer Interactions for Enterprises Globally by 2027
December 2025 -
IoT & Emerging Technology
Global D2C Revenue Set for $370 Million Surge, But Satellite Operators Should Not Chase Full MNO Status
December 2025 -
Fintech & Payments
Digital Goods Fraud to Cost eCommerce Merchants $27 Billion Globally by 2030 as AI Tools Accelerate Attacks
December 2025