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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ReportApril 2026IoT & Emerging TechnologyPhysical AI in Manufacturing & Logistics Market: 2026-2030Our Physical AI in Manufacturing and Logistics research suite provides in-depth analysis of the key economic, operational, and technological factors driving growth in this fast-growing market.
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ReportApril 2026Fintech & PaymentsAgentic Commerce Market: 2026-2031Juniper Research’s Agentic Commerce research suite provides an insightful analysis of this rapidly emerging market; enabling stakeholders, including AI developers, payment infrastructure providers, eCommerce marketplaces, merchants and many others, to understand future growth, key trends, and the competitive environment.
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ReportMarch 2026Fintech & PaymentsB2B Payment Cards Market: 2026-2030Our B2B card payments research suite provides detailed analysis of this rapidly changing market; allowing B2B card providers to gain an understanding of key payment trends and challenges, potential growth opportunities, and the competitive environment.
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ReportMarch 2026Telecoms & ConnectivityDirect Carrier Billing Market: 2026-2030Our Direct Carrier Billing research suite for mobile network operators provides detailed analysis and strategic recommendations for the direct carrier billing market over the next four years.
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ReportMarch 2026Fintech & PaymentsCross-border Payments Market: 2026-2030Our Cross-border Payments research suite provides a comprehensive and in-depth analysis of the evolving cross-border payments landscape; enabling stakeholders such as businesses, financial institutions, payment service providers, card networks, regulators, and technology infrastructure providers to understand future growth, key trends, and the competitive environment.
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ReportFebruary 2026Telecoms & ConnectivityMobile Messaging Market: 2026-2030Juniper Research’s Mobile Messaging research suite provides mobile messaging vendors, mobile network operators, and enterprises with intelligence on how to capitalise on changing market dynamics within the mobile messaging market.
VIEW
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WhitepaperApril 2026IoT & Emerging TechnologyKey Growth Opportunities for Physical AI in 2026
Our complimentary whitepaper, Key Growth Opportunities for Physical AI in 2026, provides insight into the rapidly evolving physical AI in manufacturing and logistics market; highlighting the countries in which high demand for automation in these industries is anticipated over the next five years.
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WhitepaperApril 2026Fintech & PaymentsAgentic Commerce - Revolution or False Dawn?
Our complimentary whitepaper assesses the trends that are increasing agentic commerce adoption, and challenges to agentic commerce usage. Additionally, it includes a forecast summary of the global spend on agentic commerce by 2030.
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WhitepaperMarch 2026Fintech & PaymentsHow B2B Payment Cards Are Streamlining Corporate Expenses
Our complimentary whitepaper, How B2B Payment Cards Are Streamlining Corporate Expenses, examines the state of the B2B payment cards market; considering its impact on different geographies and how it is shaping the modern B2B payments landscape through card controls, payment data analysis tools, and fully integrated spend management solutions.
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WhitepaperMarch 2026Telecoms & ConnectivityDirect Carrier Billing: Unlocking Emerging Revenue Streams for Operators
Our complimentary whitepaper, Direct Carrier Billing: Unlocking Emerging Revenue Streams for Operators, explores the emerging opportunities for mobile network operators to monetise direct carrier billing.
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WhitepaperMarch 2026Telecoms & ConnectivityMWC 2026: What's Next for Mobile?
Our latest whitepaper distils the most important announcements from MWC Barcelona 2026 and examines what they mean for the telecoms market over the year ahead. From network APIs and 5G monetisation to AI-RAN, direct-to-cell connectivity, and 5G-Advanced, it explains where the biggest opportunities — and challenges — will emerge next.
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WhitepaperMarch 2026Fintech & PaymentsThe Transformation of Cross-border Payment Infrastructure
Our complimentary whitepaper, The Transformation of Cross-border Payment Infrastructure, examines the state of the cross-border payments market; explaining the role of key actors in transforming the cross-border payment experience, as well as the current landscape and recent developments within the cross-border payments industry.
VIEW
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Fintech & Payments
KYC & KYB Spending by Financial Services Firms to Surpass $30 Billion Globally by 2030, As Identity Threats Intensify
April 2026 -
IoT & Emerging Technology
Physical AI Deployments in Manufacturing & Logistics to Reach 400,000 Systems by 2030
April 2026 -
Fintech & Payments
Agentic Commerce Set to Generate $1.5 Trillion Globally by 2030, as Payments Infrastructure Leaders Revealed
April 2026 -
Fintech & Payments
B2B Card Payments to Reach $11 Trillion Globally in 2030, Accelerated by Increased Corporate Use
March 2026 -
Telecoms & Connectivity
Direct Carrier Billing to Grow by $35 Billion Globally Over the Next Four Years, as Anti-fraud Capabilities Are Enhanced by Network APIs
March 2026 -
Fintech & Payments
Sophisticated Microfinance Services Spend to Surpass $22 billion By 2030, as Mobile Money Services in Emerging Markets Mature
March 2026