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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ReportJuly 2026Fintech & PaymentsDigital Travel Credential Market: 2026-2035Our Digital Travel Credential Market research suite provides detailed analysis of this rapidly changing market; allowing digital travel credential solution providers, regulatory bodies, border control authorities, airlines, and airport operators to gain a comprehensive understanding of key digital travel trends, implementation challenges, future growth opportunities, and the competitive environment.
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ReportJuly 2026Fintech & PaymentsNetwork Tokenisation Market: 2026-2031Our Network Tokenisation research suite provides a comprehensive and in-depth analysis of the ecosystem surrounding network tokenisation, enabling stakeholders such as merchants, payment gateways, token service providers and token requestors to understand future growth, key trends and the competitive environment.
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ReportJuly 2026Telecoms & ConnectivitySponsored Roaming Competitor Leaderboard: 2026Our Sponsored Roaming Competitor Leaderboard 2026 delivers competitor benchmarking and analysis of 14 leading sponsored roaming vendors.
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ReportJune 2026Telecoms & ConnectivityRAN Vendors Competitor Leaderboard: 2026Our Radio Access Network (RAN) Vendor Competitor Leaderboard provides insightful analysis of a market that is experiencing significant change currently, and will continue to do so over the next five years.
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ReportJune 2026Fintech & PaymentsChargeback Management Market: 2026-2031Our Chargeback Management research suite provides detailed analysis of this fast-changing market; allowing chargeback management providers to gain an understanding of key payment trends and challenges, potential growth opportunities, and the competitive environment.
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ReportJune 2026Telecoms & ConnectivityConversational AI Market: 2026-2030Our Conversational AI Market 2026-2030 research suite provides insightful analysis of a market that will experience significant growth in the next five years.
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WhitepaperJuly 2026Fintech & PaymentsBeyond the Boarding Pass: The Digital Travel Credential Paradigm
Our complimentary whitepaper, Beyond the Boarding Pass: The Digital Travel Credential Paradigm, examines the rapidly evolving state of the digital travel credential market.
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WhitepaperJuly 2026Fintech & PaymentsThe Top Three Drivers of Network Tokenisation Adoption
Our complimentary whitepaper, The Top Three Drivers of Network Tokenisation Adoption, examines the state of the network tokenisation market; considering its impact on different payment modalities, how it is shaping the modern payments landscape through safer, more secure payments, and how it could unlock the potential of agentic commerce.
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WhitepaperJune 2026Fintech & PaymentsMoney20/20 Europe 2026 Key Takeaways: What You Need to Know Post-event
Money 20/20 Europe once again brought together people from across the fintech, payments and identity ecosystems; creating three days of discussions, announcements and networking.
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WhitepaperJune 2026Fintech & PaymentsChargeback Management: The Fightback Against Friendly Fraud
Our complimentary whitepaper, Chargeback Management: The Fightback Against Friendly Fraud, examines the growing impact of friendly fraud on the chargeback management space, as well as how chargeback management tools are mitigating this threat.
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WhitepaperJune 2026Telecoms & ConnectivityAgentic and Conversational AI: Streamlining Revenue Opportunities
Our complimentary whitepaper, Agentic and Conversational AI: Streamlining Revenue Opportunities, explores the challenges and opportunities for operators and enterprises as conversational AI becomes more embedded in the consumer experience.
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WhitepaperJune 2026Telecoms & ConnectivityNo Tower? No Problem: How Direct to Cell is Rewriting the Rules of Connectivity
Our complimentary whitepaper explores consumer demand for direct to cell services and provides strategic recommendations for how MNOs can optimise these services.
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Fintech & Payments
Digital Travel Credentials: 1.2 Billion Passengers to Adopt DTCs Globally by 2035, Fuelled by Passenger Demand for Seamless Journeys
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Fintech & Payments
Network Tokenisation to Secure 2.4 Trillion Global Transactions Between 2026 and 2030 – Representing 86% of Applicable Transactions
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Telecoms & Connectivity
Juniper Research Identifies BICS, Telna, and Vodafone Procure & Connect as Leaders in the Sponsored Roaming Market
July 2026 -
Fintech & Payments
Digital Identity Verification Checks to Reach 175 Billion Globally by 2030, with Biometric Verification the Fastest-growing Modality
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Fintech & Payments
Agentic Commerce to Reach 1.3 Billion Users Globally by 2031, as Card Infrastructure Leads the Way
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Fintech & Payments
Juniper Research Unveils Fintech & Payments Awards Winners for 2026
June 2026