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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ReportSeptember 2026IoT & Emerging TechnologyIdentity & Access Management Market: 2026-2031Our Identity & Access Management research suite provides detailed and insightful analysis of this evolving market; enabling stakeholders - from Identity & Access Management platform specialists, cybersecurity vendors, and diversified technology companies - to understand future growth, key trends, and the competitive environment.
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ReportAugust 2026Fintech & PaymentsContactless Payments Market Data: 2026-2031Our Contactless Payments market analysis provides exhaustive data coverage of the market in its entirety, including the adoption of mobile wallets featuring contactless payment technology, the growth of contactless transactions, and the market’s associated values.
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ReportAugust 2026Fintech & PaymentsDigital Ticketing Market Data: 2026-2031Our Digital Ticketing report provides exhaustive coverage of the digital ticketing market, including the adoption rates of digital ticketing across different ticketing segments, as well as the use of wearable payments and chatbots.
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ReportAugust 2026Fintech & PaymentsQR Code Payments Market: 2026-2031This research provides exhaustive coverage of the QR Code Payments market, including the adoption rates of QR code payment systems across retail, person-to-person (P2P), and ticketing use cases.
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ReportJuly 2026IoT & Emerging TechnologyVLEO Satellite Market: 2026-2031Our Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO) Satellite Market research suite provides comprehensive analysis of one of the fastest-emerging markets within the global space economy.
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ReportJuly 2026Telecoms & ConnectivityIPX Providers Competitor Leaderboard: 2026Our IPX Providers Competitor Leaderboard 2026 delivers comprehensive evaluation and examination of 16 leading IPX vendors. It provides mobile network operators and other IPX customers with profiles, competitor benchmarking, and strategic analysis of these leading providers.
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WhitepaperSeptember 2026IoT & Emerging TechnologyBeyond the Headlines: What the 'AI Bubble' Really Means
Our complimentary whitepaper, Beyond the Headlines – What the 'AI Bubble' Really Means, analyses the scale and structure of AI infrastructure investment in the West, and the channels through which it could transmit stress to the wider financial system.
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WhitepaperSeptember 2026IoT & Emerging TechnologyNon-human Identities ~ Transforming Identity & Access Management
Our complimentary whitepaper, Non-human Identities ~ Transforming Identity & Access Management, examines how non-human identities are revolutionising the Identity & Access Management market.
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WhitepaperJuly 2026IoT & Emerging TechnologyBeyond LEO: Why VLEO is Becoming the Next Growth Market
Our complimentary whitepaper, Beyond LEO: Why VLEO is Becoming the Next Growth Market, explores how VLEO is transitioning from an experimental orbital regime into a commercially viable market.
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WhitepaperJuly 2026Fintech & PaymentsFrom Transaction to Transformation: The Future of POS
Our complimentary whitepaper, From Transaction to Transformation: The Future of POS, analyses the current landscape of the POS market. It also provides insight into key trends shaping the POS market, such as POS terminals increasingly being used as a business management platform.
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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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IoT & Emerging Technology
Chinese AI Models Now Up to 90% Cheaper than US Rivals, Threatening Economics of the US-led AI Boom
September 2026 -
IoT & Emerging Technology
Identity & Access Management: Over a Quarter of Businesses Globally to Deploy IAM by 2031, as Market Leaders Revealed
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Fintech & Payments
eCommerce Network Tokenisation Revenue to Surge Past $7 Billion Globally by 2027, Driven by Widespread Click to Pay Roll-out
August 2026 -
Fintech & Payments
Agentic Commerce: 120 Billion Transactions by 2031 Globally, as B2B Agentic Use Accelerates by 19,000%
August 2026 -
Fintech & Payments
Cross-border Remittances to Reach $635 Billion by 2030, as Market Growth Tapers
August 2026 -
Telecoms & Connectivity
Business RCS Messages to Hit 485 Billion by 2030, as Migration from SMS for Authentication Dominates Traffic
August 2026