The 2-Z of 2026 tech predictions: 6-A

Concept artwork on a smart city generated by Bing.

The 2-Z of 2026 technology predictions continues with:

6 is for 6G 

EMR researchers expect the first commercial 6G launches to be driven by leading service providers in front-runner markets - including Japan, South Korea, China, India, and some Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.

Global 6G subscriptions are forecast to reach 180 M by the end of 2031, not including the early uptake of AI-enabled Internet of Things (IoT) devices. The subscription uptake number could increase significantly if 6G launches earlier than previous cycles indicate.  

The November 2025 EMR forecasts that about 1.4 B people globally are expected to access FWA broadband by the end of 2031 - 90% via 5G. 

A is for agreement

"2026 marks the point where agreement management becomes a strategic capability. Intelligent agreement management (IAM) is emerging as a new enterprise category, shifting the focus from storing documents to activating the intelligence within them to improve revenue, strengthen compliance, and surface new opportunities," said Kartik Krishnamurthy, VP Asia, Docusign.

"As agreement data becomes structured and accessible, IAM enables organisations to integrate contractual intelligence into the systems where work happens – from CRM and ERP platforms to generative AI tools. Agreements become active assets that guide decisions and shape commercial outcomes in real time."

"IAM also unlocks new business models. As companies adopt subscription-first, usage-based, and flexible consumption models, agreements must adapt continuously. IAM provides the infrastructure to operationalise these models at scale by adjusting terms, enforcing conditions, and maintaining continuity as demand shifts," Krishnamurthy continued.

"For many organisations, IAM will become the connective layer linking customer relationships, financial operations, and risk management. In 2026, this layer becomes essential to operating at speed and managing complexity."

Krishnamurthy added that In 2026, the organisations that gain the most from AI will treat clean, structured agreement data as enterprise infrastructure. "Agreements must shift from departmental ownership to shared, organisation-wide visibility," he said.

"The challenge is organisational, not technical. Leaders will need to dismantle silos and create a single source of truth for obligations, entitlements, revenue terms, and risks. Without this foundation, even the most advanced AI cannot provide actionable insight because it cannot 'read' the legacy agreements that define how a business operates.

"This is what makes clean, integrated agreement data a decisive advantage in 2026. It is the essential groundwork for the intelligent, interconnected agreement systems shaping the next phase of enterprise transformation."

A is also for always-on

Data resilience investments will increase as digital failure means business failure, said Beni Sia, GM & Senior VP, Asia Pacific & Japan, Veeam Software. 

"In 2026, the equation will be clear: digital failure equals business failure. As more go-to-market strategies become predominantly digital, organisations will recognise that data resilience is foundational for business resilience. 

"The cost of downtime and data loss will be viewed not as IT issues, but as existential risks to revenue, reputation, and regulatory standing – especially in sectors like financial services and fintech where digital engagement is the default. Expect a marked increase in investments to fortify resilience across the digital enterprise," he said.

Veeam defines data resilience as “a system or organisation’s ability to withstand and recover from data-related disruptions or failures. This involves implementing measures that ensure data availability, integrity and security even in the face of unexpected events like natural disasters, cyberattacks, hardware failures and human errors.” 

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B-C

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