Business connectivity 2027: four key factors for companies in Spain

Throughout 2026, two trends have gained momentum that will bring about significant changes in business connectivity in the coming fiscal year: the development of AI agents to manage networks and the expansion of mobile services that allow users to reserve capacity for specific activities, such as streaming video or making video calls in areas with a high concentration of connected users.

In 2027, these two trends will coincide with two European Union (EU) milestones in the digital sphere. The first will occur on January 12, when certain fees for switching cloud providers will be eliminated, as stipulated by the Data Act. The second will be on December 11, with the general implementation of the Cyber Resilience Act (CRA).

Taken together, these four changes will have varying consequences for businesses. AI agents can help resolve connection issues, and new mobile features expand service plan options. Meanwhile, the CRA strengthens the information technology manufacturers must provide about their products, and the Data Act eliminates fees associated with switching cloud providers.

We analyze the new landscape for the coming year, its scope, and its impact.

AI is already being used to detect anomalies and analyze network performance. The trend emerging for 2027 involves expanding the use of agents capable of investigating a problem—such as why several devices cannot connect to the internet—deciding what steps to take, and executing specific actions within their assigned permissions.

In an analysis published in February 2026, Capgemini, a French consulting, engineering, and technology services group with international operations, explains this evolution in the operations of telecommunications carriers. It describes how AI can correlate data from different devices, pinpoint the possible cause of a failure, and recommend a change or implement it when appropriate.

Capgemini notes that many of these operators’ initiatives continue to operate in isolation. To expand their use, the firm highlights the need to improve data quality and integrate AI into systems and work processes.

In an enterprise network, this means having up-to-date information on routers and Wi-Fi access points. It also requires integrating AI tools with the monitoring and management systems used by technical staff.

Why should we pay attention to this development in 2027? Gartner, an international technology analysis and consulting firm, includes AI agents among its trends for next year’s technology infrastructure and operations.

In a survey conducted between April and May 2026 among 272 infrastructure and IT operations managers, 58% believed that bringing AI testing into operational use would be a major priority over the next twelve months. This means moving from testing a tool in a controlled environment to using it for real business tasks. The survey covers the full range of IT operations, beyond just network management.

The commercial offering already includes diagnostic, assessment, and change management agents for specific network tasks. These are defined functions with varying degrees of human oversight; these terms describe some available solutions but do not constitute a classification common to the entire market.

Development still faces challenges. In another analysis published in April 2026, Gartner notes that projects that attempt to automatically correct errors or manage processes using agents are among those that have the most difficulty achieving the expected results.

The trend for 2027 is to move from testing toward useful, supervised tasks.

Companies already use mobile connections to work outside the office or maintain operations when another connection fails. However, when many people connect from the same location, a video call may lose quality or an app may take longer to respond.

Fifth-generation (5G) networks expand the possibilities for addressing these situations. Standalone 5G allows for connections with specific features tailored to certain uses. Its evolution continues with 5G Advanced, a new phase of 5G that improves performance and expands capabilities.

One of the capabilities of standalone 5G is network slicing, which allows for the creation of virtual networks with different capabilities on the same physical network. It can be thought of as reserving a lane for specific types of communications, which can be assigned dedicated capacity and priority.

For example, a company’s staff working at a trade show might need stable access to their ordering applications, even if thousands of visitors are using their cell phones at the same time.

Commercial services based on this technology have been available in Spain since 2024. Throughout 2026, the range of offerings has continued to expand. In April, the European 5G Observatory reported the launch of a service by a well-known operator based on network slicing over standalone 5G. Its goal is to improve communications in high-demand locations, such as trade shows, train stations, or large events, and to facilitate access to applications and team coordination.

Looking ahead to 2027, this expansion of the service offering opens up new possibilities for activities such as video surveillance, remote assistance, or working in crowded spaces.

When a company purchases a router or software to manage its network, it needs to know how the device or software will remain secure over the years of use. For example, will it receive an update when a vulnerability is discovered that could facilitate an attack, and what instructions will the manufacturer provide to resolve it?

That maintenance is part of security support. Knowing how long this support lasts helps estimate how long the product can be used with the manufacturer’s backing and when it will be time to plan for its replacement.

The change in 2027 will involve the implementation of common requirements for numerous products sold in the EU. The CRA will apply generally as of December 11, 2027. It affects hardware and software products that connect, directly or indirectly, to other devices or networks, such as those used in business communications.

One of the requirements will be to clearly disclose the security support period: the length of time during which the manufacturer must address vulnerabilities in the product. At the time of purchase, the customer must be informed of the month and year when that support will end. The customer must also receive the declaration of conformity or its simplified version, along with the corresponding instructions.

This will help customers compare offerings. If a company plans to use the routers in its stores for several years, it will need to verify whether they will receive security support during that time and how updates will be provided.

In 2027, it will be advisable to incorporate this revision into planned purchases and renewals. The reporting obligations for manufacturers have been in effect since September 11, 2026, but the bulk of the requirements will take effect in December 2027. Products placed on the market before that date are generally subject to the new requirements if they subsequently undergo a substantial modification. The regulation does not require the immediate replacement of all installed equipment.

Many companies use cloud services to store information or access management, sales, or order-processing applications. If they want to switch to another provider, they must prepare for the transition and understand the associated costs.

The Data Act already establishes measures to facilitate these transitions starting in September 2025. However, throughout 2026, the provider the customer is leaving may still charge certain costs directly related to the transition process.

The change will take effect on January 12, 2027: providers subject to these rules will no longer be able to impose such charges. As the European Commission explains, this elimination includes data export fees necessary to carry out the migration.

For the company, this will remove one less financial barrier when evaluating another offer. It will still need to factor in other potential expenses, such as adapting applications, hiring external technical support, or terminating a contract before the agreed-upon date.

The exemption applies to switching providers. If the company uses multiple clouds in parallel and moves data between them, exit fees may still apply, limited to the costs incurred by the provider.

The migration may also require adjustments to connectivity. If an order management application is moved to another cloud, it will be necessary to verify that all stores can access the new service, retain their permissions, and operate normally.

Therefore, the possibility of switching providers must be planned for: determining what data can be transferred, in what format, and how operations will be maintained during the process.

This is a practical aspect of digital sovereignty: maintaining the ability to choose providers and switch when business needs dictate.

These four trends translate into specific decisions for companies: which tasks to entrust to AI agents, which mobile services to subscribe to, how to evaluate a product’s security support, and how to maintain the freedom to switch cloud providers.

At Saima Systems, we believe that understanding these developments and their timelines allows for better connectivity planning. Every company will have different priorities, but all need clear information to decide how to improve their business continuity, security, and technological autonomy.