Telco & Vendor Voice
The voice of telco and the hub for all the latest interviews and profiles from senior figures across the telecoms operator and vendor community.
Teradata: Telcos can’t afford to wait on CX digitalisation
Telco investment in best‑in‑breed tools has embedded data silos that need to be opened to complete the customer picture in a data‑driven environment. Recent financial sector experience demonstrates that focus on a holistic and cloud-enabled view of the customer, and not individual product lines, is an essential element of ...
Teradata: balanced data foundation critical to digital transformation
If AI and ML are your future, make sure the data foundations are in place. Requirements and applications change but the need for a solid data base does not. Your data vision should be holistic, released from the complexity and inefficiency of hundreds and even thousands of siloes. Use ...
Celfocus: Agile mindset and precision key to digitalisation
In an interview with Telefónicawatch, Paulo Trigo, CEO of European telco SI Celfocus, outlines a belief that operators must think more nimbly as they engage in strategic transformation programmes. IT implementation needs greater influence to enable digital transformation. Agile is more than a buzzword and must to be part ...
Blue Planet urges operators to take the digital leap
In interviews with Telefónicawatch, senior figures at Blue Planet discussed learnings from the vendor’s journey towards the digitalisation of services by carriers. Standards provide vital safety net as industry digitalises incrementally and telcos must act collectively to establish a vision. Old thinking on customer relationships and procurement cause friction. ...
Teradata: telco leaders must step up to seize data opportunity
Breaking down silos to seamlessly orchestrate data can deliver a virtuous circle of customer improvement and operational efficiency, presenting a springboard for a strategic reboot. In adopting tech sector business models, telcos have yet to fully grasp the value of their data assets, with coordination acting as a powerful ...
Nutanix: Silicon Valley oblivious to emerging telco renaissance
Nutanix’s Tarkan Maner discusses with Vodafonewatch his take on the evolution of the cloud services sector, and the way in which digital transformation efforts demand a fundamental re‑think of the misbalanced relationship between telecoms and technology players. Sector veteran Maner predicts telco fightback in the hyperscaler blind spot of ...
Interview: New HQ beckons for Jansen’s “better BT”
As BT prepares to move into a new-era head office in Aldgate, Technology HR boss Mark Murphy speaks to TelcoTitans about the Group’s physical and virtual makeover. Technology reorganisation, facilities facelift, and move to ‘smart working’ viewed as key to refreshing how BT does business. Organic and inclusive approach ...
Openreach Tech team powers UK fibre build
CTIO Colin Lees shares impact of tech overhaul on network build. More effort on provisioning and repair in three-year transformation project. Openreach owns IT and Network strategy decisions; BT Digital and BT Networks are key suppliers. Three-supplier strategy for FTTP advances with Adtran, Huawei and Nokia.
Vishal Dixit: MVNOs are vital to Vodafone UK growth
Conversations with potential UK MVNO partners are “in the double digits”. Asda Mobile and Virgin Media deals exemplify OpCo’s new approach to MVNO partnerships. OpCo moving away from a ‘computer says no’ approach to MVNOs.
Openreach pushes ahead in journey to agile
CTIO Colin Lees discusses three-year transformation project across IT, network, and processes to support FTTP rollout. Independent Openreach Technology division treads in parent’s tech footsteps. Adopts agile development where it can and organises into Tribes and Squads. Data strategy seeks “single source of truth”. Takes pragmatic approach to cloud ...
Avidan puts strategy in motion at Deutsche Telekom IoT
Avidan brings entrepreneurial mindset to DT IoT as he seeks to transform the business and meet growth ambitions. Major strategic initiative, IoT Hub, planned for commercial launch in early-2021. Hints are made at “inorganic activities” in future, but current initiatives driven by organic efforts and strategic partnerships.
Deutsche Telekom backs GSMA scheme to sort network security headaches
DT CSO Thomas Tschersich is a leading proponent of GSMA and 3GPP scheme. NESAS aims for more secure mobile networks and efficient security testing. Geopolitical climate heightens awareness about the security assurance scheme, and DT exec insists it could be an apolitical solution to concerns.
Mavenir extends reach into Romania
Mobile-only business adopts Mavenir-supplied, cloud‑native IMS. Engagement adds momentum to 5G plans. Mavenir adds (another) DT NatCo to client roster.
ST picks Ekinops for network access upgrade
France‑based supplier has previously worked with T‑Mobile Czech Republic.
Vodafone Business taps Oracle for IoT billing
Existing supplier Oracle gets a bigger billing role at enterprise division. Scalable, cloud-based billing system to support Internet of Things growth.
Movistar preps 5G backhaul with SIAE Microelettronica
Italian supplier scores another microwave deal in Latin America. Another building block for coming 5G launch.
Virgin Media O2 picks Ericsson for 5G SA core
5G core network to be hosted on Ericsson cloud infrastructure in VM O2 data centres.
Smart shopping: Vodafone now using bots for buying
Vodafone Procurement Company says new autonomous platform switched on in June. Focus on extended reach and efficiency in long-tail buying. System could ultimately handle end-to-end sourcing for quarter of spend, unit suggests. Pega and _VOIS on enabler team.
Vodafone sees sales dip from international tie-ups
Revenue from Group’s Partner Markets federation falls back amid pandemic and footprint reduction. Vodafone’s flow of cash from Africa takes a drop following rework of M‑PESA business.
BuyIn boasts transatlantic tech sourcing footprint
Purchasing JV indicates it is widening strategic sourcing scope in North American vendor ecosystem. Comments come with DT seeking to build closer strategic links with its American growth engine.
Vodafone Oman opens new HQ
Partner Markets’ greenfield operator expected to launch services “very soon”. Taps Ericsson for network and Netcracker for BSS.
DT ties with China Mobile on international connectivity
Deutsche Telekom wholesale division ties with China Mobile International for connectivity services in Asia and Europe. Agreement launches point of presence at CMI’s German data centre. Ciena technology leveraged for access and transport services.
Greggs keeps good times rolling with VM O2 partnership
Virgin Media O2–Greggs alliance working “well for both brands”, as telco adds element of differentiation to customer loyalty programme.
Vodacom’s Super App cushioned if “politics” plays up
Vodacom CEO Shameel Joosub says operator’s VodaPay Super App smarts are protected if political changes affect Alipay. Alipay technology underpins Vodacom’s financial services growth plans. Super App set for commercial launch in South Africa this month.
T‑Systems builds German sovereign cloud with Google
New effort for data sovereignty after previous attempt with Microsoft. Offering expected to be part of Gaia‑X ecosystem. In other partner news, T‑Systems flags hybrid cloud solution with Lenovo.
Deutsche Telekom IT Solutions ties with AWS for DevOps focus
New taskforce to adopt agile working methods with AWS engineering support. First project will focus on AI‑based customer assistance solution from November.