From monolithic telco models to platform enablement: the tech-co transformation

Introduction

For decades, telecom operators thrived on monolithic business models that prioritised coverage, scale, and stability. Those models no longer meet market expectations, as today’s enterprises demand agility, fraud control at login, and real-time, data-driven outcomes. Value creation has shifted from solely infrastructure to the intersection of applications, data, and connectivity that delivers measurable business results.

This blog explores how telcos can evolve into tech-cos by embracing platform enablement. Aligning business and operating models, and orchestrating partners, builds value on top of connectivity, allowing operators to unlock new growth and resilience in a rapidly evolving market.

The two-sided platform model

Modern telecom operators are moving away from closed chains and towards open platforms. Network, IT, and operations function as a unified system, exposing reusable capabilities such as quality on demand, identity verification, and edge computing through APIs and services.

On the supply side, these capabilities are documented, secure, and available for integration. On the demand side, enterprises and partners combine these building blocks to deliver outcomes like improved factory uptime or faster hospital diagnostics.

This shift enables operators to support a wider range of use cases, making outcomes repeatable and scalable across industries.

Portfolio evolution: connectivity-plus

Traditional telecom portfolios were centered around plans and bundles that included speed tiers, data packs, and device bundles. As software cycles accelerated, enterprises began asking for measurable business outcomes: predictable performance, stronger security controls, and actionable data.

The next-generation portfolio treats connectivity as its foundation and builds upon it. Capabilities such as assured transport, security controls, data services, edge compute, and AI assistance are curated into reusable blocks. Each block is productized, documented, and consumable through APIs and catalogs, making it accessible and usable. Buyers see clear packaging, and builders see clear APIs.

This approach enables rapid integration and consistent experiences, supporting a wide range of industry solutions without constant reinvention.

B2B and B2B2X: multiplying demand

Growth in telecom is shifting from consumer markets to enterprise and partner ecosystems. By publishing catalogs and enabling integration, operators support solutions for various industries, including factories, hospitals, logistics, and more.

B2B adoption drives steady network utilization. In contrast, B2B2X involves partners and developers embedding capabilities into their own products and multiplying demand across customers and regions. This model spreads utilization across industries, locations, and time zones, raising revenue per unit of capacity and reducing reliance on consumer peaks.

Technology stack: network and IT views

A modular, programmable technology stack underpins this transformation. The network view focuses on exposing capabilities, enforcing policy, and placing compute resources where they matter. The IT view productises offers, manages transactions, and assures outcomes.

Standards such as TM Forum ODA and GSMA Open Gateway ensure portability and lower integration costs, making innovation more accessible for partners. Security is embedded throughout, with zero-trust access for APIs, managed secrets, and attestation for edge workloads.

Operations and culture

Cognitive automation, analytics, and AI drive proactive assurance and continuous improvement. Operations shift from manual interventions to automation and closed-loop telemetry, where service assurance is tied directly to declared policies and outcomes.

Success depends on organizational change, adopting a product mindset, building new roles (such as API Product Manager and Platform Engineer), and aligning incentives with outcomes. Governance becomes a catalyst, with lightweight guardrails and published lifecycle standards for APIs and offers.

Conclusion

The future of telecom lies in becoming a tech-co. This involves modernizing the core, adopting a platform mindset, and building outcome-led portfolios. Operators that align strategy, technology, operations, and culture will compound value and lead in the platform era.

For further insights on platform enablement and tech-co transformation, explore TM Forum’s resources on https://inform.tmforum.org/insights/category/autonomous-operations/.