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DTW (Digital Transformation World)

Telco inspiration at the Digital Transformation World Series

Rick Lievano
08 Oct 2021
Telco inspiration at the Digital Transformation World Series

Telco inspiration at the Digital Transformation World Series

As I write this, the 2021 edition of the TM Forum Digital Transformation World Series is underway, with a packed agenda of live and on-demand sessions featuring an extensive roster of telecommunications business leaders and visionaries. I’m always energized by the DTWS and the numerous opportunities it provides to learn from and be inspired by some of the best minds in our industry – as well as the chance to connect with so many customers, partners, and colleagues across the various presentations and networking sessions.

Microsoft momentum in telecoms

Microsoft comes to the Digital Transformation World Series with tremendous momentum in the telecoms sector, headlined by the announcement this past June that AT&T will move its 5G mobile network to Microsoft Azure, and by a number of other recent new partnerships and announcements with the likes of BT, Lumen, Avaya, Verizon, Telkom, Nokia, O2, Amdocs, and Telefónica.

We’ve also continued to extend the scope and capabilities of Azure for Operators to help service providers future-proof their networks, drive down costs, and create new business models and revenue streams with cloud solutions from Microsoft Azure, Affirmed Networks, and Metaswitch Networks. Our recent progress in this space was highlighted by the introduction of Azure private multi-access edge compute (MEC), with new services to accelerate 5G and edge monetization, and a new partner initiative to empower operators, system operators (SI), and ISVs to develop Microsoft-validated Azure private MEC customer solutions.

Can’t-miss sessions at DTWS

Microsoft telecoms industry leaders will be featured in a number of sessions you should definitely include on your Digital Transformation World Series agenda, including:

IT and network innovation to drive operational and organizational excellence – Kim Krogh Andersen from Telstra and Tony Shakib, General Manager/Partner for Microsoft Azure IoT, will present a case study on digital twins and partnering for the next stage of digital evolution. The session will stream for the first time on Wednesday, September 29, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM CEST.

Digital Leadership Roundtable: Building an ecosystem to capitalize on the ‘XaaS’ economy harnessing 5G and Cloud – Aditee Rele, Microsoft Director for ISV Solutions and Strategic Partnerships, will present a case study on enabling an ecosystem to develop and implement cloud-native capabilities that enable open collaboration.

Aditee will also participate in an executive roundtable and panel discussion that will address the move to public cloud, the difference between public and private cloud, the pros and cons of using public cloud, the correlation between 5G and cloud, how 5G will add value and generate new revenues, the need to create a partnership ecosystem, and how the BSS solutions landscape has evolved. The session will stream for the first time on Wednesday, September 29, from 9:00 to 10:00 AM CEST.

Navigating the journey to cloud native: Why, what and how? – Niall Norton from Amdocs, Dean Ramsey from TM Forum, and I will discuss building an edge cloud that will deliver value. The session will stream for the first time on Wednesday, October 6, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM CEST.

The public cloud in telecoms: an unstoppable force? – Dorota Blat from AT&T, George Glass from TM Forum, and Shawn Hakl, Microsoft Vice-President for 5G Strategy, will discuss teaming up with hyperscalers to collaborate on emerging technologies and create new solutions and services. The session will stream for the first time on Wednesday, October 6, from 3:00 to 5:00 PM CEST.

AI at scale: How to embed AI throughout people, platforms, partners and processes – Pete Bernard, Microsoft Senior Director for Azure Edge Devices, Platform & Services, will share a practical case study featuring scenarios that leverage the unique value proposition of 5G + Edge + AI. The session will stream for the first time on Thursday, October 7, from 3:00 to 5:00 PM CEST.

Growing B2B and B2Bx: Delivering value from co-creation: who, what and how? – Frode Stoldal from Tampnet and Sanjay Mewada, WW Marketing Leader for Microsoft Azure, will discuss the future of enterprise services in the telecommunications industry. The session will stream for the first time on Wednesday, October 13, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM CEST.

How can telcos connect with customers: Striking the right balance between human and machine – Paul Jacobs from Vodafone and Luca Cassani, Microsoft Technology Strategist, will discuss how AI will enhance the future of customer experience. The session will stream for the first time on Wednesday, October 13, from 3:00 to 5:00 PM CEST.

For those of you who will also attend the invitation-only CXO Summit during DTWS, be sure to check out The road to a cloud-native telco: Why, where and how? The session will feature additional perspective from Shawn Hakl, Microsoft’s V-President for 5G strategy, and other telecoms industry leaders. They will discuss the lessons learned from cloud-native migrations, the key ingredients for success to deliver results from cloud-native transformation, and the journey so far: How much has moved to the cloud, and how much is really cloud-native?

Microsoft – telecoms organizations achieve more

Microsoft empowers telecoms organizations to achieve more with our trusted and secure platform supported by a comprehensive partner ecosystem with industry-leading solutions for workplace modernization, streamlining OSS/BSS, network optimization, personalized customer experiences, and new product and service innovation.

Rick Lievano, CTO Telecom, WW Media & Communications