Reimagining Telecom with Google Cloud

Angelo Libertucci, Head of Telecom Industry, Google Cloud, and Vikram Sinha, President and CEO Indosat Ooredoo Hutchinson, took to the Impact stage at TM Forum’s DTW Ignite to launch Google Cloud’s latest whitepaper; outlining the truly transformative nature of AI/ML in reimagining the telecom business model.

The paper, which includes a foreword provided by Nik Willetts, CEO TM Forum, notes that the telecommunications industry stands at a strategic inflection point: continue down a path of diminishing returns or seize the unprecedented growth engine of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. Positing that AI/ML are not merely tools for incremental efficiency but fundamental catalysts for revenue generation, market differentiation, and a comprehensive reimagining of the telco business model.

To not just navigate current headwinds, but to emerge as leaders in the next digital epoch, it encourages operators to transition from discussing AI to decisively acting on its transformative potential.

With three clear avenues for unlocking this value:

1. Establish Sovereign Cloud and AI Leadership: Deploy secure, compliant sovereign AI platforms using national infrastructure and customer trust to support national strategies and data localization.
2. Take full advantage of the step change in the economics of innovation and unlock AI-Powered B2C Innovation: Launch hyper-personalized Generative AI services, enter adjacent markets (e.g. smart home), and ethically monetize customer data.
3. Become B2B2X Value Orchestrators: Evolve from connectivity provider to strategic enterprise partner by offering AI-enhanced infrastructure and a marketplace of diverse AI solutions, empowering B2B customers to create new value for their end-users

Angelo said “We're excited to stand with our fantastic partners, Indosat Ooredoo Hutchinson, and the TM forum, to launch this guide for CEOs, to help them accelerate how they can unlock top line growth from AI”

Within the session, Vikram Sinha commented  “AI is a leveller and an opportunity for Telcos, through a growth agenda, to bring benefits for all”

The paper provides clear suggestions for CSPs to accelerate their journey:

• Champion a Growth-First AI Mandate: Executive leadership encouraged to publicly and internally champion AI as a primary driver of revenue growth, setting ambitious, measurable targets for AI-generated income.
• Use AI to Radically Transform Experiences: Reimagine both employee and customer journeys by meticulously assessing value streams and how services are imagined, designed, and delivered. Seek inspiration from successful cross-industry AI use cases and adopt ambitious, '10x thinking' to break free from incrementalism.
• Strategically Differentiate with AI Layers: Define a clear, multi-dimensional AI strategy that aligns with strategic business goals, identifying which technology layers—particularly robust platforms and unique AI applications—will yield the greatest ROI for both internal and external audiences.
• Prioritize AI Skills, Training, and Expertise: Actively cultivate AI fluency across the entire organization, ensuring foundational AI understanding at every level, while fostering deep expertise in advanced topics for specialized roles through continuous education.

Google Cloud and TMForum stand as committed partners in this transformative journey, providing the necessary cutting-edge technologies, industry-leading frameworks, and collaborative environment to guide telecom operators towards an AI-powered future. The paper is available for download on Google Cloud for Telecommunications.