Breaking down telco innovation barriers: a live discussion

“Maybe we just need to rethink what a telco is, treating it as something distinct from the network infrastructure itself.” — Alex Lawrence, Managing Director, TelcoForge

Why does world-class telecom technology so often fail to turn into new revenue? In this episode of Zero-Touch Live, Rakuten Symphony CMO Geoff Hollingworth sits down with TelcoForge’s Alexander Lawrence to unpack his new report, drawn from candid conversations with senior telecom leaders who spoke freely about the structural, regulatory and cultural barriers holding the industry back.

🎥 The replay is available now below.

Bottlenecks abound in new reporting

Alex’s latest report, “Structural Bottlenecks to Telco Innovation,” surfaces issues and ideas that don’t usually make it into press releases or even conference stages. We dove into all of it in a no-holds-barred conversation that covered:

• Technology vs outcomes. The industry continues to produce major innovations, yet its commercial models remains familiar.
• Regulation and shareholders. Operators are constantly balancing policy demands for broad, affordable access with investor expectations for strong near-term returns.
• Talent pipeline pressure. Engineering ranks are growing older while new entrants into telecom programs are declining.
• Replacement risk and opportunity: Shifts toward neutral-host infrastructure could open the door for well-funded technology companies to expand their role.
• What to change: Many leaders believe structural and operational changes will matter more than the next wave of technology.

The bottom line

Geoff poses a central question for the industry: what should a telco be in the future?

“Maybe it’s time to think of connectivity as a means to enable business rather than the business itself.”

Five years from now there will be more network capability in place, but it remains unclear who will build it, who will monetize it and who will deliver the services on top. Can overcoming the barriers revealed in TelcoForge’s report unlock new leadership positioning for telecom?

💬 Read the report and let us know your perspective.

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