Geoff Hollingworth

We in Rakuten believe that AI should empower humans not replace them. This means we have to take AI to people not have people needing to come to AI, they are too busy and it will fail. We have seen this journey already in automation where people do not have time to do something new when they need to keep the lights (or base station) on now. Remember the famous cartoon of the medieval knight rushing off to war, passing the machine gun salesman... As with all humor, there is truth lying behind... We have approached AI in telecom by empowering our experts not by promising to replace them or expecting them to be data scientists overnight. All of us are dealing with a data scientist shortage that will not get easier, so we have focused on building a platform that scales and empowers those experts, allowing them to run at speed while minimizing risk. 1. Telecom experts are too busy (don’t want) to be data scientists. 2. Mobile operators want to control their AI destinies. 3. Pure AI data platforms are not the answer. To learn more about what is already in production today in Rakuten Mobile, Inc., reach out to Rakuten Symphony Anshul Bhatt and Rahul Atri who are at #DTW

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"The age-old wisdom of a Native American proverb, “You can’t wake a person who is pretending to be asleep”, resonates strongly with the current malaise pervading the telecoms industry. It is a fitting metaphor for the industry’s collective denial of its own flawed 5G gambits, which is costing it dearly in capital and, more deeply, compromising its long-term viability." Credit: Luke Kehoe, "5G: telcoms’ denial of its flaws and failures is costing them dearly" Short term the industry needs to get back to basics - customers, efficiency, 101 running a good business Long term... #6G cannot be the next #5G https://lnkd.in/eQDy-vj6

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Interesting, if we are now at or near 'peak CAPEX' for telcos, which has historically been around 16-20% of revenue, will some of that now be turned towards R&D to bridge the monetization gap highlighted in the blog here? Pointless building a car and then not fuelling it. #telco #monetization #bss #revenuemanagement #billing

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Great article highlighting one of the points that has had a major impact on the deployment of networks across the globe - how Governments 'sell' spectrum to MNOs and the impact this can have on rollouts. We have seen auctions in the past that have raised billions for Government coffers, but that leaves MNOs with major headaches in terms of monetisation as they then must upgrade (or build) masts and networks across the entire country, add new active equipment and provision upgraded backhaul, all of which is expensive, especially when they are in price wars with each other for customers. Renewals of these spectrum allocations will become more and more of an issue as the original licence periods expire, interesting to see how the German regulator is approaching the issue – especially considering their decisions creating new challenger companies when other M&A has taken place which potentially creates more headaches later on. Worth a read. #connectivity #networks #spectrum #strategy #investment #innovation #mnos #regulation #2g #3g #4g #5g #business #enterprise #germany #europe #UK #growth #mobile #mobilenetworks #telecoms #telecommunications https://lnkd.in/ejVdwW6T

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🏙️🚀 Ready for the next leap in urban transformation? On the horizon, 6G technology is not just a faster network; it's a paradigm shift! While we're still optimizing 5G, it's crucial to prepare for the boundless potential of 6G. Imagine cities with almost zero-latency communication, empowering autonomous vehicles to react instantaneously, or advanced telemedicine penetrating even remote areas with seamlessly immersive AR and VR. Beyond speed and connectivity, 6G also promises profound advancements in energy efficiency and sustainability. 🌱 The question isn't if we need to start discussing 6G—it's that we need to be shaping it now! How do you foresee this new wave of technology transforming our urban landscapes? 💬 #SmartCities #6G #FutureTech #Innovation #SustainableDevelopment

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Observations from the broader mobile ecosystem 🔭 Take 10 minutes to listen to Caroline Chan and Mischa Dohler discussing the topics that excite Ericsson and Intel Corporation about the mobile future. Covering topics like: 1. The growing momentum for Mobile outside the module industry 2. The role of AI as an industry catalyst 3. The cutting edge of edge computing 4. The difference made for enterprises right now Pia Sorensen | Belgin Caglar Ozcelik #5G #EdgeComputing #AI #Enterprise5G

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Had a great discussion with Monica Paolini from Senza Fili about Open Networks and Open RAN. We talked about the importance of "Mandatory" Open Interfaces, Test Lab accreditation, and the impact of negativity on Open RAN, leading to the "Open RAN Delay Factor." Accurate market sizing is crucial for ongoing investment in this space. Thanks, Monica Paolini, for an insightful conversation and the launch of your 'QuickFile' podcasts. Here is the link to the charts referenced in the Podcast. https://lnkd.in/gYNpfVag #OpenNetworks #OpenRAN #MarketSizing #Investment Mavenir

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Nokia to acquire Infinera for $2.3B. For me, Telecoms, especially Telecom Network vendor landscape, is about 2 things - Technology innovation and M&A. In a way, this is what keeps this industry moving. Though we see Nokia and Infinera here, the roots of these companies are in different countries/regions and backgrounds. For example, Finland-based Nokia acquired Alcatel-Lucent (a merger between France-based Alcatel and US-based Lucent in 2006) in 2016. Same for Infinera - they acquired Transmode in 2015, and Coriant (Coriant merged with Tellabs in 2013) in 2018. Earlier in the year we saw Hewlett Packard Enterprise acquiring Juniper Networks for $14B. In 2020, Ribbon Communications acquired ECI Telecom for $486M. In 2021 Adtran combined with ADVA for €880M. Therefore, it's clear that the Telecom Network vendors are making their portfolios fuller by, among other things, combining/expanding IP and optical capabilities or sometimes introducing both Carrier and Enterprise product lines. At the same time, there are others like Ericsson and Cisco who are very much keeping their stronghold in their specific expert areas. There are optically strong players like Ciena too. The question is; should I be, as a vendor, a one-stop shop for solutions (access to core, wired/fiber & wireless, fixed & mobile, optical & IP, SDN/NFV, OSS/BSS/CRM/ERP, ...) or keep my expertise within my expert area? Looks like the complete E2E portfolios are going to win, especially at a time where the System Integration among multiple vendor platforms is getting complicated and costly. Some call this vendor-lock-in. So, be careful and play your cards wisely. On the other side, the Chinese Telecom Network vendors, Huawei, and ZTE Corporation are watching all these M&As happening in the Western world. Times ahead will be interesting and might be with surprises as the Telecom arms race continues. https://lnkd.in/gWyY_Rq3 #XyntacEnterprise #telecomsworldasia #FutureNetAsia #PTC25 #DTWA #ITWAsia

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#logos Encouraging news for both the #privatenetwork market and Ericsson. I would encourage both Ericsson and the 20 #enterprise logos to share the deployment as they land and expand. It is good for the wireless industry and enterprises to promote progress. “We won over 20 global enterprise logos in Q2 via our multi-channel go-to-market structure. Each… typically has a land-and-expand buyer journey as enterprises start realising the ROI [from] initial deployments." “The private networks market is starting to accelerate in 2024." Visit @ networkfx #networkfx #PRV8Calling #SuperNOVA #PRV8Connect #PRV8Hub #PRV8Steering https://lnkd.in/gM2u74sd

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Interim Brief is out. TMUS and DT share analysis (the "cycle") is discussed, as well as WWDC. More inside. #sundaybrief https://lnkd.in/gcrpUVQR

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Which areas are Telcos focusing on when it comes to AI implementation? Omdia has identified four key domains where Telcos are concentrating their efforts based on public deals : customer, network, security, and cross-industry use cases. Network performance management stands out as the top priority for Telcos in AI, with a focus on solutions like energy management, automation, and anomaly detection. Leading this domain is Ericsson, with its cognitive portfolio software. Virtual assistants are also gaining traction, transitioning from traditional chatbots to LLM-Based agents. Telcos are striking deals with tech giants like Microsoft and Google in this area. Ooredoo Group and Vodafone are at the forefront of integrating AI capabilities into their operations, sales, and marketing strategies. The Q1 2024 data reveals a significant increase in AI public deals as Telcos increasingly leverage AI, with a notable shift towards neural networks versus traditional machine learning applications. https://lnkd.in/gCeMvBsj

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Mind the Gap....... The monetization gap is real, has existed for years and is arguably the main reason why telcos are on a path to commoditization. Continued over investment in new technology areas at the expense of seeking the maximum return from those investments. But something has changed. The plateauing of and in some cases the decline in mobile traffic levels creates an opportunity for a strategic re-think, a re-balancing of investment focus away from high capital intensity towards R&D, with much greater weight placed on the services consumers / businesses require and the network needed to deliver that. From build it and they will come to enthuse them and they will spend. Link to eBook in comments. #telco #mobile #monetization #BSS

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The value of trust in AI. Learnings and reflections from the field. Much recommended!

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Sebastian Barros, thank you for sharing these insights for private network monetization and I appreciate your emphasis on key factors like industry focus, partnership selection, and service-centric value propositions. While your post primarily focuses on internal strategies for Telcos, I believe it's crucial to also consider external factors such as regulatory frameworks and spectrum allocation. In my experience, navigating the regulatory landscape can significantly impact the success of private network initiatives. A supportive regulatory environment can facilitate deployment and drive adoption, while outdated or restrictive policies may pose obstacles. As Telcos continue to explore opportunities in the private network market, it's essential to engage with regulatory authorities and advocate for policies that enable innovation and competition. By addressing regulatory challenges alongside internal strategies, Telcos can maximize their potential for growth and success in this dynamic industry.

Ericsson’s new partnership with some of the world’s biggest telco operators is a game-changer for network API innovation. This groundbreaking venture will combine and sell network APIs globally, opening up access to APIs and making it easier for developers to use 5G’s advanced network capabilities for new applications. We're unlocking exciting new opportunities to realize the true potential of the 5G network and utilize its full capabilities to accelerate technology innovation for enterprises, industries, and society as a whole. It’s also fantastic to be joined on this incredible journey by many of our customers, including América Móvil, Bharti Airtel, Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Reliance Jio, Singtel, Telefonica, Telstra, T-Mobile, Verizon, and Vodafone. We also welcome further telco operators to join us in our new venture! I look forward to seeing how this collaboration will accelerate innovation in the 5G network space. As Börje Ekholm once said, the best way to predict the future is to create it! Read more about the new venture in Börje’s blog: ➡️ https://lnkd.in/dkpa43QH #Innovation #Telco #Network #APIs #5G

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Build. Operate. Plan. How did the telco community get the monetization of 5G so wrong? Why did people think that monetization could be relegated to a phase 2 / 3 activity and the money tree would still bear fruit? Have lessons been learned ahead of the next wave of investments in areas such as NaaS, AI and, dare I say, 6G? Lots of questions. Some thoughts as to the 'why and how' the industry got to where it is and the opportunity to course correct in this blog. #5G #monetization #BSS #billing #revenuemanagement #telco MATRIXX Software

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Another reason #euro2024 should be a fun watch – 5G will be involved! Broadcaster RTL Deutschland and Deutsche Telekom are working together to use 5G services via a private 5G network to deliver “data-intensive applications” with the network running in the 3.7GHz to 3.8GHz range and offering up to 100MHz of bandwidth to the broadcaster. Great to see innovation being driven by events in the market to actually test use cases and push barriers rather than there merely being a lot of talk about how great private networks could be. #connectivity #networks #privatenetworks #private5g #investment #innovation #mnos #Germany #2g #3g #4g #5g #business #enterprise #growth #mobile #mobilenetworks #telecoms #telecommunications #technology #stadiums #sport #football https://lnkd.in/e_QH3wPi

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Today we announce the launch of Ericsson #5GAdvanced today – a suite of seven new software products designed to empower CSPs to transform their 5G networks into high-performing programmable networks and maximize revenue generation. Ericsson 5G Advanced includes transformative technologies such as AI-powered RAN, intent-driven networks and service-aware RAN to enhance network performance, develop programmable networks, and unlock new applications for CSPs and their customers. With these innovations, we are not only raising the bar on connectivity but also paving the way for new applications and services that will transform industries and improve lives around the world. Read more about it here ➡️ https://lnkd.in/dpMsQ-8C Or watch the full Ericsson 5G Advanced video here ➡️ https://lnkd.in/d7695q5M #5GAdvanced #AI #Networks #5G

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