Reimagining the telecom industry

Reimagining the telecom industry: A podcast series in five parts

The telecom sector is at a critical juncture: On one hand, telecoms are the backbone of every industry, providing the critical infrastructure that drives our digital economy. At the same time, growth within the sector has become elusive, despite massive investments in 5G and fiber networks. As costs continue to rise and non-traditional players infiltrate the landscape, telecom companies must find the courage to reinvent their business and reimagine the role they want to play in the world.

It is in this context that we’ve launched Reimagining telecom industry, an exciting new podcast series created in collaboration with Cloud Realities, ranked in the top 1% podcasts on global platforms. This monthly 5-episode series will feature some of the brightest minds of the industry, gathering their perspectives on the areas of simplification, data and AI, growth, network transformation, and regulation.

A context by Praveen Shankar

Global Telecom Industry Leader, Capgemini

Stay tuned and listen in as they discuss the sector evolution, and how telecom companies can expand their reach, and their relevance, in today’s increasingly digital landscape.

Latest Episode: The big frontiers of the telecoms industry with Vivek Badrinath, GSMA

For a special bonus episode of our mini-series, Reimagining Telecom Industry podcast, the hosts are joined by Vivek Badrinath, Director General of the GSMA. Together, they explore what’s next for telecoms from 5G, AI, to Satellites – and how the merging of the concept of connectivity and compute puts telcos right at the heart of the digital future!

Episode 1: Simplification in telecoms with Dr. Rainer Deutschmann

In this episode, the Reimagining Telecoms hosts are joined by industry leader Dr. Rainer Deutschmann to discuss how simplification of processes, systems, products and propositions is the key to growth and value creation within the telecom industry.

Episode 2: Risk & regulations in telecoms with Ashish Surti

In this episode of Reimagining Telecoms, the hosts are joined by Ashish Surti, EVP Chief Digital & Information Officer at Colt Technology Services to discuss the complex relationship between risk & regulation and innovation in telecoms.

Episode 3: Network transformation in telecoms with Mallikarjun Rao

In this episode of Reimagining Telecoms, the hosts are joined by Mallikarjun Rao, the Chief Technology and Enterprise Business Officer at Telefónica Germany to unpack the vast challenges of network transformation — the backbone of the digital economy.

Episode 4: Data and AI in telecoms with Osman Peermamode

In this episode of Reimagining Telecoms, the hosts are joined by Osman Peermamode, Head of Data & AI at the Vodafone Group to understand how telcos can leverage their data for competitive advantage, navigate data privacy challenges, and utilize AI to transform operations and customer experience.

Episode 5: Growth in telecoms with Nik Willetts, TM Forum

For the final episode of our five-partmini-series, Reimagining Telecom Industry, the hosts are joined by Nik Willetts, CEO of TM Forum. Together, they explore growth – the most pressing challenge facing the telecoms industry and dive into hidden opportunities for unlocking it!

MWC 2025 edition

For this episode of the Reimagining Telecoms, the hosts were joined by Heather Tulk (TELUS), Thierry Klein (Nokia Bell Labs), Ashish Surti (Colt Technology Services), and guest-host, Praveen Shankar (Capgemini). They discuss key topics [37:50] that took center stage at MWC 2025 – ranging from AI and Agentic AI to the significance of collaboration, and the groundbreaking IM-2 mission by Bell Labs and much more.