Microsoft at TM Forum DTW23 Ignite: Transform from telco to techco leveraging AI

The telecom industry is at a crossroads, facing new hurdles and growing demands in a volatile market. Technological innovation is happening at an amazing speed and scale today, creating hope in a tough economy. There is a silver lining: AI technology. AI can be the catalyst for change, the spark that ignites innovation, and the force that drives efficiency, cost reduction, and customer satisfaction. While many telcos have already begun their transformation into a techco, AI may provide a faster path to a competitive advantage.

Microsoft empowers telecommunications organizations to achieve more through a trusted and secure platform supported by a comprehensive partner ecosystem. At this event, we will look to demonstrate how Microsoft is the partner to help telcos leverage the power of AI and untap business-to-business (B2B) opportunities.

I am excited to attend TM Forum’s Digital Transformation World (DTW23) in Copenhagen from September 19 to 21, 2023, which is a global event for telecommunication leaders looking to define the building blocks of new operating models. Microsoft joined TM Forum over two decades ago, committed to innovation in the industry. Microsoft and our expansive partner ecosystem enable telecommunication organizations to transform into the techco of the future.

Unlock the potential of AI in telco

The time has come for telcos to seize this unique opportunity and harness the power of generative AI (GenAI) to remain competitive and stay ahead of the game. AI can be the game-changer for the telecom industry, and there are many ways to harness its power and potential. These past few months have put a spotlight on advancements in generative AI, and the possibilities of its application to deliver pragmatic business outcomes. This presents an incredible opportunity to enhance products and services while unlocking innovation and business value to help shape the future of the industry. The pace and scale of technological innovation happening today is unprecedented and breathes optimism into a demanding economy.

AI helps telcos to transform their customer service, using chatbots and voice assistants that can provide instant, personalized, and engaging support. AI assists telcos in refining their networks by leveraging predictive analytics and automation, which boosts performance, minimizes interruptions, and conserves energy. AI aids telcos in tailoring their marketing strategies through data-informed suggestions, fostering greater customer loyalty and retention. These are just some of the examples of how AI can help telcos to thrive in the digital era.

Telcos have a unique opportunity to leverage AI to stay ahead of the curve and gain a competitive edge. By investing in AI and adopting best practices, telcos can future-proof their operations and remain relevant in the years to come. As AI continues to evolve and advance, we can expect to see more amazing and disruptive developments in the telecom industry.

Learn from Microsoft and industry experts

We will be participating in several sessions where we will be discussing key industry trend—including GenAI—and how we have helped communications service providers (CSPs) on their digital transformation journey. We are excited to also share the stage with Amdocs on how we are reimagining customer engagement. Amdocs is empowering service providers to improve end-user experiences across all channels and applications with its Customer Engagement Platform that combines best-in-class cloud, AI, and telco technologies.

• Becoming a techco: are we there yet? From Telco to Techco: Transforming the Buzzwords into a Reality. Tuesday, September 19, 2023, from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM CEST. Featuring Jon James, Chief Executive Officer Nuuday, and Francesco Venturini, Corporate Vice President WW Telecommunication and Media, Microsoft.
• The Rise of AI: What it means for today and tomorrow. Tuesday, September 19, 2023, from 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM CEST. Featuring Rick Lievano, Chief Information Officer WW Telecommunications, Microsoft.
• Opening Headliners. Wednesday, September 20, 2023, from 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM CEST. Featuring Silvia Candiani, Vice President WW Telecommunications, Microsoft, and Assif Sarat, General Manager, Amdocs.
• Global Architecture Forum. Wednesday, September 20, 2023 from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM CEST. Panel participation by Microsoft discussing “Conformance validation of ODA components and canvas.”
• Open Digital Architecture (ODA) on Microsoft Azure. Tuesday, September 20, 2023, from 12:00 PM to 12:30 PM CEST. Featuring Jayant Mishra, Senior Industry Digital Strategist, Microsoft.
• AI in Action. AI Driven Telco: Unleashing Generative AI Across Your Business. Wednesday, September 20, 2023, from 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM CEST. Featuring Lester Thomas, Head of New Technologies and Innovation, Vodafone, and Iain Thornhill, Telco Industry Advisor, Microsoft.
• Enabling the AI powered telco: Simplifying network operations to deliver world-class customer experiences with Azure and AI. Wednesday, September 20, 2023, from 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM CEST. Featuring Iain Mulligan, Chief Network Officer, 3UK, and Paul Brittain, Principal PDM Manager, Microsoft.
• Explore the Power of Generative AI in Telecom. Wednesday, September 20, 2023, from 3:30 PM to 3:50 PM CEST. Featuring Rick Lievano, Chief Technology Officer, WW Telecommunications, Microsoft, and Paul Brittain, Principal PDM Manager, Microsoft.
• Bring the power of AI to your customer. Wednesday, September 20, 2023, from 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM CEST. Featuring Luca Cassani, Telecommunications Account Chief Technology Officer, Microsoft.

And more sessions to be announced.

Check out our TM Forum Catalyst projects

TM Forum Catalysts are rapid-fire proof-of-concept projects developed collaboratively by TM Forum members to solve common industry challenges, validated by communications service providers and industry stakeholders. They are member-driven and both inform and leverage TM Forum best practices and standards, connecting service providers, technology suppliers, and global enterprises to create innovative solutions to common industry challenges. Microsoft is participating in two Catalysts, which will be showcased in the Innovation Labs area of the event.

1. Simple hyperscaler integrated network experience (SHINE)
   Championed by AT&T, Telefonica, and Orange
   Participants include Microsoft, Amdocs, Infosys, ServiceNow, Prodapt
   Establishing an industry standard mechanism for making digitized network services available as native services in hyperscale portals.

2. Supercharge any activity in any metaverse
   Championed by T-Mobile and Deutsche Telekom
   Participants include Microsoft, Amdocs, D-ID
   This Metaverse challenge Moonshot Catalyst showcases highly tailored on-demand connectivity with a relevant non-fungible token (NFT) to demonstrate immersive AI-driven customer service experience in any metaverse.

Visit the Innovation Labs at the event to learn more about each Catalyst and wish every participating team good luck on the competition for the best!

Come play with Microsoft and Nokia

We are excited to partner with Nokia to sponsor some fun at the event. Please join our teams for some friendly shuffleboard games in the lounge area. Security operations teams are struggling to keep up and the area where they need the most help is the intersection of security and AI. Combining the flexibility of SaaS with AI in security operations creates new capabilities to reduce the frequency and cost of cybersecurity breaches.

Want to meet with a Microsoft expert while at DTW23? Reach out to telcoindustry@microsoft.com to learn more and schedule a meeting.

Learn more

No matter where you are on your transformation journey, Microsoft can serve as a trusted partner at a pace that makes sense for your business. Should you want a deeper conversation with a Microsoft employee about AI, chances are you will find us in the shuffleboard area. For additional information visit our website.

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Source: Microsoft Industry Blog