Telcos are finally heading to the public cloud and industry leaders are excited about its potential. But at the same time, old-fashioned thinking and technology are slowing them down. For this episode, I talk with Andrew Walker, communications and media industry lead at Accenture, about why the move is challenging, the transformative power of GenAI, and what telcos can do to get the right talent in place to help with the journey. 

Listen now to hear:

• How Accenture advises clients to start their move to the public cloud [03:46];
• Why legacy vendors spread FUD—fear, uncertainly, and doubt—about telco and the public cloud [06:22];
• Where Accenture sees AI taking hold in telco [11:11], and 
• How telcos can compete for highly skilled cloud talent [15:05]. 

Links and Resources

• Read Accenture’s recent reports, Start at the center: Network-led transformation for growth and Technology Vision 2023: When Atoms meet Bits.
• Don’t fall for legacy vendors’ SaaS-washing. Read my blog about five questions to ask to help you spot fake SaaS.
• Need a use case on how the public cloud can help your telco? Listen to episode 68, giffgaff is 1,000 faster with AWS.
• Andy likes skiing at Snowbird; I love Deer Valley. Snowbird is known primarily for its deep-powder skiing and snowboarding, whereas Deer Valley is known for its beautiful, sunny weather on fresh, powdery snow (and no snowboarders!). I like to attack the mountain by working all blue and groomed black runs, from left to right. I ski with a map and a pen so I can mark off the runs as I go!
• Think you’re a great skier? Check out one of the most insane ski runs you’ve ever seen that even goes through a cave. It’s bad ass. 
• You can find the transcript for this episode here.

Wanna talk public cloud? Telco execs, set up a meeting with our team to learn how to tap the immense business value it can bring.

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This week’s guest

About Andrew Walker

As Communications and Media Industry Leader, Andy is responsible for the strategy, offerings, and business, as well as the network of professionals who serve Accenture’s Media and Communications clients around the world. Andy has consulted with communications, media and high tech clients for more than 20 years, and has advised leaders across the industry on issues ranging from their fiber strategy, to the profitability of their customers and products, to margin improvement efforts. Andy has been an advisor on multiple mergers, acquisitions and divestitures across the industry, and has helped a number of clients launch new businesses, including new wireless, technology services, and segment-specific businesses.

Podcast Credits

• Executive Producer and Host: Danielle Royston, TelcoDR
• Senior Producer: Lindsay Grubb, TillCo Media
• Editor/Marketing: Alisa Jenkins, Springboard Marketing
• Editing: Andrew Condell
• Associate Producer: Kriselda Dionisio
• Music: Dyami Wilson