*By Francesco Venturini, CVP, Media and Communication
Today marks the opening of MWC 2022, the world’s largest event dedicated to mobile technologies and a global exhibition for the latest cutting-edge innovations. I am always excited about MWC and the opportunity it provides to connect with customers, partners and colleagues over four very busy days. And this year it will be especially rewarding to personally participate in face-to-face meetings, sessions and conversations with those of you who will also be in Barcelona.
Microsoft comes to MWC with a tremendous initiative in the telecoms industry, thanks in large part to several milestones and recent announcements in our ongoing partnerships with telecoms industry leaders such as AT&T, Nokia, T-Mobile, Vodafone, Etisalat, BT, Amdocs, Lumen, Telstra, NTT e Singtel. Microsoft empowers these and many other organizations to accomplish more with a reliable and secure platform for productivity, business operations, network optimization, personalized experiences and service innovation.
Unlock the power of 5G with Azure for Operators
Several executives from the telecommunications sector at Microsoft will be with me in Barcelona, representing our business strategy, sales and engineering – including a significant delegation from our team. do Azure for Operators.
With Azure for Operators, Microsoft’s goal is to empower operators to unlock the power of 5G, bringing the cloud and the edge closer to enable low-latency application activity with greater reach and lower cost. With the introduction of SDN/NFV and 5G, the use of cloud technology within the main network is becoming a reality. Our vision is to provide the operator with an open and interoperable ecosystem built using hyperscale technology, highly automated operations and scalable infrastructure. We are applying technology resources from Microsoft and our developer ecosystem to bring next-generation solutions such as the carrier hybrid cloud platform, voice core, mobile core, and multi-access edge computing – to empower companies of this sector to modernize its networks, reduce costs and create new services and business models.
Azure for Operators was unveiled in september 2020 to help operators and enterprises deploy network capital effectively, operate efficiently, accelerate time-to-market for new products and services with 5G, and leverage these investments to reposition themselves in the value chain, establishing a central role in the economy of Industry X.0. In June 2021, we introduced a new category, Azure Private MEC, which empowers operators and system integrators to unlock the 5G opportunity for enterprises. And today, we are delighted to announce the next step of Azure for Operators solutions and services.
Empower employees with digital tools optimized for hybrid work
Our team sent to MWC will also include business and technology experts from Microsoft 365, Microsoft Teams and Microsoft Devices. They are excited to connect with the public to demonstrate how to empower their employees with digital tools optimized for the new world of hybrid work. No one has borne the brunt of the past two years more than the frontlines, yet for many of these workers, digital transformation has been slow in coming.
According to the most recent survey by the Work Trends Index At Microsoft, 30% of frontline telecoms employees feel they don’t have the right digital tools or technology to do their jobs effectively, and 58% feel they have learned on the job without any formal training. While these teams are considered the backbone of their organizations, delays in investments in technology and tools have led many frontline employees to consider quitting their jobs, which would be a huge loss of essential knowledge and resources.
The telecom industry’s frontline continues to be a willing partner in workplace transformation, as a significant majority (69%) are excited about all the job opportunities technology has brought to the sector. And, as you’ll see and hear from us at MWC, Microsoft and our service partners have the smart tools to help ensure productivity and teamwork anywhere, anytime – reducing pain for your employees and improving the customer service provided by those on the front lines.
Must-see sessions during MWC 2022
In addition to exposing our products and services throughout the event, Microsoft executives and opinion leaders will also be presenting in a series of sessions that you should definitely include in your MWC agenda, including:
MWC22: What’s new and worth your attention? Join Sanjay Mewada, Worldwide Marketing Leader at Microsoft, in a session that will tap into insights from GSMA Intelligence analysts, industry experts and special guests to provide expert guidance on what you should expect to be in the news at MWC22 and what must pay attention.
Monday, February 28 | 11:00 – 11:45 CET at MWC Broadcast Stage, Hall 4
Empowering Inclusion, Encouraging Innovation – Jenny Lay-Flurrie, Director of Accessibility at Microsoft, will be featured in a session on the efforts of leading technology platform providers to create increasingly accessible products that empower consumers and encourage inclusive innovation in their development ecosystems.
Monday, February 28 | 11:15 – 12:00 CET at MWC Stage B, Hall 5
Understanding the Sensors – Jaione Pagazaurtundua, Microsoft Director for Azure Solutions, will participate in a discussion on how sensors have become crucial to the operation of many of today’s businesses and how companies can use the collected data more effectively to make smart decisions and improve the efficiency of your operations.
Monday, February 28 | 17:15 – 18:00 CET at MWC Broadcast Stage, Hall 4
Energy Efficiency Trends in 5G – Micaela Giuhat, Microsoft Director of External 5G Policy and Projects, will join fellow thought leaders in a session that will review current trends and developments to increase energy efficiency in 5G technology and its potential use across industries.
Tuesday, March 01 | 13:15 – 14:15 CET at MWC Stage A, Hall 5
How AI is shaping our world – this session – which will feature Ranveer Chandra, Managing Director of Microsoft Research for Industry – will explore the plethora of possibilities that AI offers to accelerate the next industrial milestone as it paves the way for unprecedented efficiencies across multiple industries. With use cases, the session will also look at how advances in AI will help combat climate change, shaping future mobility and the future of work.
Tuesday, March 01 | 15:30 – 16:15 CET at Industry City Stage, Hall 4
Can we trust AI? – David Carmona, General Manager of Artificial Intelligence and Innovation at Microsoft, will be in this session to demonstrate how AI can be more inclusive, secure and accountable, and how operators will approach building trust in a phone company with AI in first place.
Wednesday, March 02 | 11:30 – 12:15 CET at MWC Broadcast Stage, Hall 4
Experience service and solution innovation at the Microsoft booth in Hall 3
If you’re with us in Barcelona, be sure to spend some time at the Microsoft booth in Hall 3 (space 3H30). Technology and telecom industry experts from Microsoft, as well as Amdocs, IBM, Kyndryl and Nuance, will be on hand to demonstrate the latest in solutions, devices and services on the fronts of:
- Training your workforce – enable secure collaboration and productivity with smart tools and devices optimized for the new world of hybrid work.
- Simplification of your OSS/BSS – Streamline workflows, realize operational efficiencies, and build a hyper-connected business through cloud-native applications, intelligent processes, and automation.
- Accelerating network transformation – use the power of a carrier-grade hybrid cloud to improve network efficiency, scalability and reliability, reduce costs and increase revenue.
- Elevating customer experiences – Empower service teams with data-driven insights to increase productivity and improve service. Use conversational AI to enable self-service, expedite problem resolution, and deliver frictionless customer experiences at scale.
- Monetization with 5G and the Edge – Optimize 5G investments and create new revenue streams with a platform for the rapid development, deployment and monetization of innovative edge and cross-industry IoT services.
Microsoft empowers telecom organizations to reach their full potential
Microsoft empowers telecom organizations to do more with our trusted and secure platform, supported by a comprehensive ecosystem of partners, with industry-leading solutions for workplace modernization, OSS/BSS simplification, network optimization, personalized customer and innovation of new products and services.
If you can connect with us at MWC, learn more about smart telecommunications to see how Microsoft and our partners have increased productivity, simplified operations, streamlined networks and accelerated innovation for industry leaders such as AT&T, Etisalat, Deutsche Telekom, Telefónica, Telstra and Vodafone. Additionally, to incorporate MWC content, Microsoft will host a Digital Telecommunications Forum on Monday, March 28, on Sustainability in Telecommunications. Hear from industry and sustainability leaders at Telstra, EY, TM Forum and Microsoft perspective on the importance of sustainability in general, the sustainability opportunity for telecoms and how best to move forward no matter where you are on your sustainability.
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