The opening day of MWC 2025 set the stage for transformative discussions on the future of telecom, media and technology (TMT).
HCLTech, a trusted partner to most of the world’s TMT companies, brought together industry experts and partners to explore the trends shaping the sector, from AI-driven innovation to network transformation and security.
Embracing transformation in telecom, media and entertainment: The HCLTech sessions
Kicking off the day and the event, Anil Ganjoo, Chief Growth Officer, Americas, TMT & RCPG Industries, emphasized the immense opportunities for digital transformation in telecom, media and technology. With ever-evolving customer demands and expectations, businesses are increasingly looking for ways to modernize their networks, enhance customer experiences and unlock new revenue streams through AI and automation.
One of the most compelling discussions of the day came from Alan Flower, Executive Vice President and Head of AI & Cloud Native Labs, who explored Agentic AI potential to redefine the telco and mobile ecosystem. By leveraging advanced AI techniques, telcos can enable smarter, self-optimizing networks that improve efficiency, customer experience and operational agility.
Meanwhile, the convergence of telecom, technology and semiconductors was another focal point, explored in depth by Abhay Chaturvedi, EVP, Tech Industries, alongside Srinivas Lakkaraju, SVP, and Priyadarshi Ashok Das (Pad), Sr Executive Vice President, Telecom, Media and Entertainment. The speakers examined how this integration is not only reshaping connectivity but also driving new computing and communication models that will form the backbone of future networks.
The discussion on AI’s role in fraud prevention and revenue integrity also resonated strongly. Fabio Aiello, CTG Strategy Director, and Ivano Cassis, R&D Manager and Chief Solution Architect, presented a compelling case study on how cutting-edge AI techniques are being deployed to tackle fraud in the telecom industry, reinforcing the importance of security and compliance in an increasingly digital landscape.
To close the HCLTech-led sessions for the day, Gurpreet Singh Kohli, Senior Vice President & Global Business Head - Telco & Enterprise Networks and Joe Lawrence, CTO of Network Acceleration, delved into the critical intersection of network infrastructure and security. With networks becoming more complex and distributed, the need for scalable, robust and secure solutions has never been more pressing. The discussion underscored how enterprises must rethink their security strategies to keep pace with evolving threats while ensuring seamless network performance.
AI and the future of customer experience
The day’s agenda extended beyond HCLTech’s own sessions, with a series of insightful partner-led discussions exploring AI’s impact on the telecom industry.
In a panel moderated by Carol Criner, SVP at HCLTech, Microsoft's Vik Singh, CVP, Copilot Applications and Alan Ross, Partner, Customer Experience Apps & Engineering, explored how AI-driven Contact Center-as-a-Service (CCaaS) is transforming customer interactions. The conversation highlighted a shift from assistive AI models to fully autonomous, AI-driven solutions, enabling seamless, intelligent customer engagement. The panel also emphasized that contact centers serve as a strategic entry point for broader enterprise-wide AI adoption, reinforcing the need for well-aligned AI strategies.
AI in network transformation: Insights from Cisco and HPE
The role of AI in network evolution was further explored in a panel discussion between Chaturvedi and Pradeep Kathail, VP & CTO, Cisco.
The session examined how AI and software-defined networks (SDNs) enable enterprises to intelligently process massive data volumes and reshape telecom infrastructure. The industry is moving toward AI co-pilots, where AI is initially introduced as an augmentation tool before transitioning to full autonomy. A key takeaway from the session was the growing importance of System Integrators (SIs) in addressing the skills gap created by this rapid shift in network management.
In a fireside chat, Matt Price, VP, Provider Mobility, Cisco, provided an in-depth look at the challenges facing mobile network operators. The discussion emphasized the importance of programmable platforms that enable visibility, control and the ability to rapidly iterate.
Among the key trends shaping the sector, IoT and connected cars emerged as a critical use case, requiring seamless cross-provider connectivity to unlock their full potential. Additionally, private 5G networks are expected to expand significantly, particularly in enterprise environments.
The topic of autonomous networks was further explored in a session featuring Stefano Capperi, Product Management Head, Telecom Solutions at HPE, moderated by Ranga Swamy, Principal Consultant, HCLTech. The discussion highlighted the growing complexity of network management, driven by exponential traffic growth, multi-vendor ecosystems and siloed operations. To address these challenges, the need for end-to-end automation, AI-native networks and self-healing capabilities to drive efficiency and adaptability were highlighted.
Accelerating RAN Intelligence: The final session of day 1
The day concluded with a high-impact panel on Accelerating RAN Intelligence across Network Ecosystems, featuring industry leaders from TIP, Amdocs, Arqit, Reply, Viavi and HCLTech. As networks become increasingly software-driven and AI-enabled, the discussion explored strategies for enhancing interoperability, optimizing RAN performance and unlocking greater efficiencies in next-gen networks.
