Day 3 at MWC 2025 was filled with insightful discussions on AI-driven ecosystems, customer experience transformation, network convergence, cybersecurity and the evolution of telcos into tech-driven enterprises.
Harnessing AI and IoT to drive innovation
The day began with Alan Flower, Executive Vice President and Head of AI & Cloud Native Labs at HCLTech and Ralf Schulz, Vice President at HCLTech, discussing the convergence of AI and IoT (AIoT) and how it is creating powerful ecosystems that are driving efficiency and innovation across the telecom industry.
The convergence of mobility and wireline networks
A session moderated by Sanjay Kumar Misra, Associate Vice President at HCLTech, brought together Margaret Rooney-McMillen, Vice President, Partner Solutions - Ecosystem at AT&T and Joe Lawrence, CTO of Network Acceleration at HCLTech, to discuss the integration of mobility and wireline networks.
The panel highlighted how significant investments in this convergence are aimed at delivering seamless user experiences for both enterprise businesses and end customers.
Accelerating telco mergers and acquisitions
With M&A activity increasing in the telco industry, Jeanette Calandra, Global Advisory Industries, Clients & Markets Leader at PwC and Priyadarshi A. Das (Pad), Sr. EVP, Telecom, Media and Entertainment at HCLTech, shared strategies for ensuring smooth and accelerated integration.
They also noted that while M&A remains active, enterprises are heavily investing in AI and infrastructure, leading to reduced CAPEX for acquisitions and a sharper focus on divestments, consumer connectivity and B2B growth opportunities.
Enhancing connectivity and monetization through Android platforms
Justina Rauhala-Kwong, Principal Android Technology Partnerships at Google and Nacho Blazquez, Digital Identity, Chief Architect at HCLTech, explored the advantages of Android’s satellite mode, which enables users to send and receive messages without a mobile or Wi-Fi connection. The session also covered entitlement solutions, which enhance service provisioning and carrier efficiency.
AI, analytics, 5G and cloud in network transformation
As networks become the foundation of digital innovation, operators must adapt new technologies to drive agility and seamless experiences.
In a fireside chat, Dr. Tomek Gerszderg, CTO at Axiata, discussed the importance of standardization and how AI, 5G and cloud are the technologies organizations must adopt to redefine the future of telecom.
Sanjeev Kumar, Vice President at HCLTech, also explored how Generative AI is revolutionizing customer retention strategies and churn management in telecom. As AI continues to evolve, its role in enhancing customer experience and driving business value is becoming increasingly critical.
Securing the future with Zero Trust
Tuukka Helander, Security Lead at Fortinet and Aymun Galal, Cybersecurity Solutions Director at HCLTech, confronted the reality that cyberattacks against telcos are rising due to the IT/OT convergence and a larger attack surface area in the digital world. In this session, they shared how telcos and other organizations can become proactive when it comes to securing IT, OT and 5G environments by implementing a Zero Trust model in an increasingly connected ecosystem.
The evolution from telco to techco
In the final session of the day, Manoj Prasanna Kumar, VP & CTO at Digital InfraCo and Srini Lakkaraju, SVP at HCLTech, explored how traditional telcos are transforming into technology-driven enterprises (TechCOs). The discussion covered the strategies and challenges involved in this shift and how telcos can leverage digital services for future growth.
MWC 2026
Day 3 concluded HCLTech’s participation at MWC 2025, marking the end of an exciting week filled with insightful discussions on AI, network transformation, cybersecurity and digital monetization. Throughout the event, HCLTech leaders and industry experts explored key trends shaping the telecom industry, from AI-driven innovation to the evolution of telcos into tech-driven enterprises.
As the industry continues to evolve, HCLTech remains committed to driving innovation, enabling seamless digital transformation and shaping the future of telecom, media and technology. We look forward to returning to MWC 2026 with even more groundbreaking insights and solutions.
