The Appledore Research Podcast

In this episode, we explore how the testing of networks has evolved to cope with rising complexity, new technologies, disaggregation, the acceleration of growth in networks, and fundamental changes in how telecom networks are used. We zero in on the re-framing of test from siloed function to a continuous process spanning vendor supply chains, traditional telco in-house test, through to live networks - a concept called "lab-to-live". Francis and Robert talk with Anil Kollipara, VP of Product Management for Test Automation at Spirent, one of the world's oldest established network test companies.

In the final episode of 2024, Robert and Patrick swap notes from some major vendor events - AWS Re:invent, Mavenir's analyst day, Fyuz plus Telecom TV's Great Telco Debate. Merry Christmas, one and all!

The network automation journey that global carrier PCCW has been on for the last 6 or 7 years is fascinating, as they describe the changes in the industry through the same period. In a highly enlightening episode, Divesh Gupta walks us through how they have embraced the concept of network APIs and network automation, the choices in OSS and BSS, partnership, as well as the kind of vision and leadership required to achieve transformational change. We also discuss work going on with the MEF and TM Forum.

Robert and Grant are joined by Fujitsu's Greg Manganello to explore the drivers behind, and implications of, open and disaggregated networks.Along the way we discuss multiple industry interpretations of "open", buyer personas, the tactics of Big Telecom on open RAN, and Greg's "cocktail party' trick for remembering the difference between real-time and non-real-time RICs...

A quick sub-30-minute catchup on MWC Americas, 5G Americas, DTW Innovate (US), MEF and even a dash of Fyuz (Dublin).

A conversation with the AI lab leader at the legendary Bell Labs, owned by Nokia since 2016. We focus on networks and AI, but take a peek into the future, as well as putting AI into a wider context of successive industrial revolutions.

GenAI shows no sign yet of losing its status as the hottest topic in telecom. In this episode Robert hears the latest from Appledore Principal Analyst for Digital Enablement, John Abraham, and gets a far-reaching in-depth explanation from Huawei Software on how they are using AI and GenAI into a range of digital enablement offerings and telco operator business processes.

Grant, Francis and Robert explore the topic of autonomous networks in telecom, challenging some misconceptions, clearing up some misunderstandings, and generally taking out some of the mystery about how to go about establishing them.

Patrick and Robert are joined by Nik Willetts, CEO of the TM Forum in a discussion that ultimately finds its way to Network APIs - but necessarily taking in the wide view of where telecom is at, and how things are more different today than at any point in its history.