HCLTech’s AI-Native Playbook For Telecom, Media, And Platforms

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Ready to move from AI pilots to P&L? We sit down with HCLTech’s Anil Ganjoo to unpack how telecom, media, and technology are converging into an AI-native future where outcomes rule, stacks unify, and partners co-create at speed. The conversation starts with HCLTech’s engineering roots and tracks a bold evolution into an IP-led, platform-driven strategy that spans networks, cloud, edge, data, and silicon—giving operators and media leaders the tools to turn infrastructure into monetizable products.

We dig into the realities of 5G monetization, where enterprise use cases like private 5G, network slicing, fixed wireless access, and edge AI are generating measurable ROI, while consumer ARPU remains a longer play. On the media front, Gen AI is transforming vast content libraries into searchable, reusable, and hyper-personalized experiences that raise engagement and cut churn. Anil explains why AI must be embedded across the entire stack—think AI as the brain, with cloud, networks, edge, and data as the nervous system—to unlock dynamic pricing, predictive maintenance, churn prevention, and planet-scale personalization.

The shift from telco to techco takes center stage as we explore network APIs, platform ecosystems, and product-aligned operating models. We get practical on commercial innovation too: outcome-based engagements, gain-share structures, and transparent KPIs tied to revenue growth, cost-to-serve reduction, billing accuracy, and NPS. Partnerships power the journey, from co-built AI factories with Nvidia to agentic solutions with Microsoft and Google Cloud, all industrialized into OSS/BSS and modern network architectures to scale beyond proofs of concept.

We close with sharp predictions for what will accelerate next: agentic AI in core operations, autonomous and AI-native networks, edge AI plus enterprise 5G crossing the chasm, custom silicon for real-time inference, and services-as-software powered by AI agents. Headed to MWC Barcelona? Come see the demos and strategy sessions at Hall 2. 

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