Microsoft brings intelligent telecommunications to MWC 2022
Today marks the opening of Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2022, the largest mobile event in the world and a showcase for the latest innovations and leading-edge technology. I’m always energized by 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 gratifying to attend in person for face-to-face meetings, sessions, and conversations with those of you who will also be in Barcelona.
Microsoft comes to MWC with tremendous momentum in the telecommunications sector, thanks in large part to a number of recent milestones and announcements in our ongoing partnerships with telco industry leaders such as AT&T1, Nokia2, T-Mobile3, Vodafone4, Etisalat5, BT6, Amdocs7, Lumen8, Telstra9, NTT10, and Singtel11. Microsoft empowers these and many other organizations to achieve more with a trusted and secure platform for productivity, business operations, network optimization, personalized experiences, and service innovation.
Unlock the power of 5G with Azure for Operators
Joining me in Barcelona will be a number of Microsoft’s telecommunications industry executives across business strategy, sales, and engineering—including a significant delegation from our Azure for Operators team. With Azure for Operators, Microsoft’s goal is to empower operators to unlock the power of 5G by bringing cloud and edge closer together to enable low latency applications with greater reach and low cost. With the introduction of SDN/NFV and 5G, the use of cloud technology within the core network is becoming a reality. Our vision of offering the operator an open and interoperable ecosystem built using hyper-scale technology, highly automated operations, and scalable infrastructure will be highly attractive. We’re applying Microsoft technology and developer ecosystem capabilities to bring next-generation solutions—carrier-grade hybrid cloud platform, voice core, mobile core, and multi-access edge computing—to empower operators to modernize their networks, drive down 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 and operate efficiently, accelerate time to market of new products and services on 5G, and leverage these investments to reposition in the value chain and build a central role in Industry X.0 economy. In June of 2021, we introduced a new category, Azure private MEC, which empowers operators and system integrators to unlock the enterprise 5G opportunity. And today, we’re announcing the next wave of Azure for Operators solutions and services.
Empower workers with digital tools optimized for hybrid work
Our MWC delegation will also include business and technology experts from Microsoft 365, Microsoft Teams, and Microsoft Devices who are excited to connect with you on empowering workers with digital tools optimized for the new world of hybrid work. No one has borne the burden of the past two years more than the frontline, and yet for many the digital transformation that has benefitted their customers—and employers—has been slow to arrive.
According to the most recent Work Trend Index survey from Microsoft, 30 percent of telecommunications frontline workers do not feel they have the right digital tools or technology to do their job effectively, and 58 percent feel they have been learning on the fly with no formal training. While these teams are considered to be the backbone of their organizations, lagging investments in technology and tools have driven many frontline workers to consider leaving their jobs, which would be a staggering drain on essential knowledge and resources.
However, the telecommunications frontline remains a willing partner in workplace transformation, as a significant majority (69 percent) are excited about all the job opportunities that technology is bringing to the industry. And as you will see and hear from us at MWC, Microsoft and our service and solution partners have the intelligent tools to help enable secure productivity and teamwork anywhere, anytime—reducing friction for your workers, and improving the customer care delivered by those on the frontline.
Can’t-miss sessions during MWC 2022
In addition to connecting with you over the course of the show, Microsoft executives and thought leaders will also be featured in a number of sessions you should definitely include on your MWC agenda, including:
MWC22: What’s new & worth your attention? Join Sanjay Mewada, Microsoft Worldwide Marketing Lead, at a session that will tap the insights of GSMA Intelligence analysts, industry experts, and special guests to deliver expert guidance on what you should expect to be news at MWC22, and what you should be paying attention to. Monday, February 28 from 11:00 to 11:45 Central European Time at the MWC Broadcast Stage in Hall 4.
Empowering Inclusion, Fueling Innovation: Jenny Lay-Flurrie, Microsoft’s Chief Accessibility Officer, will be featured in a session on the efforts of major technology platform providers to build increasingly accessible products that empower consumers and fuel inclusive innovation across their development ecosystems. Monday, February 28 from 11:15 to 12:00 Central European Time at the MWC Stage B in Hall 5.
Making Sense of 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 more effectively use the data collected to make intelligent decisions and improvements to the efficiency of their operations. Monday, February 28 from 17:15 to 18:00 Central European Time at the MWC Broadcast Stage in Hall 4.
Energy Efficiency Trends in 5G: Micaela Giuhat, Microsoft Director 5G Policy and External Engagements, will join fellow thought leaders in a session that will look at the current trends and developments to increase energy efficiency within 5G technology, and its potential use across industries. Tuesday, March 1 from 13:15 to 14:15 Central European Time at the MWC Stage A in 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 AI provides to accelerate the next industrial milestone, as it paves the way for unprecedented efficiencies across multiple sectors. With use cases, the session will also look at how advancements in AI will aid in combating climate change, shaping future mobility and the future of work. Tuesday, March 1 from 15:30 to 16:15 Central European Time at the Industry City Stage in Hall 4.
In AI We Trust? David Carmona, Microsoft’s General Manager for Artificial Intelligence and Innovation, will be featured in this session to showcase how AI can be more inclusive, secure, and responsible, and how operators will approach building trust in an AI-first telco. Wednesday, March 2 from 11:30 to 12:15 Central European Time at the MWC Broadcast Stage in Hall 4.
Experience service and solution innovation at the Microsoft booth in Hall 3
If you will be with us in Barcelona, be sure to spend some time at the Microsoft booth in Hall 3 (space 3H30). Telecommunications industry and technology experts from Microsoft—as well as from Amdocs, IBM, Kyndryl, and Nuance—will be on hand to showcase the latest in solutions, devices, and services to:
- Empower your workforce—enable secure collaboration and productivity with intelligent tools and devices optimized for the new world of hybrid work.
- Streamline your operations support system (OSS) and or business support system (BSS)—simplify workflows, realize operational efficiencies, and build a hyper-connected business through cloud-native applications, intelligent processes, and automation.
- Accelerate network transformation—use the power of a carrier grade, hybrid cloud to improve network efficiency, scalability, and reliability, reduce cost, and grow revenue.
- Elevate customer experiences—empower service teams with data-driven insights to increase productivity and enhance care. Use conversational AI to enable self-service, expedite issue resolution, and deliver frictionless customer experiences at scale.
- Monetize 5G and edge—optimize 5G investments and create new revenue streams with a platform for the rapid development, deployment, and monetization of innovative cross-industry edge and IoT services.
Microsoft empowers telecommunications organizations to achieve more
Microsoft empowers telecommunications organizations to achieve more with our trusted and secure platform supported by a comprehensive partner ecosystem with industry-leading solutions for workplace modernization, streamlining OSS and or BSS, network optimization, personalized customer experiences, and new product and services innovation.
If you aren’t able to connect with us at MWC, learn more about intelligent telecommunications to see how Microsoft and our partners have increased productivity, streamlined operations, optimized networks, and accelerated innovation for industry leaders such as AT&T, Etisalat, Deutsche Telekom, Telefónica, Telstra, and Vodafone. Also, join us for a virtual sustainability roundtable to hear perspectives of telco business leaders on the importance of sustainability in general, the sustainability opportunity for telecommunications, and how to best move forward no matter where you are on your sustainability journey.
1Microsoft and AT&T are accelerating the enterprise customer’s journey to the edge with 5G
2Microsoft and Nokia collaborating to help industries digitally transform
3T-Mobile uses RPA in Power Automate to integrate systems during Sprint merger
5Etisalat to launch 5G enterprise multi-access edge computing in collaboration with Microsoft
6Microsoft and BT announce partnership to shape the future of voice calling
8Lumen reimagines legacy data as dynamic, digital assembly line with Azure Synapse Analytics
9Telstra plans to offer Australia’s first 5G-enabled edge compute solution
10NTT strengthens alliance with Microsoft to support shift to hybrid working
11Singtel first to launch public MEC solution with Microsoft in Asia
