Arrcus CEO sees network-related bottlenecks that could impact the ability for operators to capitalize on telco AI offerings—but the problems are solvable
Arrcus describes its mission this way: “To democratize networking by providing the best-in-class software with the most flexible consumption model at lowest total cost of ownership.” With products covering data center, 5G networking and hybrid/multi cloud including at the network edge, company Chairman and CEO Shekar Ayyar sees Arrcus as positioned to help operators drive cost out of the business while better monetizing 5G through new enterprise business. And while this mission predates the hype cycle around artificial intelligence, the core premise applies as operators look to deliver telco AI products and realize attendant new revenue streams.
Ayyar sees a clear telco AI opportunity that enables both internal process optimization as well as new revenues from enterprise users. But among the key problems operators will have to address are more organization than technological, and include sales capacity to sell more than just voice and data, and the ability to operate in a services-oriented manner. It all comes down to changing the business model, he said.
“Look, it’s now or never. I think the idea that the operators can eke out an existence just by sort of shaving off the last whatever fraction of a penny on every call or data transmission contract…with consumer subscribers, I think that has outlived its usefulness. I think you can’t go from 5G to 6G to 7G and hope that you can keep making profits on that business model. I think this is an inflection point, and at this point, I would actually hope sincerely that some subset of operators take this upon themselves to say, ‘OK, I’m going to go bring my 5G and IP networks together. I’m going to become multicloud. I’m going to go in and boldly proclaim that I am the network for AI.'”
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