From Telecoms Europe Events: https://www.telecomseuropeevents.com/
- Antonella Sanguineti, Head of Marketing & Product Management Networking, Cloud, Security & Identity Solutions, Sparkle
- Annie Turner, Editor, Mobile Europe
Telco to TechCo 2025 | NaaS and its benefits
Telco to techco: What is a telco for – is differentiated connectivity the answer?
Our opening panel of senior execs from BT Business, Orange Business and CEO of MGMN Alliance tackled this tricky, multi-layered question, moderated by TM Forum’s Mark Newman
The opening panel at Mobile Europe‘s Telco to techco virtual event addressed the thorny issue of What is a telco for? at our virtual event last week. For example, moderator Mark Newman (pictured above, top right) posed the question of where telcos sit in business models and value chains? Newman is TM Forum’s Chief Analyst.
The panellists were Colin Bannon, CTO of BT Business (pictured bottom left), Mohamed Talaye, CTO of Orange Business (pictured bottom right) and Anita Döhler, CEO of the NGMN Alliance (top left).
Newman began by pointing out that attempts to capture the true value of connectivity have not been successful and attempts at diversification have, at best, been mixed. Newman highlighted “pockets” of success such as in financial services in sub-Saharan Africa and TV services in some countries.
He suggested that areas more ripe for growth are IoT, integration services and security in the B2B market, but overall the biggest hope is in differentiated connectivity.
Watch the video now to hear the views of the panellists, first on how telecoms has pivoted in the last five to seven years to look to B2B for growth, and how much it remains aspirational rather than actual.
The second half of the panel focuses more on the technological underpinnings of telcos’ strategies and how the operators are looking to leverage them in the near and middle-term future to cement their evolving roles.
Harmeen Mehta appointed Chief Digital and Innovation Officer at Equinix
She has the same job title at the global data centre and colocation firm as at BT before she left September
Harmeen Mehta is now Executive Vice President and Chief Digital and Innovation Officer (CDIO) at Equinix. She had the same job title at BT Group for almost four years until she left last September during a top team refresh by the group’s new CEO, Allison Kirkby.
According to the press statement, Mehta has 28 years’ experience in leading digital transformations within the tech infrastructure sector. Prior to working for BT, she held a series of senior positions at Bharti Airtel, which by some measures is India’s largest telecom operator, over a period of more than 7 years.
Mehta’s trackrecord
Before that, in reverse chronological order, she worked for BBVA as CIO, Global Markets, Bank of America Merrill Lynch as CIO Global Markets and Research, HSBC and acted as a consultant for British Airways and Quantas Airways. She has also held and holds various non-exec board roles and has been Vice-chair of TM Forum since 2015.
Mehta received the MIT Sloan CIO Leadership Award, TM Forum’s Global CIO of the Year Award and Women of the Decade in Innovation & Leadership distinction from the Women Economic Forum. India’s Economic Times newspaper named her as one of the top ten women in the telecom and tech industry globally.
At Equinix, she is charged with aligning technology capabilities with business strategy to drive the company’s digital transformation and innovation strategy. She is responsible for harnessing emerging technologies to improve customer experience and operational efficiency, and foster new business models. She will serve on the Equinix Executive Staff reporting to Equinix’s CEO and President, Adaire Fox-Martin.
Truly unique
Mehta said, “Equinix is a truly unique company – the hidden layer that enables the innovations that people rely on every day, from video calls and online shopping to the foundational pillars of modern society like food production and drug discovery.
“With an eye on innovation, I look forward to leading Equinix’s transformational journey to deliver even greater opportunities for the thousands of customers that rely upon Equinix every day for their mission-critical digital infrastructure.”
“Harmeen is a visionary leader with a proven track record in digital transformation and innovation,” said Adaire Fox-Martin, CEO and President, Equinix. “Her experience in leading complex programs and developing innovative solutions will equip us to better serve our customers and enhance experiences across the organisation. I look forward to her leadership in advancing innovation and value across our ecosystem.”
11th April: This article has been corrected: BT states that Mehta decided to leave rather than was obliged to quit her post at BT.
Three Business hits 1m customers in UK since launch in 2021
A considerable achievement in four years and in a market that telcos have historically struggled to address – but does it make any money?
Three Business, the B2B arm of Three UK, announced it has reached 1 million small- and medium-sized enterprise customers in the four years since it launched its business services. The award-winning* business unit claims it has grown quickly “by meeting the growing connectivity demands of customers with fast, reliable 5G connectivity, straightforward pricing, and digital tools and support that were once only available to large enterprises”.
The press statement attributes Three Business’ success to developing a strong, UK-wide partner network as well as direct B2B channels, along with recruiting employees who are experienced in “scale-up situations”.
It adds that building its own IT to target the B2B sector resulted in “a lean and agile operation that is able to deliver excellent quality at affordable prices”.
In profit?
This looks like an interesting success story in a huge sector that telcos have historically struggled to serve efficiently – indeed many have struggled to make a profit from providing services to enterprises of all sizes. On the other hand, Three does not break out its Business division in its earnings reports and would not provide any financial information when we requested it.
Mike Tomlinson, MD of Three Business, said, “We are delighted to achieve this…milestone and even more pleased to see the market responding positively to what we have to offer. Our exceptional growth over the last four years has been driven by staying true to our principles; to focus only on what customers need and deliver it to a high standard and for great value. Technology has helped us to keep costs down even when scaling quickly.
“All…our partners share our vision and we are grateful for their support. Thank you to all our customers, we will continue to do our utmost to deliver for you.”
*Three won the award for the Best Network for Business at the Mobile Industry Awards in 2023 and 2024.
Raxio secures $100m to expand African data centres
The International Finance Corporation loan will help to operator expand its footprint in sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan African data centre builder and operator Raxio Group has signed an agreement for $100 million in financing from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to accelerate the company’s expansion of facilities across the continent. The debt funding from IFC will help Raxio double its deployment of high-quality colocation data centres within three years, addressing growing demand in underserved markets across the continent. According to Ecofin, the continent represents only about 1% of global capacity.
The company is developing a Sub-Saharan African regional data centres in Ethiopia, Mozambique, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Tanzania and Angola.
Raxio said it is committed to bridging Africa’s digital divide by introducing Tier III-certified, carrier-neutral, and secure data services to markets that it reckons have been overlooked by other providers.
“Raxio’s business model shows how digital infrastructure can empower businesses, governments and communities to thrive in the digital economy,” said Sarvesh Suri, IFC regional industry director, infrastructure and natural resources in Africa. “This partnership between Raxio and IFC is set to strengthen Africa’s digital ecosystem and catalyse further investments and regional integration, building a more inclusive and sustainable future.”
IFC’s commitment builds on earlier debt funding from Proparco and the Emerging Africa Asia Infrastructure Fund (EAAIF), and equity investments from Roha Group and Meridiam. IFC’s financing includes concessional funding from the GROW Facility, which seeks to advance gender equity and inclusive economic growth through blended finance, and the IDA Private Sector Window, which supports private investment in the world’s poorest and most fragile markets.
With IFC’s endorsement, Raxio believes it is poised to accelerate its growth across its markets, while upholding the highest standards of reliability, scalability, and sustainability. “This funding from IFC is a powerful endorsement of Raxio’s vision and operational excellence,” said Raxio Group CEO Robert Skjødt (above). “It will allow us to bring critical infrastructure to the regions that need it most and attract further investment as we continue to grow. Together with our other partners, we’re building the foundation for Africa’s digital future and setting new benchmarks for sustainability.”
Tier III Uptime
Like many modern data centres, Raxio’s facilities are designed for 24/7 reliability, ensuring uninterrupted service. The company integrates renewable energy solutions to minimise its environmental footprint and uses energy-efficient equipment to reduce electricity and water consumption for cooling in several of its countries of operation.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, Raxio said its Kinshasa facility is positioned to meet growing demand for data services in one of Africa’s largest and fastest-growing urban centres. In Côte d’Ivoire, Raxio is establishing a digital hub to serve Francophone West Africa, connecting regional markets and facilitating cross-border trade.
Founded in 2018 by Roha Group, Raxio’s expansion is being driven by new CEO Robert Skjødt who for the past decade has focused on Africa, where he led the creation of BTE, a pan-African renewable energy company, which was acquired by global energy giant Engie in 2023. Skjødt previously held senior positions at ABB, a global leader in power and automation technologies, where he oversaw complex infrastructure projects and M&A activity across multiple continents.
Intersec celebrates 20th anniversary and its marketing-changing tech ‘firsts’
Partner content: Its achievements include the launch of FR-Alert and bringing AI to life-saving safety applications
Intersec, a global leader in mobile data analytics and geolocation solutions, continues its expansion in the fields of civil protection, homeland security, and telecommunications. As Europe seeks to strengthen its sovereignty, the company offers government ministries a wide range of innovative applications, from emergency call location to counter-terrorism efforts and population alert systems during crises. Additionally, Intersec enables telecom operators to leverage their data for new 5G services while ensuring rigorous data protection.
Intersec stands out with its big data platform capable of real-time analysis of mobile network metadata. Its technology is used by clients covering over 1 billion mobile phones worldwide. The company enhances public safety through public warning systems and emergency management solutions.
Precise, real-time data
By providing precise real-time data on population flows, it helps authorities optimize response during natural disasters, industrial accidents, or pandemics. These insights also support the development of smart cities by offering a deeper understanding of urban dynamics and infrastructure usage.
The company notably oversaw the deployment of FR-Alert, the French Ministry of the Interior’s public warning system, operational since 2022, with several national operators. This system sends geolocated alerts to mobile phones in case of imminent danger, covering 95% of the population (mainland France and overseas territories).
Integrated into a comprehensive multichannel system—including sirens and, in the near future, social networks—FR-Alert enhances the responsiveness and efficiency of emergency services. This technical achievement has positioned it as a flagship in the tech industry. Beyond France, Intersec extends its expertise to governments and telecom operators in over 50 countries.
Yann Chevalier, CEO of Intersec, emphasizes, “Our location intelligence and data analytics technology not only saves lives during emergencies but also enables innovative new services. We are proud to contribute to population safety while prioritizing the use of sovereign and independent solutions that respect personal data.”
AI support in emergencies
More recently, Intersec has developed AI that can automatically adapt algorithms based on users’ objectives. This technology provides essential support during emergencies, helping authorities select optimal communication methods tailored to the nature and progression of the situation.
It further enhances crisis response by monitoring the effectiveness of measures taken and suggesting adjustments when necessary to resolve crises more efficiently. Through AI, Intersec delivers vital decision-making tools for public safety, simplifying the management of complex scenarios.
In recent years, Intersec has experienced strong growth in annual recurring revenue (ARR), increasing by 35% per year, with revenues in the €20 million range. In 2025, the company continues its expansion by reinvesting over 25% of its profits into research and development.
Staying true to its mission, Intersec transforms complex and massive datasets into actionable insights that improve connectivity, safety, and user experience worldwide.
Context-aware geo-targeted emergency alerts to mobile phones
About Intersec
Intersec is a French software company specializing in mobile data and geolocation solutions. Operating in 50 countries, the company is renowned for its expertise in data analytics, public warning systems, and innovative solutions for telecom operators and governments. Intersec is committed to developing ethical and high-performing technologies for a safer and better-connected world
About the author
Charlotte Cardona is VP of Communications at Intersec
Telco to TechCo 2025 | PANEL: Have we located the edge yet?
From Telecoms Europe Events: https://www.telecomseuropeevents.com/
- George Glanville, Analyst, STL Partners
- Dario Sabella, Chair, Multi-access Edge Computing, ETSI
- Mark Toman, Client Director, BT Wholesale
Telco to TechCo 2025 | PANEL: Autonomy is not primarily about efficiency so much as changing operational and business models
From Telecoms Europe Events: https://www.telecomseuropeevents.com/
- Chris Barnard, VP European Infrastructure and Telecommunications, IDC
- Eka Kamushadze, EVP Major Programs of Transformation, Orange Business
- Edi Fernando Vieira Filho, Head of Network and System Operations, Telefonica
Telco to TechCo 2025 | PANEL: Are ecosystems – data centres, cloud, telcos’ architectures and infrastructure – evolving fast enough to support AI and APIs opportunities?
From Telecoms Europe Events: https://www.telecomseuropeevents.com/
- Adam Mackenzie, Senior Analyst – Service Provider Networks, Omdia
- Tor Björn Minde, Director – Head of ICE Data Center Unit, RI.SE
- Predhayen Govender, Sr. Manager Information Security, MTN
- Djordje S. Radovic, Core Network and Services Director, Telekom Srbija
Telco to TechCo 2025 | To Infinity and Beyond: Open Source AI Unleashed
From Telecoms Europe Events: https://www.telecomseuropeevents.com/
- Beatriz Ortega Eguizábal, EMEA Telco Business Development Manager, Red Hat
