Telco Infrastructure Evolution - Automation, AI and Containerisation Explained
Matt Hurst, Senior Director of Strategic Business Architecture at Ribbon, joins Tom Arbuthnot to discuss the significant changes occurring in telco infrastructure with AI, analytics, and automation. Matt clearly explains how Automation, Containerisation and AI work and apply in telco and also large enterprise infrastructure.The telecommunications industry is embracing containerisation and automation to address competitive pressures, security requirements, and operational efficiency challenges. Traditional hardware deployment models are being replaced by flexible, cloud-native approaches that enable rapid scaling and automated management.Containerisation breaks network functions into modular components that scale dynamically based on demandAutomation reduces manual patching, testing, and configuration whilst improving security complianceAI-powered chatbots guide junior engineers through complex troubleshooting using integrated documentationInfrastructure as code creates single source of truth for network configurations across multiple sitesAdoption is being driven by security operations requirements and specialised skills shortagesThanks to Ribbon, this episode’s sponsor, for their continued support.
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27:11
Scaling M365 Copilot Adoption Across 20,000 Users
Tom Arbuthnot discusses Microsoft 365 Copilot adoption with Karoliina Kettukari, Head of Modern Work at OP Financial Group in Finland.OP Financial Group has licensed approximately half their workforce for M365 Copilot, with strong support from senior management and eager employee adoption. The organisation also utilises Copilot Chat for an additional 50% of their licensed user base, particularly for roles working primarily in customer systems rather than M365 applications.Meeting summaries and note-taking represent the primary use case, delivering immediate time savingsOrganisation uses a tiered approach with basic training for general users and advanced documentation for power usersTeams-based sharing of use cases within departments proves more effective than organisation-wide librariesAgent development shows promise but faces technical barriers requiring Copilot Studio expertiseRegulatory compliance creates additional approval processes for new AI features in financial servicesSupport delivered through Teams channels and Viva Engage communities rather than traditional training methodsThe transition from personal productivity use cases to team-based and process automation represents the next phase of their adoption journey.Thanks to Neat, this episode's sponsor, for their continued support.
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25:14
AV, AI and Meeting Equity - Multi-Camera, Multi-Agent, Multi-AI with Bo Pintea
Bo Pintea from Huddly talks about the evolution of multi-camera setups and their role in creating more immersive and equitable meeting experiences. Bo shares insights from his Microsoft journey and current role at Huddly, covering:Why IP-based AV and edge AI are critical for scalable multi-camera deploymentsThe science behind camera angles, spatial reasoning, and reducing hyper-gaze fatigueHow AI agents are reshaping meeting dynamics—from intelligent shot selection to real-time transcriptionThe future of corporate knowledge, digital twins, and who owns the data we generateWhy SMBs might leapfrog larger enterprises in adopting AI-first business modelsBo also reflects on the shift from human-centric UC to AI-augmented collaboration, and what it means for the next generation of workplace tools.Thanks to AVI-SPL, this episode’s sponsor, for their continued support.
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34:24
The Future of Converged Communications – Leon Wright, Global Lead at Microsoft
Leon Wright, Global Lead for Converged Communications at Microsoft, discusses how AI is transforming Teams Phone, telco partnerships and customer engagement.How AI is driving renewed interest in Teams Phone and enabling new productivity use casesThe evolving roles of SIs and telcos in delivering scale and strategic valueWhy partners integrating AI into Converged Comms are seeing 20%+ growthThe convergence of Teams and Dynamics in Microsoft’s AI business solutions strategyMicrosoft’s shift to transparent roadmap sharing and early partner feedbackThanks to Pure IP, this episode’s sponsor, for their continued support of Empowering.Cloud.
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Microsoft Teams Desk Phones - AI Features and Roadmap
Prashi Badkur, Senior Product Manager Lead for Teams phone devices at Microsoft, talks about the evolving role of physical desk phones.Despite predictions that physical phones would disappear, there remains a strong demand for Teams phone devices across various industries, including healthcare, finance, and emergency services. Specific roles value the tactile buttons and instant functionality for high call volumes and efficiency.AI features including Copilot-powered call summaries for transfers and voice commands for device navigationEnhanced line key capabilities with remote configuration through Teams Admin CentreShared line features with LED indicators and custom ringtones for multi-store scenariosQueues app now available on desk phones for agent opt-in/opt-out functionalityContact management for common area phones allowing admins to preload emergency contactsMicrosoft Device Ecosystem Platform (MDEP) support for phonesFuture roadmapThanks to Ribbon, this episode’s sponsor, for their continued support.
Microsoft Teams discussions with industry experts sharing their thoughts and insights with Tom Arbuthnot of Empowering.Cloud. Podcast not affiliated, associated with, or endorsed by Microsoft.
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