Telcos are rethinking strategies around using the public cloud

He has over 21 years experience in delivering value to clients in the enterprise space helping them transform businesses through use of technology. VMware India Senior Director - Enterprise and Government Sales Gaurav Agarwal speaks with Anusha Ashwin to share insights on the impact of COVID-19 on the telecom sector, particularly the network security, network management policy for the new normal, the evolving cloud infrastructure and the emerging 5G technology. Excerpts:

- Anusha Ashwin

Gaurav Agarwal

Senior Director - Enterprise and Government Sales, VMware India

Do you think that the pandemic has led to the emergence of new parameters for security of telecom networks?

Telecom networks are being used more extensively than before right now given the increased dependence on the Internet in the new remote working normal. Telecom operators are looking at how to offer clean pipe solutions to business users with the best quality service. They are looking at delivering a more consistent and secure service and extending their portfolio to B2B consumers. Telcos are also working towards securing good data connectivity for their customers and addressing the challenges around customers accessing corporate networks through the internet and eliminating the chances of a phishing attack or a data loss, for the consumer.

The pandemic has forced CSos, CTos, and Cios of telcos to take a fresh look at their iT policies. what according to you is a complete network management policy that suits the new normal? Most organizations were structured to work from offices. The capability to run operations outside of the office for months on end has been put to the test this year. IT leaders have had to look at aspects of TRAI regulations, duty regulations, data privacy, etc to allow people to work from anywhere. Like the BFSI sector, the telecom sector too operates within a tight regulations framework. When you’re managing networks and data centers, you have to be able to also do that remotely. Most telcos are also revisiting and rethinking their strategies around using the public cloud, as a part of the core infrastructure.