Inside Out: A TM Forum podcast

In this episode of Inside Out, Mark Newman and Willie Stegmann speak with Vodafone Group CIO Ahmed El-Sayed about the transformation of the technology function in the AI era. Topics covered include how to bring AI across the entire software development lifecycle, people transformation and the changing roles of software engineers and architects, and building AI into customer journeys. 

Peter Leukert, Chief Digital Officer at BT, discusses with TM Forum how an AI-native future depends of nurturing future skills and building strong foundations in data management, cybersecurity, testing and software engineering

Mark Sanders, Chief Architect, Tesltra, discusses with Guy Lupo, Executive Vice President, AI & Data Innovation, TM Forum, how the operator is addressing security, governance and trust as it builds the next phase of network autonomy on a foundation of a composable architecture Sanders and Lupo explore Telstra's vision of a knowledge plane, which transforms data into structured, machine-readable intelligence that enables autonomous network systems to make trusted decisions. Alongside this, they address the concept of model-as-a-service and why it is emerging as a critical capability, helping telcos harness rapidly evolving AI models without being overwhelmed by complexity, cost or risk. The also focus on the importance of trust as telcos evolve their architectures, operations and use of AI to create autonomus operations that deliver new customer experiences. 

Telefónica has set ambitious goals for network autonomy in Spain, Brazil and Germany, as the group's Global Chief Technology and Information Officer, Andrea Folgueiras, discusses with George Glass, TM Forum's CTO. Folgueiras explores how and why the company is taking a holistic approach to delivering autonomous networks, from redesigning processes end-to-end, through to rethinking organizational structures, addressing governance and reskilling people. 

In early 2026 Swisscom started a multi-year effort to modernize the digital software core that powers its B2C and B2B businesses. In this webinar we talk to CTIO MarkDusener about the role of AI in the transformation and how it offers CSPs the possibility of transitioning to an open, composable architecture even across those applications, which until now have remained dependent on legacy systems.