Telenor, the Norwegian telecommunications company, has announced the appointment of Amol Phadke, formerly of Google Cloud, as its new Chief Technology Officer (CTO) in a move aimed at bolstering its artificial intelligence (AI) initiatives. The decision was revealed by Telenor on Tuesday. Phadke, who most recently led Google Cloud's telecom business, brings a wealth of experience from his past roles at companies including British Telecom, Alcatel-Lucent, and Accenture's network services unit.
Telenor will continue to stay at the forefront of technological advancements, and Amol Phadke's familiarity with the challenges inherent in a legacy business like Telenor's is pivotal, commented CEO Sigve Brekke in an interview with Reuters.
Telenor joined forces with Google Cloud in 2021, setting in motion plans to digitise its global operations and explore collaborative service offerings to customers. This partnership aligns with Telenor's ongoing commitment to digital transformation.
AI holds the potential to collect data that can be harnessed to train predictive models for automating core functions within businesses, as well as for customer-oriented purposes.
Brekke emphasised the need for Telenor to prioritise rapid innovation and cultivate strategic partnerships to revamp its traditional telecom structure. He acknowledged that although the company began integrating AI a decade ago, with its applications even extending to enhancing network energy efficiency, there is an increased urgency to leverage AI across all operational facets, including product development and energy conservation.
Phadke outlined Telenor's strategy of employing AI to heighten business efficiency. One example he highlighted involves using AI to predict traffic demand, allowing the allocation of additional bandwidth to areas with heavier user activity. Moreover, AI will play a role in enhancing customer interactions.
Crucially, Telenor is committed to avoiding layoffs as a result of AI implementation. Phadke clarified, "We believe that AI will not directly translate into job cuts." He envisions AI as an augmentation tool that enhances human processes rather than supplants them.
Speaking to the pace of AI adoption within the industry, Phadke acknowledged the gradual progress, attributing it to the highly competitive nature of the telecom sector and its deep-rooted legacy systems.
Additionally, Telenor disclosed the appointment of Petter-Boerre Furberg to lead its key Asia unit. Furberg, with previous management roles in Telenor across Myanmar, Bangladesh, and Thailand, succeeds Joergen C. Arentz Rostrup in the role. Meanwhile, Rostrup will transition to heading Telenor Nordics.
In recent times, Telenor concluded a $15 billion merger to establish a telecommunications powerhouse in Malaysia. The company also completed an $8.6 billion deal in Thailand in March of this year.