Episode Summary

In this episode of Carrier 2.0, host Steve Saunders talks with Santiago ‘Yago’ Tenorio, CTO of Verizon, about the defining forces shaping the next generation of carriers. From how telecoms can truly monetize AI for customers to the realities of Open RAN and the coming 6G era, Yago shares a clear-eyed perspective on where innovation meets practicality—and what the industry must do to stay relevant.

Key Talking Points

The Carrier Question – Why monetising AI for customers, not internal use, will define the next era of telecom.

Open RAN Has Already Happened – Dispelling myths around Open RAN and how Verizon is already deploying it at scale.

The MEF Has Rebranded (Again) – Steve and Yago unpack the MEF’s new identity as Mplify—and what it says about the state of telecom branding.

The Role of AI – Why AI is both overhyped and underestimated, and how future systems could anticipate user intent.

Signal or Noise – Yago rates the hype

The Smartphone Moment – How AI and new interfaces like smart glasses could replace the phone entirely.

Industrial Digitalization Opportunity – Why private 5G networks, slicing, and on-site compute give carriers fresh revenue streams.

Hyperscalers and the Industry 4.0 Revolution – How carriers and hyperscalers can work together to deliver the low-latency, AI-ready infrastructure the future demands.

The Carrier Question – What defines Carrier 2.0? For Yago, it’s the carrier’s ability to translate connectivity into intelligence and intelligence into customer value.

Links

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Credits

This show is brought to you by FNTV, supported by Cisco.

In this first episode of Carrier 2.0, host Steve Saunders sits down with Ryan Asdourian, EVP and Chief Marketing and Strategy Officer at Lumen, to discuss how Lumen is reinventing itself as a technology infrastructure company. From preparing networks for the demands of AI to breaking down silos and building a culture of trust, Ryan shares what will define the next era of telecom.

From telco to tech infrastructure - Why Lumen is investing in fiber, edge computing, and secure data movement to evolve beyond a traditional telco.

AI readiness - How enterprises and public sector organizations can prepare for AI workloads, and why AI-ready speeds and a connected ecosystem matter.

Culture eats strategy - Breaking silos, empowering teams, and building a human-centric, AI-powered workplace. Trust as a foundation for reliable outcomes.

Partnerships with hyperscalers - Working with hyperscalers, ISVs, and technology integrators to create integrated solutions and a frictionless experience.

Signal to Noise - Ryan’s take on AI, 6G, quantum computing, and holographic communications.

The Carrier Question - Why trust is the defining factor of Carrier 2.0 and how internal trust translates to customer reliability.

One Bold Prediction - Cognitive networks that interpret, act, and secure data in real time, enabling autonomous manufacturing, predictive healthcare, and intelligent logistics.

• Join Steve Saunders’ mailing list for bonus insights

This show is brought to you by FNTV, supported by Cisco.

Carrier 2.0 is the podcast where Fierce Network’s Steve Saunders sits down with the people shaping the future of telecom. From AI and 5G to culture, strategy, and bold predictions, each episode cuts through the noise to uncover what will define the next era of connectivity.