Good, Bad and Ugly Telco and Digital ID Innovation people, their stories and their music in 20 minutes - Top 1% Engagement o gbuinnovation

We were delighted to talk to our good friend Michael Becker about Personal ID and Personal Data online.
Michael is an expert and visionary in this important and constantly developing area that is becoming more and more critical to the Digital World.
Michael updates us on the Mobile Ecosystem Forum Conference in London on the 21 / 22 May 2024. The conference is free and both in person and online – register below.
If you need to know more about Online ID, Online Age verification and managing personal Data, then this is the event that will guide you and answer your questions.
Contacts:
Michael Becker
https://www.linkedin.com/in/privacyshaman/
 
Register for the Mobile Ecosystem Forum ID and Data Conference in London 21 May.  The Conference is free and also hybrid, so its both “In person and online”:
https://mobileecosystemforum.com/event/mef-connects-personal-data-identity/
 
Producer - Pat Flynn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/paddyflynn/
 
 
 
 
 

We were delighted to talk to Matthew Hewston, who is Co-Founder of PassionFruit.  Matthew has a background in Marketing and spent five years at Google developing his skills and networks.
We’ve often lamented the lack of marketing innovation in the Telecoms and the PassionFruit team have come up with a great proposition to totally change the marketing of Telecoms services.
The availability of eSIMs and the tried and tested MVNO business model can be allied with the Marketing Power of the community of new Creators out there.  We talk in some detail about how this works and it’s a great idea in my opinion.
Let’s listen and learn and think about how this can refresh Telecoms marketing.  Enjoy!
Contacts:
Matthew Hewston
https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewhewston/
 
https://www.netinfluencer.com/passionfruit-verizon-att-mobile-networks/
 
Producer - Pat Flynn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/paddyflynn/
 
 
 
 
 

We were delighted to talk to James Williams, well known Telecoms Industry Enabler and Communicator.  James is now VP Business Development for XConnect (a Somos company).
We talk about James’s career and how he moved into Telecoms.  We discuss the power of Mobile Operator Brands and how the potential market share for Messaging Services in the SME sector is still not being tapped into fully.
James points out the importance of the Phone Number, which can be argued to be more important than a National ID card, for example.
Finally we finish on James’s surprising hobbies and how he relaxes when at home.
It was great to get James’s insightful comments delivered in a very clear manner.  Finally, as always, we play out on James’s choice of a floor filler song.  Enjoy.
Contacts:
James Williams:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrconnectivity/
 
Producer - Pat Flynn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/paddyflynn/
 
 
 
 
 

We have a very interesting guest on the Podcast this week.  Deryck Fay has written a fascinating book about the history of Telecoms in Ireland called “Connecting a Nation” and it’s a very surprising history.  Its starts in the 1850s, yes, when the first sub-sea cables were being laid and Ireland was the natural hub for the first Transatlantic cables.  Later its proximity to Nova Scotia made it the natural hub for the first Marconi radio services.
We then talk about the state of Telecoms during the rise of the new, and in fairness not well off, Irish state.
Finally, we get on to the last decades when there was huge investment in Telecoms and there was the tremendous growth of Mobile and the Internet and Ireland became a leader in many ways.
Deryck is a great raconteur and he tells the story with clarity and insight that I found fascinating.
I couldn’t quite find the music that Deryck wanted but you’ll see I got a close second with a famous clip of Albert Reynolds talking about a plane hijacking.  The other voice briefly in the background is the late great Charlie Bird, journalist.
Enjoy

We were delighted to talk to Luke Kehoe, Telecoms Analyst and World Traveler.  Luke has moved to Beijing to study, and he gives us his impression of the city, the food, and the consumer digital ecosystem. 
Luke updates us on a range of important Telecoms Industry topics. He comments on the state of the Global RAN market, contrasting growth across the various regions.
Luke gives us his views on where the European Mobile Telecoms Market is going in relation to business pressures, competition, and the regulatory regime.
His has interesting thoughts on how previously MNOs differentiated by infrastructure and that they are moving to differentiation by services with the failure of the 5G business model to deliver returns.
There has been a hollowing out of the Mobile Operators businesses as they have struggled to maintain profitability and we discuss where this will lead.
There are also some very interesting and surprising new market entrants with strong brand recognition coming from different business sectors. 
It was great to get Luke’s insightful comments delivered in a very clear manner.  Finally, as always, we play out on Luke’s choice of a classic and inspirational song.  Enjoy.
Contacts:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/luke-kehoe/
http://www.lukekehoe.com/
 
Producer - Pat Flynn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/paddyflynn/
 
 
 
 
 

We were delighted to talk to Niall Norton, ex-CEO of Openet (an Amdocs company)  about the success that Openet is now.
Niall talks about his early career and how he gained experience across a number of industries before deciding to move into the Telecoms Software Infrastructure space.
Over the years Niall and the Openet team built the company into an incredible success and secured some of the largest Mobile Operators in the world as customers.
Niall touches on a number of key points that made the company successful including the quality of engineering, seamless deployment and an excellent product management function.
Niall also talks about his plans for the next step in his career in terms of Mentoring, Advising, Teaching with his Consulting Vehicle, Clever Communications.  He prefers to be ‘deep’ with a small number of people rather than ‘shallow’ with a wide number of people and is looking forward to his new projects.
Finally, as always, we play out on Niall’s choice of a classic and inspirational song.  Enjoy.
Contacts:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/niallnorton/
https://www.openet.com/data/