The Whiskey and Wireless Podcast

Ron Willett
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Join Ron Willett for spirited discussions about telecom with industry leaders, subject matter experts and more! New episodes posted monthly. 

  1. 3d ago

    Bringing Trust Back to Phone Calls with Mike O'Brien, Chief Product Officer, TNS | EP:21

    In Episode 21 of The Whiskey & Wireless Podcast, Ron Willett sits down with Mike O'Brien, Chief Product Officer for the Communications Market at Transaction Network Services (TNS), for a conversation about trust, fraud, leadership, and nearly four decades of change in telecom. Mike shares how a decision to take a job in Florida at 22 years old turned into a career spanning GTE, Syniverse, iconectiv, and now TNS. He and Ron discuss the relationships that have shaped their careers, developing the next generation of telecom leaders, and what it takes to successfully bring companies and cultures together. The conversation then turns to one of the biggest challenges facing communications today: consumers no longer trust the phone call. Mike explains the difference between spam and scams, how call authentication and branded calling can help consumers make better decisions about which calls to answer, and why the rise of AI-generated fraud makes restoring trust even more important. They also discuss the future of regional carriers, the growing need for hosted technology and managed solutions, how smaller operators can compete as networks become more complex, and how AI can be used as a practical tool rather than simply another industry buzzword. In this episode: • Mike O'Brien's nearly 40-year career in telecom • The evolution from GTE to Syniverse, iconectiv, and TNS • Why relationships and reputation matter in telecom • Developing the next generation of industry leaders • Bringing TNS and iconectiv capabilities together • The difference between spam calls and scams • Call authentication, branded calling, and restoring consumer trust • How AI is changing telecom fraud • The challenges facing regional and rural carriers • Using hosted solutions to help smaller operators compete • How authoritative data and AI can work together to fight fraud • Lessons from a career spent traveling the global telecom industry Plus, Ron and Mike get into cognac, international travel, running the Great Wall of China, an anti-American protest mistaken for a parade in Rome, and why some of the best relationships in telecom are built far outside the conference room. Subscribe to The Whiskey & Wireless Podcast for more conversations with the people shaping the telecom industry. #Telecom #BrandedCalling #FraudPrevention #Robocalls #Wireless #AI #TNS #CarrierTechnology #WhiskeyAndWireless

  2. Sep 22

    The Future of Caribbean Telecom with CANTO Chairman Dr. Delreo Newman | Ep. 20

    In this special episode of The Whiskey & Wireless Podcast, recorded at the 41st CANTO Annual Conference, Ron Willett sits down with Dr. Delreo Newman, Chairman of CANTO, to discuss the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of telecommunications across the Caribbean. Dr. Newman shares how CANTO has evolved alongside the region’s telecom industry, from the transition away from monopoly markets to today’s push for stronger regional collaboration, greater network resilience, and global competitiveness. Ron and Dr. Newman discuss the economic realities facing Caribbean operators, including the cost of maintaining and upgrading networks, the impact of climate and natural disasters, affordability pressures, and the need to develop new revenue streams as traditional voice and messaging revenues decline. They also explore the opportunity around A2P messaging and RCS for Business, the role of vendors in helping carriers build rather than simply sell, and why stronger partnerships between operators, governments, regulators, financial institutions, and technology providers will be critical to the region’s next phase of growth. In this episode: • The evolution of CANTO and Caribbean telecommunications • Moving the Caribbean from connectivity to global competitiveness • The cost of building resilient networks across island nations • Creating new revenue streams for Caribbean operators • A2P messaging and RCS for Business • The need for greater regional collaboration and harmonization • What meaningful vendor and carrier partnerships should look like • The role of governments, regulators, power providers, and banks in telecom resilience • What success looks like coming out of the 41st CANTO Annual Conference Plus, Ron and Dr. Newman get into Caribbean culture, travel, carnival, rum, and why no two islands are quite the same. Subscribe to Whiskey & Wireless for more conversations with the people shaping the future of telecom. #podcast #telecom #canto #caribbean

  3. Jun 9

    Network APIs, Fraud Prevention & The Future of Mobile Identity with Bart Goethals of TMT ID | Ep:19

    In Episode 19 of Whiskey & Wireless, Ron Willett sits down with Bart Goethals, Sales Engineering Lead at TMT ID, to discuss one of the most important developments in telecom today: Network APIs. Bart shares his journey from Belgium's telecom industry to the United States, his work with international carriers, and how mobile operators are becoming a critical part of the fight against fraud, account takeovers, and digital identity abuse. The conversation explores how carriers can monetize network data, why enterprises are increasingly demanding access to Network APIs, and how technologies like SIM Swap detection, Silent Network Authentication, and identity verification are helping businesses create more secure, frictionless customer experiences. Ron and Bart also discuss the growing fraud ecosystem fueled by AI, the role regional carriers can play in the emerging Network API economy, and why mobile identity is becoming one of the most valuable assets in digital commerce. Along the way, they cover everything from international telecom, racing Corvettes and go-karts, life in Belgium and California, and why protecting consumers has never been more important. In this episode: • Bart's journey from Belgium telecom to Silicon Valley • How Network APIs are transforming digital identity • SIM Swap detection and account takeover prevention • Silent Network Authentication and frictionless security • Why carriers are uniquely positioned to fight fraud • The business opportunity for regional carriers • AI-driven fraud and the future of identity verification • Mobile identity, consumer trust, and enterprise security • Bart's passion for motorsports and international travel If you work in telecom, cybersecurity, fintech, identity verification, fraud prevention, or carrier services, this episode offers valuable insights into one of the fastest-growing opportunities in the wireless industry. Subscribe to Whiskey & Wireless for more conversations with the leaders shaping telecom, messaging, security, and connectivity.

  4. May 27

    Live at MCS 2026! CCA, Rural Carriers, Telecom Growth & the Future of Wireless | EP:18

    In Episode 18 of Whiskey & Wireless, Ron Willett records live from CCA and sits down with three longtime leaders from the regional wireless ecosystem: • Kim Caronchi, Competitive Carriers Association (CCA) • Ron Whaley, IDI Billing Solutions • Slayton Stewart, CEO of Carolina West Wireless The conversations cover the evolution of RCA into today’s CCA, the relationships that have shaped the regional wireless industry for decades, and the growing challenges facing rural and regional carriers across the United States. From policy and advocacy in Washington to shrinking roaming revenue, AI adoption, private networks, and the fight to preserve local wireless providers, this episode offers an honest look at the realities of telecom today. The discussion also explores: -How CCA became a major advocacy force in Washington -Why relationships still drive the telecom industry -The financial pressures facing regional carriers -The decline of roaming and universal service funding -AI, automation, and operational efficiency in telecom -New revenue opportunities through APIs and private networks -Why local customer service still matters in rural America -The importance of supporting regional carriers and communities This episode is part industry history, part business strategy, and part behind-the-scenes look at the people helping keep regional wireless alive. If you work in telecom, wireless infrastructure, carrier operations, billing, policy, or rural broadband, this is a conversation worth hearing. Subscribe to Whiskey & Wireless for more conversations with the people shaping the telecom industry. #podcast #wireless #telecom

  5. May 25

    How Carriers Keep Up with Exploding Data Demand with Bill Basquin, VP of Sales at AppLogic | Ep:17

    In Episode 17 of Whiskey & Wireless, Ron Willett sits down with Bill Basquin, VP of Sales, Americas at AppLogic, for a deep dive into how carriers manage the growing complexity of modern data networks. Bill shares his journey from startup setbacks to leading sales across the Americas, along with a behind-the-scenes look at how network traffic has evolved from early file-sharing days to today’s AI-driven, high-bandwidth environment. The conversation explores how carriers handle congestion, why adding more bandwidth doesn’t solve the problem, and how solutions like Total Traffic Manager (TTM) help optimize network performance while improving the end-user experience. From Netflix surges to AI traffic bursts, Bill breaks down what’s really happening inside the network. They also discuss emerging opportunities in enterprise services, satellite infrastructure, and how carriers can unlock new revenue streams through smarter data utilization without crossing the line on privacy. This episode offers a practical look at the technology powering modern networks and the strategies carriers need to stay competitive. If you work in telecom, network engineering, carrier operations, or infrastructure strategy, this episode provides valuable insight into how networks are managed at scale. Subscribe to Whiskey & Wireless for more conversations with leaders shaping the telecom industry. #podcast #telecom #wireless #networkoptimization

  6. May 23

    Alan Lewis of Hydeco on Saving Carriers Money on SMS, Carrier Tech and ClearSky Partnership | EP:16

    Description: In Episode 16 of Whiskey & Wireless, Ron Willett sits down with Alan Lewis, CEO and Co-Founder of Hydeco, to talk about the newly announced partnership between ClearSky and Hydeco and why affordable, dependable SMS infrastructure still matters for regional and rural carriers. Alan shares the origin story behind Hydeco, from the paging software days to building one of the industry’s most trusted carrier-focused SMS platforms. He and Ron discuss why SMS is far from dead, how smaller carriers can reduce costs without sacrificing service, and why customer support, product reliability, and long-term relationships still win in telecom. The conversation also covers Hydeco’s carrier-first philosophy, the value of in-house development and support, and what it takes to stay relevant in a business where technology moves slowly until suddenly it doesn’t. This episode is part partnership story, part telecom history, and part lesson in building sticky, durable products for a changing wireless market. In this episode: -The ClearSky and Hydeco partnership -Why SMS still matters for carriers -Helping regional operators lower costs and improve service -How Hydeco built its first SMSC in 1998 -Why in-house code and support make a difference -The importance of customer-driven product development -How long-term carrier relationships are built and maintained If you work in telecom, carrier operations, messaging infrastructure, or rural wireless, this episode offers a practical look at how the right technology partners can create real value. Subscribe to Whiskey & Wireless for more conversations with the people shaping the telecom industry. #podcast #whiskeyandwireless #telecom

  7. May 21

    Tim Donovan, CEO of CCA, on Rural Wireless Advocacy, Capitol Hill, and AI Infrastructure | EP:15

    In Episode 15 of Whiskey & Wireless, Ron Willett sits down with Tim Donovan, President and CEO of the Competitive Carriers Association (CCA), for a conversation about the forces shaping the future of rural wireless. Tim shares how CCA represents regional and rural carriers on Capitol Hill, advocating for policies that ensure smaller operators can compete, invest, and continue delivering connectivity across the United States. The discussion explores the policy battles behind spectrum, universal service, and why accurate coverage maps and strong industry advocacy remain critical for rural networks. The conversation also looks ahead at how AI infrastructure, satellite partnerships, and new technology demands could reshape the economics of connectivity. As data demand grows and infrastructure requirements expand, rural carriers may find themselves at the center of the next phase of wireless investment. This episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at telecom policy, rural connectivity, and the evolving role of regional carriers in the wireless ecosystem. In this episode: Tim Donovan’s path to leading the Competitive Carriers Association How CCA advocates for rural and regional carriers in Washington The policy challenges facing rural wireless operators Why accurate coverage maps matter for funding and deployment AI infrastructure and the growing demand for network capacity Satellite partnerships and their potential impact on rural connectivity What the future may hold for regional wireless carriers If you work in telecom, rural broadband, wireless policy, or carrier strategy, this episode provides valuable insight into the conversations shaping the industry. Learn more about CCA: https://competitivecarriers.org Subscribe to Whiskey & Wireless for more conversations with leaders shaping the telecom industry. #podcast #whiskeypodcast

  8. May 19

    RCS Is Finally Here: Sinch’s Miriam Liszewski on What Changes Now | EP:14

    In Episode 14 of Whiskey and Wireless, Ron Willett sits down with Miriam Liszewski, RCS Commercial Product Manager at Sinch, to talk about what’s changed in the last 18 months and why RCS is finally moving from “someday” to real adoption. Miriam shares her path from Google (starting in RCS back in 2018) to Sinch, how RCS for Business is reshaping brand-to-consumer engagement, and why Apple support was the tipping point that made enterprise conversations start happening for real. They also get into how RCS compares to SMS/MMS and WhatsApp globally, why “entitlement servers” suddenly matter, and what the next wave of messaging looks like as reach increases and fallback becomes the exception instead of the rule. #WhiskeyAndWireless #RCS #RCForBusiness #Sinch #Messaging #A2P #Telecom #MobileMessaging #CustomerEngagement #CPaaS

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About

Join Ron Willett for spirited discussions about telecom with industry leaders, subject matter experts and more! New episodes posted monthly. 

Information

  • Creator
    Ron Willett
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    21
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Whiskey and Wireless Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Whiskey and Wireless Podcast