scale. This ecosystem-first model accelerates innovation, opens new verticals, and enhances customer value, especially when services are delivered via integrated marketplaces or industry clouds. By offering a robust ecosystem, telecoms create a platform where innovation flourishes, revenue is shared, and enterprises gain more value per dollar spent.

Further, these partnerships can expand geographic reach, deepen vertical expertise, and accelerate time-to-market. Through white-label solutions, co-branded services, and joint go-to-market strategies, telecoms can attract and retain enterprise customers seeking complete, integrated digital solutions.

The Opportunity Ahead

Spending on public cloud services continues to surge, and telecom operators are poised to benefit from this momentum. According to Juniper Research, global telecom expenditure on cloud services is projected to reach $64.9 billion by 2028. This rapid growth is more than a reflection of enterprise cloud adoption; it represents a pivotal opportunity for telecoms to redefine their value in the digital economy.

However, capitalizing on this opportunity requires more than technical capability. To succeed as full-service technology providers, telecoms must undergo a strategic and cultural transformation. This means embracing agility, fostering a culture of innovation, and putting the customer at the center of every decision.

Key areas of investment will be critical. Telecoms must modernize their infrastructure with cloud-native technologies and development practices that support rapid deployment and scalability. Equally important is building cross-functional product teams that understand the needs and nuances of different vertical markets, from healthcare and finance to logistics and manufacturing.

Adopting platform-based delivery models and marketplace strategies will enable telecoms to scale services quickly. At the same time, integrated data, automation, and artificial intelligence capabilities will unlock operational efficiencies and new revenue streams. Alongside these, modern billing systems, flexible monetization frameworks, and robust revenue assurance mechanisms will be essential to support evolving consumption models such as pay-as-you-grow and subscription-based services.

Customer experience must also be a top priority. This means delivering intuitive digital touchpoints, responsive self-service portals, and seamless integration into enterprise workflows. The telecom providers that will thrive are those who can transform their traditional network strengths into differentiated digital outcomes, be it more innovative connectivity, vertical-specific solutions, or embedded cloud services.