In this episode of Carrier 2.0, host Steve Saunders explores what it really takes to build an AI driven network. In a rapid expert montage, Cisco’s Guru Shenoy, Rana El Desouky Kazamel and Masum Mir explain how AI agents will reshape traffic patterns, why the edge becomes critical, and the architectural pillars carriers need to put in place. Verizon’s Yago Tenorio offers a clear-eyed reality check on Open RAN. The episode then shifts to a “Truth to Power” segment from China, asking what AI and automation mean for human workers, and whether a hybrid human plus machine model represents the most ethical and resilient future for Industry 4.0.

Guru opens the montage by explaining how the rise of intelligent AI agents fundamentally changes network behaviour. Instead of short bursts of traffic, carriers will see long-running, task-driven sessions that create more sustained and complex flows. These agents also interact with multiple inference clouds, placing new demands on latency, routing and scalability across the network.

Rana discusses why AI requires a shift in network design. AI workloads sharply increase upstream traffic as data moves toward models, which pushes more processing and capability toward the edge. She highlights the need for platforms where networking, security and automation operate together to support next-generation AI services.

Masum outlines Cisco’s foundational pillars for preparing networks for AI. High-performance, energy-efficient silicon must stretch from the core to the deep edge, while AI driven operations will move carriers closer to autonomous networking. He emphasises integrating security into the network fabric and notes the advantage carriers hold with their distributed data centre and power infrastructure.

Yago offers a grounded view of Open RAN’s progress. He explains what the technology has genuinely achieved, where challenges remain and how Open RAN is likely to fit into an AI heavy future rather than replace existing architectures all at once.

The episode shifts to a segment from China exploring what digital industrialisation means for workers. It highlights that the impact of AI depends as much on leadership philosophy and national regulation as it does on technology. Telecom emerges as an industry actively committed to keeping humans meaningfully involved.

The episode concludes with a more hopeful view, suggesting that the future may lie in hybrid human–machine systems where AI enhances human capabilities rather than replacing them, creating a more ethical and resilient direction for Industry 4.0.

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In this episode of Carrier 2.0, host Steve Saunders talks with Masum Mir, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Cisco’s Provider Mobility Business, about the next wave of transformation for carriers. Masum explains how AI’s “data gravity” is reshaping the network, why IT and OT convergence is accelerating, and how service providers can claim a central role in the new AI-driven economy. From breaking internal silos to bridging enterprise and carrier ecosystems, this conversation explores what it really takes to move beyond connectivity and into intelligence.

The Existential Question (01:36) – With most of humanity already connected, the next challenge for telecoms is linking the physical and digital worlds—and deciding what kind of companies they want to become.

Beyond the Five Nines (02:59) – Why reliability alone isn’t enough anymore, and how service providers can capture value in the digital economy without losing their traditional strengths.

Think Outside-In (03:08) – Masum’s advice to carriers: start small, build from your existing assets, and avoid greenfield silos.

Signal or Noise (03:35) – Quantum computing? Noise. 6G? Signal. Human-level AI? Too early. Masum calls it like he sees it.

IT/OT Convergence (05:15) – How industrial networks are merging IT, OT, and security by design and what it means for telecoms looking to play in vertical markets.

Breaking Silos at Cisco (06:38) – How Cisco is reorganizing internally to bridge enterprises and service providers, uniting cloud, connectivity, and AI operations.

AI’s Data Gravity (11:01) – As AI creates and consumes massive datasets, carriers have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to host, connect, and optimize the infrastructure that underpins the AI economy.

From Chat to Agentics (12:35) – Masum predicts a world where intelligent agents talk to each other, placing new demands on networks and making the edge more valuable than ever.

One Bold Prediction (13:59) – The telecom winners of tomorrow will earn most of their revenue from B2B, not consumers.

The Carrier Question

What defines Carrier 2.0? For Masum, it’s the carrier’s ability to move up the value chain—bridging connectivity, compute, and intelligence to power the AI-driven world.

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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.

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Credits

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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.

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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.