Telecom Reseller / Technology Reseller News

“We need to stop building and waiting for revenue to follow. That era is over.” — Michele Campriani, CRO, Optiva

In this insightful episode of Technology Reseller News, Publisher Doug Green sits down with Michele Campriani, Chief Revenue Officer at Optiva, for a wide-ranging conversation recorded from a Tuscan villa—but focused squarely on the future of telecom. Campriani brings three decades of telecom experience and a sharp diagnosis: while infrastructure investments like 5G have improved customer experience, they haven’t translated into new revenue for operators.

Campriani introduces the concept of the “Segment of One”—a strategy enabled by AI and real-time data analytics that allows telcos to hyper-personalize services, pricing, and customer engagement at scale. Optiva, a long-standing billing and charging solutions provider, has re-architected its cloud-native platform to support this vision, helping both established operators and agile MVNOs capitalize on new go-to-market models.

He emphasizes how MVNOs, once seen as disruptors, are now strategic allies in a hyper-competitive market. Optiva supports operators in rapidly onboarding MVNOs while also enabling MVNOs themselves with dynamic pricing and tailored services. This new agility is proving essential in markets where customer acquisition is increasingly driven by niche offerings and brand differentiation.

The conversation also explores how AI can help reduce costs through emerging autonomous network models, and why operators must shift focus from pure technology investment to revenue-focused transformation. With players like Mint Mobile rewriting the playbook, Campriani says it's time for telcos to get aggressive—or risk being left behind.

Learn more: https://www.optiva.com

"Internet connectivity is no longer a nice-to-have—it’s a have-to-have. Without it, your business stops." — Jake Jacoby, TELCLOUD

In the latest episode of the POTS and Shots podcast series from TELCLOUD, Technology Reseller News Publisher Doug Green is joined by Jake Jacoby of TELCLOUD and Christian Hernandez, Customer Success Manager at ATEL, for a conversation that goes beyond POTS replacement—it’s about next-generation connectivity and opportunity for resellers.

As legacy copper lines continue to disappear, the pressure is on for MSPs, MSSPs, and telecom resellers to find reliable, scalable, and forward-looking solutions. According to Hernandez, that’s exactly what ATEL is delivering. A U.S.-based OEM with a global backbone, ATEL has developed rugged 5G routers like the PW550, designed to meet the growing demands of modern connectivity—including the ability to move antennas up to 250 feet away from the telco room to achieve higher signal quality.

Jacoby underscored why TELCLOUD partnered with ATEL: “We’re done with LTE. 5G is the future. And it’s not just about replacing a phone line—it’s about building in redundancy and giving businesses the internet resilience they need to operate.”

This podcast highlights why 2025 is shaping up to be the year of POTS replacement. TELCLOUD and ATEL are helping resellers modernize customer environments while keeping costs down and reliability up. And with TELCLOUD’s full commitment to 5G and flexible outdoor/indoor router deployments, resellers have a real shot at transforming POTS into a growth engine.

To celebrate, the crew closed out the episode with a taste of ATEL’s own 20-year anniversary aged tequila—a smooth extra añejo with hints of bourbon, coffee, and chocolate. As Jacoby joked, “You can’t buy this one on the street… you’ve got to come visit.”

Learn more:

ATEL

TELCLOUD | 844-900-2270

“Synthetic voice isn’t here to replace humans—it’s here to help us talk to each other, in more languages, more clearly, and more naturally.” — Christian Stredicke, Vodia

In a forward-looking episode of Technology Reseller News, Publisher Doug Green sits down with Christian Stredicke, founder of Vodia, to discuss one of the most transformational trends in voice technology: synthetic voice and its role in enhancing—not replacing—human communication.

Vodia, a provider of secure, cloud and on-premise phone systems, is now embracing AI capabilities to extend its value across global industries. As Stredicke explains, synthetic voice—particularly when combined with real-time translation—can bridge the language gap that has long hindered customer service, especially in call centers.

Imagine a caller in the U.S. reaching a support agent who speaks only English. With synthetic voice, that same caller could receive assistance in their native language, such as German, Spanish, or French, via a realistic AI voice—delivering not just words, but tone, accent, and emotion. This model opens the door to broader agent pools and greatly improved customer experiences.

Beyond language, the podcast explores the economic and legal implications of synthetic voice, including questions of reliability and responsibility in AI-generated conversations. In high-stakes sectors like banking or healthcare, accuracy and transparency will be essential. But for everyday interactions, the ability to speak to someone in your own language—even if they're a synthetic assistant—can be transformative.

Vodia’s vision is to integrate synthetic voice through open APIs, enabling businesses to scale multilingual support rapidly and cost-effectively, while preserving privacy and regulatory compliance.

“The more we can make communication feel natural—whether human or synthetic—the better the outcome for everyone,” says Stredicke.

Learn more: https://web.vodia.com

Paul Wright

“We’re covering 28 square miles with the same cost it takes to dig one mile of fiber—and we’re doing it with gigabit speeds.” — Paul Wright, Chief Revenue Officer, CBNG

In a timely conversation on Technology Reseller News, Publisher Doug Green interviews Paul Wright, Chief Revenue Officer of Cambridge Broadband Networks Group (CBNG), to examine a growing concern: fiber broadband rollouts in the U.S. are failing to meet demand, especially in rural and hard-to-reach communities. Wright proposes a viable, scalable alternative—Fixed Wireless Access (FWA)—driven by 5G and CBNG’s next-generation point-to-multipoint microwave radios.

CBNG, with a legacy of delivering carrier-grade radio equipment since 2000 and over 350,000 radios shipped globally, is launching a new 5G NR platform that delivers up to 5 Gbps. Wright illustrates how the economics of FWA are revolutionizing broadband planning: for the same cost of trenching one mile of fiber (about $40,000), CBNG’s solution can cover 28 square miles with high-speed wireless internet.

Wright explains how FWA uses licensed spectrum and advanced 5G technologies—like beamforming and standalone operation—making it ideal for quick deployments. With BEAD funding recently liberalized to allow alternatives to fiber, CBNG’s timing is critical. “Now it’s about cost and speed of delivery,” Wright notes, “and FWA is winning on both counts.”

The setup is simple: a small antenna on a home or business connects to a hub station, and installation takes under an hour. Wright envisions municipalities, entrepreneurs, and WISPs driving connectivity forward without waiting on major carriers.

While fiber has its place—especially in greenfield builds—Wright emphasizes that FWA is no longer just a stopgap. “It’s a practical long-term solution,” he says, “especially when fiber may never come.”

CBNG’s 5G NR solution operates in the 39 GHz band, with upcoming support for 24–30 GHz. It's designed for ease of use and fast ROI, especially for those holding licensed spectrum.

Learn more: https://www.cbng.co.uk

“You can't cut your way to growth. But you can grow revenue—with very little effort—by letting voice go to work for you.” — Ray Pasquale, CEO, Unified Office

In this in-depth conversation with Doug Green, Publisher of Technology Reseller News, Unified Office CEO Ray Pasquale returns to share a powerful message: voice communications is not a relic—it's the future of business. And Unified Office is making sure that future includes the tools and intelligence small and midsize businesses (SMBs) need to thrive.

At the heart of the discussion is EngageIQ, Unified Office’s AI-driven analytics and coaching solution originally designed for the fast-paced world of Domino’s franchises and now deployed across car dealerships, dental practices, and hospitality. With EngageIQ, businesses can surface real-time insights from voice conversations, train large and distributed teams, and even assess customer sentiment—at scale.

Unified Office is now pushing this innovation further with a no-code, drag-and-drop AI services platform, allowing customers to build intelligent call flows, IVRs, and analytics processes without software engineers. “If you can use an iPad, you can deploy enterprise-grade AI with us,” says Pasquale.

Importantly, Ray highlights a turning tide: customers and companies alike are rediscovering the power of connected, real-time voice in moments that matter—from resolving a canceled flight to servicing an HVAC emergency. Unified Office’s patented voice platform offers PSTN-quality reliability delivered over an over-the-top (OTT) transmission network, designed to restore the quality and value that voice lost during decades of commoditization.

Pasquale sees the voice layer as a business’s most underutilized asset—and AI as the key to unlocking its potential. By enabling rich, human-centric communications and proactive analytics, Unified Office is helping SMBs reclaim their brand, community connection, and customer loyalty in a digital-first world.

Learn more at: https://unifiedoffice.com

"We don’t want to wait for customers to tell us there’s a problem—we want to fix it while they’re sleeping." — Barbara Dondiego, CEO, AVOXI

In a major step forward for global enterprise communications, AVOXI CEO Barbara Dondiego joined Doug Green of Technology Reseller News to announce the launch of three powerful AI-powered services embedded into the company’s cloud voice platform: Proactive Services, AVOXI Digest, and Intelligent Caller ID. The news marks a significant evolution in how enterprise contact centers can use artificial intelligence not only to automate but to anticipate, personalize, and optimize their global voice infrastructure.

Solving Voice Challenges with Precision AI

At the heart of the announcement is Proactive Services, an AI-powered capability that uses machine learning models trained at the individual phone number level to detect anomalies and resolve voice issues—before customers even know there’s a problem. “Our industry has long been reactive,” said Dondiego. “But when we reviewed a year’s worth of customer service tickets, we found that in 30% of cases we could have solved the issue before the customer called us. Now, we’re doing just that.”

The service, a Best of Show finalist at Enterprise Connect, is now live and already in use with pilot customers. AVOXI reports that the platform can detect and resolve 100% of issues in advance for current users.

Personalization at Scale with AVOXI Digest

The second innovation, AVOXI Digest, brings intelligent personalization to customer communications. Using behavioral insights and account activity, the platform curates weekly content that is specifically relevant to each customer’s unique environment. “It’s a smarter way to engage customers without overwhelming them,” explained Dondiego. “We let the machine do the heavy lifting.”

Boosting Call Performance with Intelligent Caller ID

For global contact centers, caller ID is more than just a number—it can be the difference between a call answered or ignored. Intelligent Caller ID uses real-time data and AI to recommend the best originating number based on call destination, historical answer rates, and available inventory. “If you’re calling the UK and you don’t have a UK number, the system may suggest a French or German number if those get better results,” said Dondiego.

Engineering Global Voice for the Cloud Era

AVOXI’s announcement is grounded in its mission: orchestrating global voice through a software-first, API-rich platform that spans 150+ countries. The company specializes in helping enterprises consolidate legacy voice infrastructure and migrate global calling into the cloud—complete with diagnostics, automation, and now, AI.

“Our customers are moving servers, PBXs, and even workforces into the cloud. But those legacy numbers still exist everywhere,” noted Dondiego. “We help them bring it all together—and now we’re layering in intelligence to make it smarter and more resilient.”

Built for Enterprise, Ready Today

The new services are designed for enterprise contact center technologists, though service providers can also integrate AVOXI’s capabilities to enhance offerings to their own enterprise customers. All three solutions—Proactive Services, AVOXI Digest, and Intelligent Caller ID—are available now, with Proactive Services currently offered as a pilot-to-paid experience to ensure tailored model training.

To learn more, schedule a demo, or connect with the AVOXI team, visit www.avoxi.com.

"We're here to help providers simplify, comply, and stay ahead — all in one interface." — Schuyler Voss, Sansay

Technology Reseller News publisher Doug Green sat down with Schuyler Voss and Dumitru Borsan of Sansay to discuss the rapidly approaching June 20 Stir/Shaken compliance deadline, and how Sansay’s Stir/Shaken Express is helping service providers adapt quickly and confidently.

With new FCC requirements taking effect, providers relying on downstream carriers for call signing or lacking their own Do-Not-Originate (DNO) lists may soon find themselves non-compliant — and at risk for enforcement actions. Sansay’s Stir/Shaken Express was designed to solve this challenge with simplicity, speed, and scalability.

What is Stir/Shaken Express?

A hosted solution that enables:

Certificate-based call signing for providers lacking infrastructure support

DNO list management

Compliance in a single, easy-to-use interface

Rapid deployment for time-sensitive needs

“Some providers just don’t have SIP infrastructure that supports standard signing. Stir/Shaken Express includes a signaling proxy that takes over call signing — with minimal customer-side configuration,” explained Borsan.

Why It Matters:

FCC’s 8th Report and Order mandates tighter compliance, effective June 20, 2025

Hosted compliance from Sansay ensures real-time regulatory tracking and updates

Future-facing features like branded calling (BCID) are built in, supporting long-term mitigation strategies

Sansay, a Cloud Communications Alliance (CCA) member and CTIA-authorized BCID partner, also stressed the opportunity for MSPs and voice resellers to differentiate by being first to market with a fully compliant, branded calling-ready solution.

“June 20 isn’t the end — it’s just another chapter,” said Voss. “Compliance will keep evolving, and we’re committed to helping our partners stay ahead.”

To learn more or request a demo, visit sansay.com.

Cisco’s AI Channel Playbook: Cassie Roach on Partner Enablement and Infrastructure Innovation, Podcast, With major announcements around AI infrastructure, including AI Pods, Nexus HyperFabric, and GPU-intensive servers, Cisco is positioning itself not just as a networking leader — but as the channel’s go-to platform for AI-ready data centers

"AI is a once-in-a-generation opportunity — and Cisco is making it real for partners." — Cassie Roach, Global VP, Cloud and AI Infrastructure Partner Sales, Cisco

At Cisco Live 2025 in San Diego, Technology Reseller News publisher Doug Green spoke with Cassie Roach, Cisco’s Global Vice President of Cloud and AI Infrastructure Partner Sales, about the company’s bold steps to transform AI hype into tangible partner opportunity.

With major announcements around AI infrastructure, including AI Pods, Nexus HyperFabric, and GPU-intensive servers, Cisco is positioning itself not just as a networking leader — but as the channel’s go-to platform for AI-ready data centers.

Key Cisco AI Updates for Partners:

AI-Ready Infrastructure Specialization: A new certification that helps partners align with customer POCs, scale faster, and prove ROI.

Black Belt Training & Partner Tools: Designed to educate, equip, and incentivize partner sellers with co-selling platforms, growth planning, and layered rewards.

Marketing Velocity Central: Cisco-branded campaign kits and industry-specific go-to-market resources for partners.

AI Pods: Modular infrastructure for training, fine-tuning, and inferencing workloads — with “small, medium, and large” sizing for pilot-to-production journeys.

“We’re creating an easy button for partners — even in a complex AI environment,” Roach explained.

Cisco’s approach focuses on frictionless engagement — empowering partners with everything from vertical use-case blueprints to hands-on support for opportunity identification through PXP Growth Finder.

Roach emphasized that success depends on enabling partners at every level — not just executives or system integrators — but also frontline sellers, who now have access to tools that simplify the AI value proposition and drive sales.

She also highlighted how AI is being securely embedded across Cisco’s portfolio — from infrastructure to Webex Collaboration and end-to-end security, allowing customers to move from pilots to production with confidence.

“This isn’t just about AI,” Roach said. “It’s about unlocking the entire Cisco portfolio — in a way that creates real stickiness, real customer outcomes, and real partner growth.”

To explore Cisco’s partner programs and AI infrastructure resources, visit cisco.com, or log into the partner portal via Sales Connect.

"We’re not just enabling secure outcomes — we’re simplifying how partners deliver them." — Brian Feeney, VP of Global Partner Security Sales, Cisco

At Cisco Live 2025 in San Diego, Technology Reseller News publisher Doug Green sat down with Brian Feeney, Vice President of Global Partner Security Sales at Cisco, to explore how the company is aligning security innovation with real-world partner needs in an era dominated by AI and complexity.

Feeney, whose two-year-old role was created to consolidate and scale Cisco's global partner strategy for security, leads a team of over 260 professionals dedicated to helping Cisco’s VARs, MSPs, MSSPs, cloud providers, and global partners navigate a rapidly evolving cybersecurity landscape.

Cisco's Three-Pillar Security Strategy:

Hybrid Mesh Firewall

Universal ZTNA (Zero Trust Network Access)

The SOC of the Future (with Splunk Integration)

All three areas are now AI-infused by design, not bolted on — a shift exemplified by Cisco’s autonomous firewall assistant, which reduces human effort while improving policy execution.

Key Cisco Live Announcements:

Free Splunk ingestion for Cisco firewall customers, addressing cost concerns and earning applause during the keynote.

Streamlined portfolio: Cisco has consolidated 30+ point products into 3 strategic solution sets — user, breach, and cloud — dramatically simplifying the sales and adoption process for partners.

Enhanced partner support tools like a “concierge deal registration desk” — offering one-click access to technical, sales, and promotional resources.

“This isn’t about selling more SKUs,” Feeney said. “It’s about helping partners win with less complexity, more margin, and stronger customer outcomes.”

Feeney emphasized Cisco’s commitment to AI enablement, noting that while only 4% of enterprises are “AI-ready,” partner demand for both securing AI infrastructure and leveraging AI for defense is surging. Cisco is delivering:

Expert-led deep dives for top AI-focused partners

Scalable enablement through Talos threat intel, learning platforms, and continuous updates

AI integrated throughout the security stack — from SOC automation to endpoint visibility

The interview concluded with Feeney highlighting Cisco’s investment in making security more accessible, operationally efficient, and partner-friendly, even for small or emerging partners.

“We want to be the voice and the resource our security partners trust — not just with technology, but with outcomes.”

To learn more, visit cisco.com/security.

"AI isn't just about opportunity — it's about addressing real-world challenges. And that gives Africa an edge." — Arthur Goldstuck, Founder, World Wide Worx

At Cisco Live 2025 in San Diego, Technology Reseller News publisher Doug Green sat down with Arthur Goldstuck, the South African journalist, researcher, speaker, and founder of World Wide Worx, for a wide-ranging conversation on AI, technology inequality, and why Africa’s challenges may actually be its superpower in the age of AI.

Goldstuck, a 40-year veteran of tech journalism and author of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to AI, brings a unique perspective — blending consumer insight, enterprise analysis, and a deep focus on developing economies. His firm, World Wide Worx, was the first African market research company to examine both enterprise and consumer technology adoption, creating a distinctive lens for understanding digital transformation.

At the heart of the discussion was Sentinel, Goldstuck's upcoming African edition of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to AI. The book reframes AI not as a threat, but as a tool for inclusion, capable of reaching underserved populations with education, healthcare, and financial access — delivered through everyday mobile devices.

“If you bring AI to the edge — to the phone — and make it invisible to the user, that’s when you unlock opportunity,” Goldstuck explained.

He pointed to contrasts within South Africa — a nation with world-class banks and digital infrastructure, yet also vast gaps in education and opportunity. AI, if localized and embedded with intent, can help bridge these divides.

Yet Goldstuck also warned of job disruption, especially in industries like contact centers, which play a major role in both South Africa and India. Drawing parallels to the decline of the horse whip industry in the early 20th century, he emphasized that while AI will displace jobs, new roles and sectors will emerge — provided we invest in people now.

The conversation came full circle with a reflection on agentic AI — the next evolution of intelligent assistants — as seen in Cisco’s unveiling of agentic ops. Goldstuck called it “a bridge to new possibilities,” aligning with Cisco’s own branding as a technology connector.

“It’s not about replacing people,” he said. “It’s about enabling them to participate more fully in the global economy.”

For more insights and research, visit worldwideworx.com.