Next Generation Service Platforms Review

Shortly after TADHack Global the Next Generation Service Platforms (NGSP) event took place on the 17/18 June in Munich.  Below are 2 sets of slides, the first reviews some of the key presentations given at the NGSP event, and the second is my presentation that provides some background on TADHack and a brief review of the global event that ran on the 13th and 14th June.

My take-away from the event is the Telcos winning the migration to service providers have understood and internalized API management operations, and are now focused on mashing up local capabilities in an open ecosystem as no problem is solved through just one providers APIs. Their defensible value is through being locally relevant to consumers and businesses alike. My only reservation is most customers do not what to use APIs, rather they’d prefer a simply web-template as presented by Dialog at TADSummit in November 2014. We need to avoid an obsession on APIs, its a small piece of technology. Success comes from a broader focus across many technologies, processes and people.

Some of the highlights include:

  • Dean Bubley gave a WebRTC update, predicting there will be 6B WebRTC-capable devices by 2019. He also highlighted the growing adoption of WebRTC by Telcos, beyond simple experimentation.
  • Dragana Linfield, Etisalat presented: Etisalat Digital Case Study, Leveraging WebRTC to extend digital communication services. She backed-up Dean’s presentation, not only showing how they are taking their future in their own hands with an IP-communication client called C’Me. Dragana also explained the role WebRTC has in both extending communication services, e.g. C’Me, and providing a platform to expose those capabilities.
  • Vincenzo Amorino, Telecom Italia, presented on the Future Strategies and the Impact APIs has on Telco Industry. Telecom Italia’s API project is one of the longest continuously operating programs of any Telco. Recent focus has been on processes, and has seen significant internal uptake in APIs, now exceeding 2B API requests per month, most of that growth is from internal use cases. While the focus in 2016 will be on making money through the services made possible.
  • Sebastian Grabowski, Orange Poland, presented on his work with BIHAPI Business Intelligence Hackathon API. Sebastian gets it, to be successful he takes a local focus and mash-up APIs in an open ecosystem. Poland is one to watch for 2016, its going to be their break-out year.
  • Michal Ajduk, Play Poland, presented on the Play API, Enriching 3rd Party Services with Operator Capabilities. They are also taking an open approach – Poland is going to be a hot-bed of innovation.
  • I finish the highlighted presentations with Antonio Cruz, SAPO, on API Management Patterns. Its  well worth spending the time reading Antonio’s presentation as it brings together the many years of work SAPO have spent on building their open source API management platform, hence they can be masters of their own destiny. Their platform has 1.2B API transactions per month, which on a per subscriber basis is bigger than Telecom Italia 😉

For my presentation, shown below, I highlighted how Uber and Airbnb are leaders in on demand services through using telecommunications to link people with back-end web processes. The category of on-demand services is addressable across all business processes both external and internal. This trend will disrupt all businesses. I highlight that the internet has democratized telecoms, so everyone can take advantage of this trend, and use telecom capabilities locally to keep jobs and wealth in-country, rather than making Bay Area VCs even richer. TADHack is focused on helping everyone realize how easy it is to add telecom capabilities to their applications, services and business processes; by bringing TADHack to them.

TADHack is only possible thanks to the support of its sponsors: Apidaze, Bandwidth, Dialogic, Ericsson, Forge by Acision, hSenid Mobile, Intel, Matrix, Oracle, Telestax, Tropo, and Truphone. Also universities and institutions: the Instituto Superior Técnico Lisbon, Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros de Telecomunicación – UPM, Illinois Institute of Technology Real Time Communications Labs, NDRC, and University College London. And the many many partners that help make TADHack possible, its a global team of over 100 people.

Some of the TADHack Global numbers include:

  • 1400 registrations
  • 800 attendees
  • 90+ hacks across 14 locations + remote
  • Prizes
    • $33k in cash prizes
    • Oculus Rift dev kit
    • 2 drones
    • 3 Apple watches
    • 5 * 12 months free TV
    • 5 * 12 months free 4G subscriptions
    • 2 * Tessel bag of goodies (1k value each)
  • 88 winners
  • YouTube: 12500 mins & 3200 views in less than 2 days of the event

Telecom App Development is amazing, it is the future of the telecoms industry. At TADHack we created 90+ hacks in 24 hours over a weekend in a global event. A global ecosystem based approach is the only way to make it work. We have to work together in an open, collaborative environment. Localization is critical as every country is different, but the technology remains the same. However, there remains a massive cultural gap. The Telecoms Industry must change to get a share of this opportunity. An innovation Incubator is the only option, copy Dialog’s IdeaMart as presented at TADSummit.

And just a little plug for TADSummit on the 17/18 November 2015 in Lisbon, website will be updated for 2015 in August. Some of the things planned include:

  • CxO Keynotes and Round Tables: TADS now has CxO attention and we will be bringing them together for keynotes and for an industry-defining panel session.
  • Leading Telco Best Practice Share: We have many VP/Director level attendees that are delivering new business success. They will share their frank practical guidance.
  • Internet-based Service Provider Keynotes: We plan to have some household brand names presenting on the role telecom app development plays in their business.
  • All the technology providers that are effecting change in the industry.
  • Services Showcase: Review of the many TADHack winners and developers with hopefully a few services in the market like last year.
  • We’re shaking up the event format with live streaming, remote networking, intense workgroups, and everything published online. We take an open ecosystem based approach.
    • We’ll have a contextual communications networking app, so all sponsors get to talk to the many telcos that want to come but can not because of dumbass travel policies
    • We’ll be recording and live streaming, we want to event to reach as many people as possible
  • TADSummit’s objective is simple, effect change through focusing on making business success in new services an everyday reality.
  • We’ll also have mobile surveys thanks to mpoll.me
  • And a few other special things planned around the event.

Put TADSummit in your calendar now, 17/18 November 2015 in Lisbon.