scte PRESENTS
FUTURE OF TECH Panel 2: Technical Transition
networks is already here. Speakers pointed to the rapid transition from legacy copper to full fibre, alongside the increasing role of AI in planning, optimisation and customer experience.
legacy devices and customer awareness remain significant hurdles, amid the fast- paced deployment. Alongside infrastructure, the panel placed strong emphasis on data quality as a critical enabler of future networks. Poor records and inconsistent documentation
Convergence of fibre, AI and infrastructure reshaping networks The telecoms industry is entering a period of accelerated transformation, driven by the convergence of full fibre, artificial intelligence and evolving infrastructure demands.
At Openreach, that transformation is being delivered at scale. Juliette Scott highlighted the urgency of moving
were identified as a major source of inefficiency, particularly in fibre deployment and maintenance.
Ben Allwright’s session Technical Transition heard voices from across the ecosystem highlighting both the scale of change and the
away from ageing infrastructure, noting that the UK’s legacy network is no longer sustainable. “WLR is no longer fit for purpose and we need to help people move,” she said, referencing the ongoing programme to switch off wholesale line rental services by 2027. She added that the wider goal is not just a technology upgrade, but enabling the next generation of services. “The majority of tech we see relies on stable, fast, easy internet connection and that’s exactly what we’re building for the UK.” The discussion also looked at the complexity of migrating millions of customers while ensuring no one is left behind. Issues such as vulnerable users,
David Cottingham, CTO of Cambridge- based fibre planning firm IQGeo, warned that layering AI onto flawed data could exacerbate existing problems rather than solve
upcoming challenges.
Allwright, who until last September was CEO of Welsh fibre provider Ogi, said the industry is no longer discussing distant scenarios, but dealing with real- time disruption. “We’re living through a moment where several major shifts are converging at once,” he said, pointing to the combined impact of fibre rollout, AI adoption and the rapid growth of cloud and data centre infrastructure.
them. “If you have bad data to AI… you don’t end up with wonderful insights that make you money,” the panel heard. “You end up with something… more catastrophic and costly.” At the same time, there was optimism about how AI can be applied in targeted, practical ways. Rather than relying solely on large-scale models, speakers highlighted the value of using
A recurring theme throughout the discussion was that the “future” of
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MAY 2026 Volume 48 No.2
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