WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.720 --> 00:00:01.960 Vaishali, Franck, welcome. 2 00:00:02.520 --> 00:00:03.040 Franck, to you first. 3 00:00:03.040 --> 00:00:05.520 What do you make of this year's Mobile World Congress? 4 00:00:06.160 --> 00:00:09.160 First of all, I really enjoy being here. 5 00:00:09.880 --> 00:00:12.720 I think we can see the energy around the industry. 6 00:00:13.240 --> 00:00:17.520 And what I really appreciate this year is how we see all 7 00:00:17.520 --> 00:00:20.840 technologies fueling telcos for innovation. 8 00:00:21.080 --> 00:00:23.400 So we can see a palpable energy this year. 9 00:00:23.680 --> 00:00:27.520 Vaishali? Well, it's always good to be back, this year as well. 10 00:00:27.520 --> 00:00:29.920 You can see the attendance numbers are amazing. 11 00:00:29.920 --> 00:00:31.520 There's a lot of excitement. 12 00:00:31.800 --> 00:00:33.320 I think the whole AI-GenAI 13 00:00:33.320 --> 00:00:36.640 space has created a real stir. 14 00:00:36.920 --> 00:00:40.640 And so really looking forward to it. Franck, let's talk about the 15 00:00:40.640 --> 00:00:44.600 top performers in the telco industry. What are they doing right? 16 00:00:44.600 --> 00:00:48.600 I think the keyword now is profitable growth, not only growth. 17 00:00:49.400 --> 00:00:54.120 And I think the companies who came in '24 with healthier 18 00:00:54.120 --> 00:00:59.320 margin can invest in automation, in technology, in AI to drive 19 00:00:59.320 --> 00:01:01.160 efficiency and growth. 20 00:01:02.240 --> 00:01:05.760 The second thing, and Vaishali, you said it, AI and GenAI 21 00:01:05.760 --> 00:01:10.080 are everywhere across the value chain of telcos and across all 22 00:01:10.080 --> 00:01:15.800 the Mobile World Congress, and this will be a key competitive advantage. 23 00:01:15.800 --> 00:01:20.560 And last but not least, I think we still see some players 24 00:01:20.560 --> 00:01:25.680 growing in noncore business—in ICT, in financial services—but 25 00:01:25.680 --> 00:01:28.880 requiring now to be profitable growth. 26 00:01:29.000 --> 00:01:33.600 Vaishali, how do you see telcos adding value—value creation. 27 00:01:33.600 --> 00:01:36.360 Where will that come from this year? 28 00:01:37.120 --> 00:01:41.400 So I think the levers are what Franck described. But if I just 29 00:01:41.400 --> 00:01:44.640 step back, value creation has been a challenge. 30 00:01:44.640 --> 00:01:48.680 I mean the cold reality is that while they did better telcos 31 00:01:48.680 --> 00:01:51.160 this year, in this five-year period, 32 00:01:51.920 --> 00:01:57.240 it is still, you know, among the lowest versus other industry sectors. 33 00:01:57.240 --> 00:02:00.120 So I think a laser-like focus on how do you create 34 00:02:00.120 --> 00:02:03.600 value—dividends were the main source—that needs to continue. 35 00:02:03.880 --> 00:02:07.440 But at the same time, making sure they apply the levers 36 00:02:07.440 --> 00:02:11.440 Franck talked about will be key, and picking two to three that 37 00:02:11.440 --> 00:02:15.200 you really bet on. It could be radical cost optimization, 38 00:02:15.240 --> 00:02:19.600 GenAI and AI—this is really the time for telcos not to miss their boat. 39 00:02:19.600 --> 00:02:21.600 I mean we've missed it on many other fronts. 40 00:02:21.920 --> 00:02:25.960 I think it can really add to both productivity as well as new 41 00:02:25.960 --> 00:02:28.000 services and cost optimization. 42 00:02:28.400 --> 00:02:31.600 And the last is how do you maximize asset leverage, because 43 00:02:31.600 --> 00:02:34.840 I think the capex intensity and returns expectations in this 44 00:02:34.840 --> 00:02:36.800 business is not going to get easier. 45 00:02:37.160 --> 00:02:41.800 So, lots of fun ahead, but a few challenges too. Lots of fun 46 00:02:41.800 --> 00:02:44.600 ahead, but a few challenges as well. 47 00:02:44.960 --> 00:02:46.360 Yes, a few challenges. 48 00:02:46.360 --> 00:02:50.840 But as Vaishali was saying, I think that on a more personal 49 00:02:50.840 --> 00:02:55.040 note, and when we talk to our clients, we also see some 50 00:02:55.040 --> 00:02:58.280 positive spin, positive spirits, for sure. 51 00:02:58.280 --> 00:03:00.240 The telco industry has faced some challenges— 52 00:03:00.360 --> 00:03:01.800 is facing some challenges. 53 00:03:02.040 --> 00:03:06.040 But what we see on the ground is that also telco executives are 54 00:03:06.040 --> 00:03:09.840 ready to take bold decisions, bold moves, either on cost and 55 00:03:09.840 --> 00:03:11.640 growth or asset monetization. 56 00:03:11.920 --> 00:03:14.240 And so I'm finally quite positive this year. 57 00:03:14.520 --> 00:03:15.880 Fantastic. Franck, Vaishali. 58 00:03:15.960 --> 00:03:16.480 Thank you so much. 59 00:03:16.920 --> 00:03:17.400 Thank you. 60 00:03:17.880 --> 00:03:18.360 Thank you.