Inside Out: A TM Forum podcast

Axiata Group is one of the most innovative operator groups in Asia. Its Ideamart API monetization platform is the most successful of its type in the global CSP community. In this podcast we talk with Axiata Group CIO Anthony Rodrigo and TM Forum Executive Vice President Willie Stegmann about the external and internal forces that are forcing CIOs to "reinvent" the IT function in the AI era. We also hear from Anthony about the emergence of Axiata Digital Labs as the software engineering function that is transforming IT operations across Axiata opcos.
Discussion points
What are the most important business drivers for the "reinvention" of the IT function?
What are the key dimensions of your transformation journey?
How do ensure successful achievement of benefits/ outcomes?
As Co-Chair of the CIT&E Mission, is ODA still relevant? What must change ?
Why do you think Axiata is so much more advanced in its thinking - and its implementation of modern, open, cloud-based approaches to enterprise architectures?
Have you been able to measure / track the benefits of an open digital architecture?
Tell us about Axiata Digital Labs and its relationship / synergies with the group IT organization and opco IT functions.
How does the "group" IT function work with the opcos across the Axiata group.
Platform / API monetization. Where we are at and where we are going.
Where are you in terms of leveraging AI within the IT organization?
Guest Speakers:
Anthony Rodrigo, Group CIO, Axiata
Willie Stegmann, EVP, Composable IT & Ecosystems, TM Forum
Host:
Mark Newman, Chief Analyst, TM Forum

Indonesia's IOH is seeking to change how it serves customers and runs its business by becoming an AI-native techco. This entails building sovereign AI solutions for enterprises; supporting the country's efforts to democratize the use of AI tools by Indonesians for Indonesians; and using AI to enhance its network and business operations.

 
A central concern for IOH and other telcos is trust, particularly in complex, multi‑agent AI environments where autonomous agents can generate code, create other agents, and change behavior in real time. Both speakers stressed that traditional governance, security, and monitoring models are no longer sufficient for these dynamic systems.

Linked to trust is data sovereignty and security. Cheung emphasized the importance of keeping sensitive data and AI models within national borders, noting that enterprise and government customers require strong assurances that data remains under local jurisdiction. Ensuring sovereignty across increasingly global and software‑driven AI supply chains adds further complexity.

 
They also discussed how audits and procurement reviews are too slow and costly for an AI ecosystem that may involve thousands of agents and suppliers. Instead, they argued for platform‑based governance, continuous monitoring, and industry‑wide trust frameworks that treat trust as an ongoing business capability rather than a one‑off compliance exercise.

 
Finally, both acknowledged the difficulty of demonstrating near‑term value from AI investments while simultaneously building long‑term foundations, highlighting the need for shared case studies and reusable platforms to balance cost, risk, and innovation.
 
Guest speakers:
Desmond Cheung, CTO, IOH
Guy Lupo, EVP - AI and Data Innovation, TM Forum
 
Host:
Joanne Taaffe, Editor in Chief, TM Forum

Orange Group CIO Koen Vermeulen is in no doubt about the impact of AI on the telecoms sector, Rather than viewing it merely as a tool to accelerate transformation, Vermeulen reckons that AI represents a transformative force that is changing how industries are operating.
In this podcast we explore how and where AI is already being adopted within Orange's IT organization. The use of AI to drive greater speed in the IT organization is a theme comes up regularly in our discussion and Koen speaks with huge enthusiasm about using the power of AI to fundamentally transform the Software Development Lifecyle.
Guest Speakers:
Koen Vermeulen, Global CIO, Orange
Willie Stegmann, EVP, Composable IT & Ecosystems, TM Forum
Host:
Mark Newman, Chief Analyst, TM Forum

Rene Felber is Chair of the TM Forum TPAC (TechCo, People and Culture) Collaboration Project, and he is joined by Ishari Siriwardane, General Manager for Transformation at SLT and key member of the group. In this podcast they speak to TM Forum's Principal Analyst Dean Ramsay about group's aims and progress. 
The conversation focuses on the impact AI is having on telecoms people and culture and what strategies the group are seeing from a leadership perspective. Are telco leaders making the right decisions on reskilling?

Saad Syed, CEO of Chenosis — MTN's API monetization venture — reveals how the company is shaping the future of Africa's digital economy. From a bold start-up culture to focused vertical strategies and early market wins, discover how Chenosis is unlocking new opportunities and driving innovation across the continent.
Guest Speakers:
Saad Syed, CEO, Chenosis
Host:
Mark Newman, Chief Analyst, TM Forum