Pawan Anand, director and engagement partner, communications, media and entertainment, Ascendion

Ascendion, an organisation focused on digital engineering, has been actively enabling telecom enterprises to automate and optimise their operations. In an interview with tele.net, Pawan Anand, director and engagement partner, communications, media and entertainment, Ascendion, shares his views on the significance of digital engineering and the company’s plans to scale up innovation among telecom firms…

What is the significance of digital transformation in the telecom industry?

The telecom industry has witnessed a seismic shift with the advent of digital technologies, prompting companies to adapt and continuously evolve.

By leveraging technologies such as 5G, artificial intelligence (AI), cloud, internet of things and digital security, telecom co­m­panies can diversify their service offeri­n­gs, driving revenue growth and streng­th­e­ning customer relationships.

What are the key focus areas for Ascendion? What are the company’s offerings in the ICT segment?

Ascendion is a leading digital engineering organisation building the world’s best software and experiences for our clients. Our purpose is to enhance every life we touch through the power of human-centric technology. We provide a unique approach to digital transformation strategy and collaborate closely with our clients to assist them in overcoming their challenges. Our platform-led engineering approach with Ascendion AVA provides enterprises an in­tegrated and intelligent engineering platform that drives relentless automation ac­ro­ss every aspect of their engineering life cycle, and the transparency and flexibility of an engineering-as-a-service model.

Through our client-centric approach at Ascendion, we prioritise the desired out­­­comes our clients envision for their di­gital transformation endeavours. Instead of merely focusing on our offerings, we pl­ace significant emphasis on four essential building blocks: platform engineering, cloud, data and AI, and quality engineering. These pillars are meticulously crafted to establish a resilient and powerful foundation, en­a­b­ling enterprises to not only flourish but also excel in the rapidly evolving digital landscape of the future. By prioritising these core aspects, Ascendion ensures that our clients receive co­mprehensive solutions tailored to their specific nee­ds and aspirations.

What are the major factors hampering innovation and modernisation of telecom in India? How is Ascendion helping in overcoming these impediments?

Innovation and modernisation of the telecom industry in India face several challenges that hinder progress. The Indian telecom industry is the most price sensitive, and that has resulted in lowest telecom tariffs globally. It takes much longer in India to reap the benefits of investmen­ts. In addition, frequent changes in regulations, licensing and spectrum allocation can create uncertainties, and delay implementation of new technologies.

Building a robust and extensive telecom infrastructure is a significant challen­ge in a country as vast as India. Limited ac­cess to high speed internet, especially in rural areas, hampers the adoption of ad­va­nced technologies and services. The high cost of infrastructure deployment, spect­rum auctions and operational expenses can pose financial challenges for telecom companies, limiting their ability to invest in in­novation and modernisation.

Ascendion offers technology services to telecom companies globally, helping them identify and adopt cutting-edge solutions. We as­si­st in the implementation of advanced technologies such as 5G, cloud computing and AI, enabling co­mpanies to modernise their operations and en­ha­n­­ce cus­tomer experience. We provide training and skill development prog­­rammes to bridge the talent gap in the technology industry. We help companies build internal capabilities by upski­lling their workforce in emerging te­chnologies, enabling them to drive innovation and modernisation. By addressing these issues, Ascendion plays a crucial role in helping the telecom industry in India overcome impediments and advance innovation and modernisation efforts.

What are the future growth strategies and upcoming priorities for the company?

As a leading digital engineering organisation, Ascendion has several future growth strategies and upcoming priorities. Our vision is to impact a billion lives by 2025! Our focus is on expanding our global pre­sence by serving clients across industries and geographies. Additionally, we are co­mmitted to continuous innovation, staying at the forefront of emerging techno­logies and trends. We prioritise building strong partnerships and collaborations to deliver comprehensive solutions. Fur­th­er­­more, talent development and skill en­hancement remain key priorities, to en­sure we have a highly skilled workforce capable of driving transformative projects for our clients.