London – TM Forum, the industry association driving digital transformation through collaboration, has welcomed Google Cloud as its newest member, bolstering its mission to unlock the growth and potential of the telecoms industry. Google Cloud will work with TM Forum and its members to help communication service providers (CSPs) realise the true value of cloud-native automation to support network evolution, the application of advanced artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to improve the customer experience, and the power of cloud computing in unlocking new paths of growth and monetization for CSPs.

Building on Google Cloud’s investment in open source for its customers and leveraging the same data expertise that powers Google products used by billions around the globe, Google Cloud will work with the Forum’s extensive global membership to help CSPs better access a single source of truth around their data through better data management, automation, and data governance in multi-hybrid cloud environments. The two organisations will work together with leading CSPs to showcase several use cases that demonstrate how AI can dramatically optimise and modernise networks and help develop a set of closed-loop application programming interfaces (APIs).

When asked why Google Cloud became a member, Amol Phadke, MD & GM: Global Telecom Industry, Google Cloud, stated, “Google Cloud is hyper-focused on helping telecommunications companies not only transform, but also accelerate their growth, competitiveness, and digital journeys. As a reflection of the trust and value we have built with our global telecommunication customers and partners — from our work with BT Group, Telenor Group, and more — we are thrilled to join the community at TM Forum.”

Commenting on the latest TM Forum member, Nik Willetts, President & CEO, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Google Cloud to the Forum as our newest member and excited about the innovation, technology and experience they bring to our community. It is an honour for us that Google Cloud has chosen TM Forum as the place to help the world of telecoms unlock the full value cloud-native automation, data and AI at scale. This is a crucial pillar of our mission to accelerate the growth and potential of our industry to meet the needs of the digital economy over the next decade.”

TM Forum Board of Trustees Vice-Chair and Chief Digital Innovation Officer at BT Group, Harmeen Mehta, also commented: “We’re delighted to have Google Cloud join our member community. The hyperscaler world is an exciting and fast-moving one, which is already working in close lockstep with the telecoms industry as we together build a more digital future for our customers, colleagues and stakeholders. Google Cloud will be a brilliant catalyst for innovation in our community, helping our members unlock greater opportunities through cloud-native automation, data analytics, AI and beyond.

Ruza Sabanovic, EVP & chief technology officer at Telenor and TM Forum Board of Trustees member added: “This is an exciting time for TM Forum, for the telecoms industry and for the hyperscaler world. There is so much to gain from cross-industry collaboration and we’re so excited to have Google Cloud join us to push forward innovation with cloud technology. We look forward to seeing CSPs truly harness the power of data, analytics, AI and ML to enhance their network operations.”

Google Cloud will be participating at TM Forum’s upcoming Digital Transformation World event taking place in Copenhagen, Denmark between 20-22nd September 2022. During the event Google Cloud leaders will take to the stage showcasing how CSPs are benefitting from creating data driven decisions, cloud nativity and hyperscaler partnerships. For more information about their sessions, visit the event agenda here.

For the full list of the newest TM Forum members, please see here.