For communication service providers (CSPs), Tech Mahindra offers end-to-end services, from network transformations to cloud-native solutions and AI-driven tools. In this Telecom Review Americas interview with Abhishek Shankar, President – Communications Business, Americas, we explore Tech Mahindra's role in reshaping the broadband landscape, the trends driving the communications industry, and their strategies for maximizing connectivity investments in the United States.
Could you provide us with an overview of Tech Mahindra and the communications services you provide?
Tech Mahindra is a leading provider of technology consulting and digital transformation solutions. We are part of the Mahindra Group, one of the largest and most admired multinational federations of companies. Since 1986, we have empowered global enterprises to innovate, scale, and succeed in an ever-evolving digital landscape. With over 150,000 professionals across 90+ countries, we deliver tailored solutions across various industries, leveraging advanced technologies and deep domain expertise.
For Communication Service Providers (CSPs), we drive end-to-end network transformations with services like O-RAN rollouts, Lab-as-a-Service, and E2E Fiber and Transport solutions. Our NetOps.ai platform simplifies network management, enabling zero-touch operations and lifecycle automation. We are also at the forefront of building the BSS/OSS of the future, delivering cloud-native, AI-driven, and modular systems that support network scalability, seamless service delivery, and enhanced customer experiences.
Tech Mahindra’s expertise extends to legacy transformations and cloud migrations, enabling CSPs to modernize their operations and embrace agility. By transitioning critical workloads to the cloud, we empower telecom customers with scalable, cost-efficient solutions, accelerating time-to-market and ensuring resilience in a dynamic digital landscape.
Leveraging AI and Data Analytics, we help CSPs build strong digital foundations with a 360-degree ecosystem view, improving decision-making for customers, suppliers, and employees. Our AI-enabled contact centers enhance customer satisfaction by improving NPS and reducing costs, while digital sales channels powered by intelligent chatbots and agents ensure seamless onboarding and service delivery.
Comviva, a Tech Mahindra subsidiary and global leader in mobility solutions, complements our vision by driving revenue growth and innovation for over two billion platform users worldwide. Together, we embody the Mahindra Group’s “Rise for an Equal World” vision, delivering transformative solutions that enable enterprises to innovate, scale, and thrive in the digital era.
Considering the anticipated expansion of broadband in the United States, especially regarding increased penetration and data consumption, what impact do you foresee this having on the overall digital ecosystem?
The United States is on the brink of a broadband revolution, with high-speed internet poised to drive innovation and inclusivity across multiple sectors. Over the past decade, average household data consumption has increased over 70 times, from 9 GB per month in 2010 to 652 GB in 2023, underscoring the growing reliance on reliable broadband for work, education, healthcare, and daily life. With infrastructure advancements, 1 Gbps or more speeds are expected to reach over 50% of U.S. households within the next four years, marking a transformative shift in the digital landscape.
High-speed broadband is a catalyst for change. In the education sector, it ensures equitable access to advanced digital tools, immersive technologies, and a global competitive edge for students. Economically, it opens new markets, fosters innovation, and creates job opportunities. In healthcare, broadband accelerates telehealth adoption, improving access to care, reducing costs, and enhancing outcomes through remote diagnostics and virtual consultations. Communities benefit from stronger connections to essential services, first responders, and local governance, building resilience and encouraging engagement.
Broadband penetration is further accelerating with investments in technologies like Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) and satellite; broadband expansion bridges the digital divide, particularly in rural areas, enabling seamless hybrid work, real-time healthcare diagnostics, and immersive virtual learning. As broadband penetration deepens, it will form the backbone of a digitally inclusive economy, boosting innovation, enhancing community resilience, and unlocking economic opportunities. High-speed internet is no longer just infrastructure but the key to a connected, equitable, and prosperous future.
From a leader's perspective, what areas should be prioritized to maximize the billion-dollar investment within the U.S. communications infrastructure?
Leaders must take a strategic and multifaceted approach to maximize the impact of billion-dollar investments in U.S. communications infrastructure. It starts with solid planning, where data-driven insights play a critical role. Conducting comprehensive feasibility studies and leveraging detailed data mapping is essential to ensure broadband funds are directed to the areas with the greatest need, particularly unserved and underserved regions. A granular, cost-effective approach drives universal access and strengthens the case for long-term sustainability.
Equally important is accelerating the deployment of high-speed networks. Fiber, Fixed Wireless Access (FWA), satellite, and cable solutions must be rolled out simultaneously, each addressing specific connectivity challenges across rural, suburban, and urban landscapes. Programs like BEAD and RDOF prove that public-private partnerships can build scalable infrastructure while balancing quick results and future needs. These partnerships should guide us to make sure our investments line up with long-term goals for digital change.
Connectivity alone, however, is not enough. True impact comes when communities can adopt and fully utilize the infrastructure. This means prioritizing digital inclusion by enhancing access to affordable devices, providing subsidies for low-income households, and investing in digital literacy programs. These efforts are crucial for empowering underrepresented communities to participate meaningfully in the digital economy.
Futureproofing infrastructure is another priority. Incorporating fixed-mobile convergence (FMC) ensures networks are both flexible and scalable, delivering seamless experiences for users. At the same time, cybersecurity must remain front and center. With the increasing complexity of communications ecosystems, strong security measures are necessary to protect against evolving threats and to ensure network resilience.
By careful planning, innovative deployment, and inclusive initiatives, these investments can drive economic growth, foster innovation, and create long-lasting change in communities across the U.S.
How are the trends of fixed-mobile convergence and increased M&A activities influencing competitive dynamics and future growth opportunities?
The fixed-mobile convergence (FMC) trends and heightened M&A activity are intensifying competition in the broadband sector, fundamentally altering market dynamics and future growth opportunities. FMC drives operators to integrate fixed and mobile services, creating bundled offerings that improve customer retention and unlock higher average revenue per user (ARPU). However, competition remains fierce, as only some players hold significant market share in fixed and mobile segments. This gap presents opportunities for operators to differentiate themselves by offering seamless connectivity experiences and value-added services such as streaming and entertainment.
M&A activity is further reshaping the competitive landscape. Established operators are acquiring greenfield players, while partnerships with private equity firms enable accelerated network rollouts and geographic expansion. These deals are about scale and operational synergies—optimizing procurement, IT systems, and customer care. Such efficiencies allow larger players to gain cost advantages and reinvest in innovation, creating a more challenging environment for smaller or regional operators to compete.
Fiber deployment is becoming a cornerstone of competitive positioning. Operators are rapidly expanding their fiber footprint through organic rollouts or acquisitions to meet the growing demand for high-speed connectivity. This has created a two-front race: cable providers leveraging their extensive reach to enter mobile markets and wireless players aggressively expanding their fiber presence.
As the market consolidates, competition shifts from price wars to differentiation through advanced technologies. Data analytics and AI are enabling tailored broadband offerings and superior customer experiences. Operators that successfully navigate this competitive transformation—balancing innovation with execution—will lead in an increasingly interconnected digital economy.
Can you share key examples of how Tech Mahindra contributed to accelerating fiber deployment and bridging connectivity gaps?
Tech Mahindra has demonstrated unmatched expertise in accelerating fiber deployment and bridging connectivity gaps by delivering end-to-end turnkey solutions tailored to broadband operators worldwide. In the UK, we played a pivotal role in a phased upgrade of legacy networks, using advanced planning and automation to design access and backhaul networks, enabling fiber connectivity for over three million homes. We partnered with a greenfield operator in the U.S. to devise cost-effective rollout strategies and optimize OSS/BSS and Network as a Service (NaaS) models, ensuring scalable and sustainable broadband operations. Similarly, our comprehensive copper-to-fiber migration initiatives streamlined inventory recovery in Australia and leveraged smart field operations to expand high-speed broadband access in underserved regions.
Our AI-powered Network Operations Center (NOC) solutions have transformed Europe's fixed and mobile network operations, enabling predictive assurance and autonomous service delivery. Standardizing processes and simplifying workflows have driven operational efficiency in fiber planning and construction. Additionally, we have implemented transformative OSS and BSS solutions in regions like Germany, ensuring seamless legacy migration and enhanced network performance.
Tech Mahindra's ability to deliver comprehensive, end-to-end services—from strategic planning and network design to deployment and assurance—makes us a trusted partner in advancing broadband networks globally. By leveraging automation, AI, and field expertise, we consistently empower operators to overcome challenges, achieve faster rollouts, and provide reliable, future-ready connectivity solutions, contributing to global digital inclusion efforts.
