Google Cloud’s global telecom sector is undergoing a leadership transition, with Ankur Jain poised to take the reins from Amol Phadke. As preparations for the Google Cloud Next trade show in San Francisco kick-off, this shift emphasizes the company’s commitment to telecom progress.
Notable figures from the industry will speak at the event, including Vodafone CTO Scott Petty and Deutsche Telekom’s VP of network automation, Jochen Appel. With nearly two decades at Google, Jain will inherit Phadke’s responsibilities as the latter departs for a new venture. Phadke had earlier reported to Jain.
Under CEO Thomas Kurian’s guidance, Google Cloud’s entry into the telecom arena in 2020 involved vital hires such as George Nazi, overseeing the Telecommunications, Media, Entertainment, and Gaming division, and Phadke as managing director for telecom solutions. Both joined Accenture, highlighting Google’s strategic approach to industry expertise.
The cloud factor
Kurian unveiled Google Cloud’s telecom plans in a March 2020 post, writing: “We’re committed to partnering with the telecommunications industry, providing partners, solutions, and cloud and open source technologies to accelerate digital transformation.”
Since then, Google Cloud has been firming up its telecom pitch. For example, the company does not plan to develop a private wireless networking service to sell to enterprise customers or create its network functions.
