Oracle has emerged from the shadows of corporate software, particularly enterprise resource planning (ERP) to become a major supplier and partner for telcos in cloud computing. This has come about through a strong focus on big data management and analytics in the cloud, which has increasingly brought in edge compute, AI and 5G. The company has also benefited from seeking partnerships with telcos rather than competing with them. This approach was exemplified in June 2024, when Oracle announced a $1 billion investment to create a new cloud region for Madrid in collaboration with Telefónica. The stated goal was to help Spanish organizations engage in digital transformation while meeting EU regulations. Equally significant for Oracle’s telco strategy was the much smaller amount…