An oft-repeated concern in our industry interviews is the unhealthy dynamic that exists between MNOs and the vendors that supply them. MNOs are uncomfortable that they have become so reliant on their suppliers. The vendors are increasingly frustrated that they must do so much integration work to sell new products and services because the MNO stack has become so convoluted. However, the MNOs are not in the financial position to bring that institutional knowledge back in-house, restart R&D programs, and begin hiring and training to replace the staff turnover in the telco industry. Unfortunately, such efforts are a pipe dream, in the current climate. In parallel, there is a looming crisis being built on the back of these LLM-based AI…