Technetix Business Development Director, Amelia Streeter Smith, examines the biggest operator challenges in today’s telecoms industry. Installment three of our eight-part series makes a critical case for achieving optimum network efficiency with a phased approach to digital transformation with smart tech integration.

The roles of automation and AI are central for delivering data-driven services, predictive maintenance and real-time performance optimization. But integration with legacy networks is a moot point for the telecoms industry, leaving operations to continue across fragmented environments. As a result, ageing infrastructure, siloed systems, and manual processes slow progress and increase operational risk.

Bridging the gap between IT and OT (operational technology) has become a critical enabler of agile innovation and cost control. Regardless of how advanced individual tools might be, operators struggle to unlock the full value of digital transformation initiatives without IT and OT convergence.

Intelligent, interoperable solutions that support digital transformation in legacy environments

Enhancing ecosystems that pre-date automation or data-driven decision-making capacities exposes integration gaps between operations and IT systems. This feeds a view that legacy-heavy environments stand in opposition to transformation initiatives.

The answer? Intelligent, interoperable infrastructure designed from the outset to support automation, remote management and real-time optimization. And the best bit is that this type of solution doesn’t require wholesale network replacement.

Breaking down silos between IT and OT

True digital transformation depends on removing the traditional boundaries between IT and OT. Network intelligence isn’t relegated to centralized software platforms: it must extend beyond them. This intelligence also occupies the network itself as a physical layer.

To overcome this barrier, Technetix’ smart, connected hardware integrates seamlessly with existing systems. Solutions like Technetix’ the DBE-1200 smart amplifier feature remote monitoring, auto-configuration and adaptive gain control, significantly reducing manual interventions.

By embedding intelligence at the network edge, operators gain real-time performance insights. This supports faster fault resolution and automated optimization processes across the access network. By enabling IT-driven analytics to directly inform operational actions, this convergence closes the loop between insight and execution.

Automating for scale, resilience and consistency

As networks grow in complexity, reactive operations are no longer realistic. Time-consuming and disparate manual processes become more and more impracticable to scale: automation is essential for efficiency, consistency and reliability.

Providers must align with resilient, self-optimizing network models to enable automated configuration, proactive performance management and predictive maintenance.

Proactive models not only reduce OpEx, mitigate the impacts of repair, and improve overall end user service quality; they help address workforce challenges. Reducing reliance on scarce specialist skills to carry out routine interventions positions engineering teams to focus on higher-value tasks.

A practical approach to transformation

Digital transformation does not require the waste-heavy, labor-intensive rip-out-and-replace method. Instead, a more pragmatic phased approach is key to introducing intelligent, automation-ready components to enhance existing infrastructure and lay the foundations for future innovation.

Operational efficiency is no longer about doing more with less. It’s about building smarter networks that adapt, optimize and evolve for seamless connection between IT and OT to unlock the full potential of digital transformation.

Get in touch with our experts to find out how Technetix can help at every stage of your network transformation journey. We develop proven and practical deployment-ready solutions to improve operational efficiency today while building tomorrow’s networks.

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Author: Amelia Streeter Smith

Amelia’s 25-year career spans telecoms, utilities, and transports sectors. Amelia has secured major contracts within the fiber telecommunications industries along the way, and joined Technetix in 2025 to help strengthen our European footprint. Off the clock, she enjoys watersports, competitive clay shooting, and cooking.