Delivering RAN Outcomes in a Shifting Telecom Landscape

An interview with Kaustav Sengupta, Senior Vice President, Sales & Delivery, Aircom

As telecom networks grow more complex and operator expectations continue to rise, success increasingly depends on execution, not just technology. We spoke with Kaustav Sengupta, Senior Vice President – Sales & Delivery at Aircom, to explore key RAN and telecom trends, the real role of AI, and how Aircom ensures consistent delivery and customer success across both mature and emerging markets.

Which telecom and RAN trends are genuinely shaping operator decision-making today—and which ones are over-discussed?

Kaustav Sengupta: Operators are moving away from feature-led decisions toward RAN outcome accountability. Automation, AI, and cloud-native approaches matter only when they simplify operations and improve consistency at scale. The dominant trend is not a single technology, but a demand for predictability in execution.

What is often over-discussed is technology in isolation. New architectures generate attention, but without governance and operational discipline, they rarely deliver sustained impact. Operators increasingly prioritize solutions that integrate into real-world workflows and can be scaled without adding complexity.

AI features prominently in telecom narratives. Where does it actually make a difference across the RAN lifecycle?

Kaustav Sengupta: AI delivers the most value when applied to repeatable, data-intensive decisions across the RAN lifecycle. This includes areas such as network design optimization, configuration consistency, anomaly detection, and impact-based prioritization.

The limitation arises when AI is treated as a standalone capability. AI is effective only when embedded into defined workflows and governed by business rules. When insights are actionable and integrated into daily operations, AI improves speed, accuracy, and consistency. Otherwise, it risks becoming another dashboard with limited operational value. At Aircom, these AI-driven workflows are operationalized through platforms such as the ASSET Suite and SmartCM, where intelligence is embedded directly into planning, configuration governance, and day-to-day RAN execution.

At what point does execution become a bigger differentiator than technology in RAN programs?

Kaustav Sengupta: Execution becomes the differentiator once programs move beyond pilots and into large-scale deployment. Scaling across multiple regions, vendors, and operating conditions exposes gaps that technology alone cannot address.

Operators increasingly recognize that delays, rework, and inconsistent outcomes erode value faster than technical limitations. Delivery discipline, governance, and alignment across teams ultimately determine success. Technology enables execution, but it is execution that sustains results.

How does Aircom ensure customer satisfaction when delivery spans regions, vendors, and diverse operating conditions?

Kaustav Sengupta: Customer satisfaction starts with clarity—on outcomes, scope, and responsibilities—and continues well beyond initial delivery. At Aircom, delivery is treated as a lifecycle, not a handover point.

During execution, structured governance, transparent communication, and repeatable delivery methods ensure consistency across regions and vendors. Post-delivery, that discipline continues through strong support and operational alignment. Dedicated support structures, clear escalation paths, and continuous engagement ensure that what is delivered continues to perform as intended in live networks.

Networks evolve, conditions change, and priorities shift. By staying engaged after deployment, Aircom helps customers sustain outcomes, address issues early, and adapt without disrupting operations. This continuity is fundamental to long-term customer satisfaction. This lifecycle approach is supported by Aircom platforms such as ASSET, Mentor, and CogniSense, which provide continuous visibility, operational control, and troubleshooting intelligence long after initial delivery.

Where do expectations most often diverge from delivery reality in RAN engagements?

Kaustav Sengupta: A common gap lies in underestimating operational complexity. Data readiness, organizational change, and integration challenges are often assumed rather than planned for. Another challenge arises when success criteria are loosely defined.

Addressing this requires early alignment and continuous validation. Realistic milestones, measurable outcomes, and data-driven checkpoints help reduce friction and ensure progress remains visible. When expectations and delivery reality are aligned early, engagements tend to move faster and build stronger trust.

Emerging markets operate under very different constraints. How does Aircom adapt its approach while still delivering outcomes?

Kaustav Sengupta: Emerging markets typically face tighter budgets, faster growth demands, and uneven infrastructure maturity. The focus therefore shifts toward efficiency and scalability from the outset, prioritizing automation, reuse of existing assets, and rapid time-to-value.

At the same time, local context matters. Regulatory conditions, skills availability, and network maturity vary widely. By combining a consistent global delivery framework with local adaptation, Aircom enables operators in emerging markets to achieve sustainable improvements without compromising performance or quality.

Looking ahead, what capabilities will operators need most to sustain RAN performance over the next few years?

Kaustav Sengupta: Operators will need stronger integration across planning, delivery, and operations. Fragmentation across teams and tools increasingly limits efficiency as networks grow more complex.

Equally important is decision-making discipline. As change accelerates, the ability to make informed, repeatable decisions becomes a competitive advantage. Operators that invest in governance, visibility, and intelligent automation will be better positioned to sustain RAN performance over time.

Closing Note

As networks grow in scale and complexity, sustained RAN performance depends as much on execution discipline as on innovation. By combining intelligent automation with strong delivery and post-delivery engagement, Aircom helps operators turn network ambition into lasting outcomes.