Staying Connected

The complexity and number of ICT-related invoices continue to increase exponentially.  Enterprises are migrating to multi-platform, multi-vendor services, and cloud-based solutions with rates that are unclear or unchecked. In this 9-minute episode of Staying Connected , Theresa Knutson and Frank Zagrodnik join Tony Mangino to discuss the evolving landscape of TEM services and strategies for extrac...

In this 7-minute episode of Staying Connected , Ben Fox joins Tony Mangino to demystify NaaS and related "as-a-service," utility-based, network service and pricing models.   They discuss the confusing marketing suppliers use for NaaS, what customers want from a true NaaS proposition, and the reality of translating network infrastructure into utility-based service and pricing models. If you would l...

On this episode of Staying Connected we continue our discussion on the evolution of the LEO satellite market and the enterprise use case for these solutions. In this 9-minute podcast, David Lee and Steve Rosen join Tony Mangino to discuss the technical and regulatory factors that make LEOs a viable competitor to traditional terrestrial Internet service and point to increased enterprise adoption.  ...

Ofcom, the UK's communications regulator, has recognized that the market for mobile termination charges for bulk messaging isn't working. With significant market power, some providers have increased these charges by 70% since 2021 and there's no end in sight. On January 28 th , Ofcom proposed a price cap on mobile termination charges for messaging.      In this 5-minute podcast,  Deb Boehling , a...

Non-FCC mandated surcharges on ICT services have increased threefold over the last ten years, and AT&T's recent increase in its Property Tax Surcharge is just the latest installment.       In this 7-minute podcast, Deb Boehling , a partner at LB3, joins Tony Mangino to unpack the surcharge regimes and discuss what enterprise customers can do to address, or at a minimum be prepared for, these mater...

ERP systems have been around for many years, but there is now a significant focus on modernizing ERP systems by shifting them to the cloud.   In this 8-minute podcast, Marc Lindsey , a partner at LB3, joins Tony Mangino to discuss the risks and opportunities companies face when transacting for and adopting ERP SaaS, including: vendor lock-in, ERP implementations, and strategies for controlling cos...

At TC2 we continue to see IT outsourcing as an important and growing space for enterprise customers.   Recent engagements confirm the shift away from "factory" style managed services toward dedicated staffing models as well as the evolution of IT tooling approaches and the rise of the experience level agreement (XLA).     In this 11-minute podcast, TC2 Managing Director Ben Fox and Senior Consulta...

What do all the telcos including AT&T, Lumen and Verizon have in common?   That's right, they all rely on service guides and online terms.   Not to be outdone, you'll now also find these shadow provisions in your deals with Avaya, Cisco, Nice, Palo Alto, Z-Scaler…the list goes on. In this 14-minute podcast, LB3 partners Laura McDonald and Deb Boehling join Tony Mangino to provide an update on the...

The latest Market Guide for Telecom Expense Management Services from Gartner is out and includes market trends and customer feedback on the major providers in the Telecom Expense Management ("TEM") services space.   In this 12-minute podcast, Theresa Knutson and Julie Gardner join Tony Mangino to discuss the latest from Gartner and provide their unique perspective on the TEM marketplace.   Listen...

The rapid pace of technology change coupled with a corresponding shift in the supplier landscape is driving the need for a fresh look at how to leverage RFPs to achieve improved ROI. In this 9-minute podcast, Larry York joins Tony Mangino to discuss this new sourcing paradigm and how to maximize the outcome of your next RFP. Stay tuned for a follow-up episode where we'll discuss key pre-RFP activi...

Contact Center as a Service (or CCaaS) solutions are evolving in step with developments in the AI space.   AI is impacting both the pricing construct and contractual framework for CCaaS solutions.   In this 10-minute podcast, Laura MacDonald and Julie Gardner join Tony Mangino to share key insights into developing sourcing strategies and contracts for AI enabled CCaaS services and how to secure th...

On September 30 th , T-Mobile and the FCC reached a settlement that includes over $30 million in penalties and mandatory cybersecurity spending resulting from significant data breaches in 2021, 2022, and 2023.   In this 8-minute podcast, Steve Rosen joins Tony Mangino to discuss the recent T-Mobile Consent Decree and a similar settlement with AT&T related to a data breach in 2023. If you would lik...

Broadband technologies are at the heart of the transformation of the enterprise WAN. Wired broadband, Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) and Non-Terrestrial Networks (or satellite) are now being leveraged as a strategic WAN connectivity solution in enterprise networks, globally.   In this 10-minute podcast, David Lee and Brent Knight join Tony Mangino to discuss the broadband technologies being deployed...

The commercial model and supplier landscape for broadband service is evolving as the rate of enterprise adoption accelerates. In this 8-minute podcast, Keith Cook joins Tony Mangino to discuss the challenge of identifying the optimal balance between available broadband technologies, suppliers, and financial outcomes.    If you would like to learn more about our experience in this space, please vis...

An entity called National Public Data was recently victimized by what may be the second-largest data breach in history, impacting both individuals and enterprises.  As data breaches seem only to increase in frequency, enterprise customers cannot rely on service providers alone to keep their data safe—they must be proactive about security, which includes negotiating appropriately protective contrac...

At LB3 and TC2 we are continuing to cover the strategic shift in enterprise networking toward broadband.   In this 7-minute episode, Tony Mangino joins Sara Crifasi to break down the business case for broadband and discuss how enterprise customers can leverage the opportunity for cost savings and enhanced connectivity.   With appropriate planning, enterprises can weigh the practicalities and poten...

AI continues to drive innovation in the Contact-Center-as-a-Service (CCaaS) space, significantly improving agent efficiency and customer experience.   However, the use of AI in CCaaS solutions, while almost ubiquitous, is not without potential risk to the enterprise. In this 10-minute podcast, Laura McDonald joins Tony Mangino to discuss pending legal actions related to AI and CCaaS service and st...

Two recent Supreme Court decisions may shake things up at the FCC when it comes to rulemakings and enforcement authority.   In this 7-minute podcast, Steve Rosen joins Sara Crifasi to talk about how the Supreme Court rulings in Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo and SEC v. Jarkesy could lead to a slowdown in the FCC's implementation of new rules. If you would like to learn more about our experie...

AT&T recently revealed that it suffered a major data breach affecting nearly all of its wireless subscribers, making this one of the largest communications data breaches in recent history. While data breaches are all too common today, enterprise customers shouldn't let their frequency desensitize them from maintaining best practices in contracting for security. In this 8-minute podcast,  Deb Boehl...

At TC2 we continue to observe a strategic shift in enterprise networking toward broadband, and the rate of adoption is accelerating.   In this 7-minute podcast, Keith Cook and Brent Knight join Tony Mangino to discuss why customers are more willing than ever to leverage broadband service in their networks and key considerations for developing your broadband strategy. If you would like to learn mor...

This year, several LB3 and TC2 colleagues attended the annual Enterprise Connect conference – a massive event focused on communications, collaboration and CX for enterprise customers.   Enterprise Connect provides a venue for customers, service providers, and subject matter experts to explore new service offerings and network with others in the ICT space. In this 8-minute podcast, TC2's  Theresa K...

TC2 is pleased to announce the launch of our IT Cost Management (ITCM) practice that consolidates key service lines focused on rapidly delivering and sustaining IT cost savings for our clients. In this 9-minute podcast, ITCM practice lead Theresa Knutson joins Tony Mangino to discuss core competencies and specific focus areas of the practice including Technology Expense Management, Cost Optimizati...

At the core of most, if not all, outsourcing initiatives is the desire for innovation that will deliver radical change and improvement in the delivery of IT services and support.   The reality is that this outcome becomes aspirational when confronted with the need to simply "keep the lights on". In this 8-minute podcast, TC2 Managing Director  Ben Fox joins Tony Mangino to explore this outsourcing...

On the telecom regulatory front, the FCC is formally reinstating a new set of net neutrality rules that reignites what is a highly controversial, on-again/off-again debate regarding the regulation of broadband Internet access services (BIAS).   In this 10-minute podcast, Steve Rosen and Sara Crifasi join Tony Mangino to explain the FCC's latest action and why enterprise customers of ICT services s...

Cost of living adjustments, or COLA, are always a key topic in outsourcing contracts, and their presence in negotiations has only been exacerbated with COVID and recent general inflationary pressures. In this 7-minute podcast, Ben Fox joins Sara Crifasi to discuss service providers' recent struggles with COLA and how enterprise customers can manage their negotiations to avoid unnecessary cost incr...