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AI in Action: Highlights from VMO2's Fireside Chat with Zinkworks and Google Cloud at DTW 2025
At DTW Ignite 2025, one of the telecom industry’s most anticipated events, Zinkworks joined forces with Virgin Media O2 (VMO2) and Google Cloud to showcase how automation & data driven decisioning are revolutionizing network management. The session drew an audience eager to understand how a leading Communication Service Provider (CSP) is embracing automation, data, and cloud-native technologies to build the networks of the future.
This fireside chat offered a deep dive into the strategies, technologies, and real-world applications powering VMO2’s journey toward a fully autonomous network. Here’s a closer look at the key insights and innovations shared during the session.
01 VMO2’s Strategy for AI-Powered Network Automation
VMO2 is pioneering a bold strategy to automate its network operations, starting with its XGS-PON rollout. In collaboration with Google Cloud and Zinkworks, the company is leveraging AI to streamline workflows, reduce manual intervention, and deliver faster, more reliable services to customers.
This shift marks a significant step toward intelligent, self-optimizing networks that can scale with demand.
02 Unlocking AI-Driven Network Capabilities
03 Turning Data into Actionable Intelligence
04 Lessons from the Field: Practical Takeaways:
Our goal is to move from reactive to predictive operations, where the network can detect, decide, and act on its own,” said David Thorpe, Virign Media O2 Product Owner of Digital Twin and AI, during the fireside chat.
Zinkworks’ Role: Enabling the Autonomous Network
In today’s fast-paced telecom landscape, CSPs must scale rapidly without compromising efficiency. Zinkworks is playing a pivotal role in helping CSPs like VMO2 transition to autonomous networks. By combining OSS transformation & telecommunication network domain expertise with Google Cloud’s AI capabilities, Zinkworks is enabling networks to plan, build, test, and operate autonomously.
Key components of Zinkworks solution include:
01
Unified Data Lake
Establishing a single data repository in Google Cloud to enable efficient AI use cases through the Vertex AI platform and BigQuery ML, breaking down data silos and fostering seamless data flow.
02
Cloud-Native OSS Transformation
Transitioning OSS systems to Google Cloud, consolidating multiple systems into a streamlined, agile environment.
03
Rapid Innovation
Harnessing AI models to deliver new network use cases in weeks, such as predictive issue detection and enhanced field force efficiency with Generative AI automation.
04
Autonomous Network Creation
Implementing an intent-based automation architecture capable of executing network changes automatically, leading to self-healing networks that resolve issues without human intervention.
Real-World Impact: A Mini Case Study
In one recent deployment, VMO2 used Zinkworks’ AI-driven automation to detect and resolve a fibre degradation issue before it impacted customers. The system flagged an anomaly, generated a ticket, and recommended a fix, all without human input. This not only prevented downtime but also saved hours of manual troubleshooting.
“Closed-Loop Remediation is a flagship use case of autonomous network management. Identifying an issue, logging a ticket and submitting resolution steps for execution is a major step forward towards level 4 autonomy.” says Nigel Portley, Key Accounts Director at Zinkworks.
Benefits of an Autonomous Network
This cloud-native, AI-driven concept delivers measurable advantages: It reduces lead times and manual effort, provides real-time insights through a unified data fabric, and enhances visibility with live network monitoring. Centralized configuration ensures consistency, while predictive analytics minimize outages. With enterprise-grade security, reduced complexity, and fully automated operations, CSPs are now equipped to scale with agility and confidence.
Looking Ahead: The Future of Network Management
This collaboration between Zinkworks, VMO2, and Google Cloud represents a major leap forward in network automation. By combining deep OSS expertise with cloud-native AI capabilities, we are building networks that are faster, smarter, and future-ready.
Want to learn more or explore how this transformation can benefit your organization?
Reach out to us at marketing@zinkworks.com.
Check out our latest whitepaper on Autonomous Networks here.
