Telstra’s Technology Engagement and Advancement Executive explains connectivity as a product

Channa Seneviratne explains how Telstra’s Network as a Product embeds AI, security, and skills to accelerate enterprise transformation.

For Australian enterprises, connectivity is entering a new phase.

Channa Seneviratne, Technology Engagement & Advancement Executive, Global Networks & Technology at Telstra, is leading a shift where the network is productised, programmable, and central to business growth.

Ahead of his session at CIO Edge on 26 August at the Hilton, Sydney, he spoke with ADAPT’s Content Marketing Manager Justina Uy about satellite-to-mobile services, cultural transformation, and the next frontier of AI-enabled networks.

Expanding connectivity through satellite-to-mobile

Telstra recently launched satellite-to-mobile messaging with Starlink, extending coverage to consumers and small businesses.

For Channa, it signals the future of connectivity beyond traditional footprints.

“Aussies, no matter where they work, live or holiday, they want to be connected… customers just want connectivity and they want seamless connectivity, whether it’s satellite or mobile or fixed. They just don’t care how they get connected.”

 

Network as a product: strategy and discipline

A cornerstone of Telstra’s five-year Connected Future 30 strategy is Network as a Product.

Delivering it requires global alignment and internal discipline.

Channa explained how reference architectures, based on open digital standards, are forcing consistency across IT and network deployment while tackling technical debt.

This shift, he emphasised, is as much about cultural change as technology.

“That is not only a tech implementation, it’s a cultural mindset implementation to get people to be disciplined, to stay within the bounds of how we define our network.”

Building new skills and flexible models

The new model also depends on a workforce fluent in AI and digital skills.

Channa noted that not all employees are yet literate in these areas, and equipping them for the future is a core part of the transformation.

Network as a Product also changes the customer relationship, enabling flexible pricing and composition of services.

“Network as a product is not only an evolution of network technology, but it’s about the embedding of advanced AI. Without it we can’t deliver that capability.”

Security and resilience first

Large-scale modernisation requires balancing innovation with discipline.

For Channa, resilience is non-negotiable, and every design must embed security from the outset rather than treat it as an add-on.

“When we start to design this, we have to build in security. It’s so important. And resilience—network resilience, IT resilience… not just the cool features of the new product, but it’s a foundational fundamental thing that has to go in.”

Driving alignment and accountability

Transformation at Telstra is anchored in measurable outcomes and agile practices.

Projects are tracked with KPIs, strategic scorecards, and quarterly showcases to senior leadership.

These moments not only provide feedback loops but also give younger engineers the chance to present and raise their profiles.

“Any of our projects are very clear in defining strategic scorecards and defining key deliverables and KPIs that go along which are measurable, which are aligned to the benefit that we’re delivering.”

 

Shutting down the old to unlock the new

Reflecting on the recent 3G shutdown, Channa described how retiring legacy networks creates both efficiency and capacity.

Repurposing spectrum for 5G boosts performance while also reducing emissions and energy costs. It also frees engineers to focus on advanced capabilities rather than maintaining outdated systems.

“When we repurpose that spectrum for 5G, 5G is much more advanced, so we can put a lot more data through that same amount of radio bandwidth compared to 3G.”

 

AI agents with discipline

For Channa, AI adoption has two tracks: automating business processes and embedding intelligence into networks.

He cautioned that unleashing AI without control risks disorder.

Telstra’s approach is to define “bounded contexts” for agents and set strict protocols for interaction.

“It’s very easy to create AI agents which will just run amok everywhere. You need to have discipline. Those AI agents must work within a specific area.”

 

What CIOs should take away

Looking ahead to his session with colleague Nathan Gumley, Channa said the goal is to inspire CIOs to consider how they can apply Network as a Product in their own environments and bring their unique challenges into the dialogue.

“What we want from those CIOs is to listen to us and then to think about their environment and to think about how they could apply it, and then to engage in dialog with us… because if we don’t understand and know your pain points and we can’t help you solve for your pain points, we’re not doing the job right.”

 

Key takeaways

• Adopt Network as a Product with disciplined architectures and cultural alignment.
• Embed security and resilience from the start to ensure trusted transformation.
• Upskill teams in AI and automation to prepare the workforce for programmable networks.
• Retire legacy systems decisively to unlock spectrum, reduce costs, and free talent.
• Deploy AI agents within clear boundaries to gain efficiency while maintaining control.

Hear more from Channa and other leading CIOs at CIO Edge, 26 August at the Hilton, Sydney.

Join 180 CIOs and IT leaders for one powerful day of codifying lessons learned and the latest insights into how platforms, people, and performance can drive operating excellence.