Telcos urged to adopt disaggregation or fall behind
This article was published in Mobile Magazine on May 14, 2025. You can read the original article here
With 400G speeds and stronger security, RtBrick and telcos like Deutsche Telekom show disaggregated networks are ready to meet growing demand
The telecommunications industry stands on the brink of a seismic shift. For years, operators have relied on traditional, vertically integrated network architectures dominated by a handful of legacy vendors. While the model provided stability, it introduced inflexibility, higher costs and innovation bottlenecks. That status quo is now under real pressure, driven by the demands of AI, cloud-native services and explosive data growth.
At the centre of the movement to reimagine the network is RtBrick, which has made significant strides in proving that disaggregated, cloud-native infrastructure isn’t a lab experiment—it’s real and already transforming live networks.
Hannes Gredler, co-founder and CTO at RtBrick, has a clear message for telcos: adapt now or risk irrelevance.
“Quite simply, because the industry is changing and operators that fail to adapt will fall behind. We’re entering a new era driven by cloud-native networking, AI-driven automation and the need for scalable, high-speed connectivity.” Hannes outlined.
Beyond the hype: disaggregation in practice
RtBrick’s approach to disaggregation involves separating software from proprietary hardware, allowing operators to mix and match best-in-class components. Far from being a theoretical concept, it has been actively deploying this model at scale, including high-profile collaborations with major telcos such as Deutsche Telekom.
“Over the past few months, we’ve rolled out a series of innovations to improve the performance and security of disaggregated networks for ISPs,” says Hannes. “A key focus for us has been security—we’ve introduced new peering security capabilities to help operators protect against route hijacks and leaks.”
Importantly, RtBrick has made significant progress in scaling performance, pushing the envelope by enabling 400G capabilities within a disaggregated architecture. The flexibility is critical for operators under pressure to deliver ever-increasing bandwidth, particularly as AI workloads enter the mainstream.
Rewriting the security playbook
Security in open, disaggregated environments is a frequent sticking point for more traditional telcos. However, rather than being a weakness, disaggregation may offer operators stronger defences if implemented correctly.
“Security in a disaggregated environment requires a different approach than traditional, monolithic network architectures,” Hannes explains. “Disaggregation allows operators to implement best-in-class security tools rather than being limited to a single vendor’s security stack.”
He stresses the importance of a layered security model, including real-time monitoring, automated threat detection and compliance with open, standardised protocols. The ability to innovate faster in a modular setup often leads to more rapid security improvements—another compelling reason for operators to consider the shift.
AI and automation: simplifying complexity
One of the long-standing arguments against disaggregation has been operational complexity. Hannes acknowledges the concern, but believes AI is already changing the game.
“AI-driven automation is most effective when it can streamline operations. If deployed correctly, it can optimise traffic routing, predict failures before they occur and enhance security.”
He suggests that AI and analytics are vital tools in helping operators transition to and manage disaggregated networks. These technologies reduce the need for deep technical expertise in every stack layer, enabling leaner, more efficient network operations.
The cultural challenge
Despite the technical advantages, many telcos remain slow to adapt. Hannes believes the challenge is not purely technical—it’s cultural.
“The reluctance stems primarily from risk aversion and the traditional operations of telcos. Many operators fear that transitioning to a disaggregated model could disrupt their networks or necessitate a complete upgrade of their current systems.
”Long-term relationships with incumbent vendors, internal skill gaps and a general resistance to change all play a role in slowing progress. Yet, according to Hannes, these are surmountable with the right leadership and vision.
Time is running out
The industry is at a crossroads. With increasing pressure to support next-gen services, reduce costs and move faster, disaggregation is no longer optional.
“The reality is, the disaggregation discussion is no longer about whether operators should adopt it, but when.”
Operators like WOBCOM are already leading the way, showing that even smaller players can move decisively towards disaggregated, cloud-native networks. The choice is clear for others: act now or risk being left behind.
From hesitation to action
Telcos that continue to rely on legacy infrastructure may soon find themselves outpaced by more agile competitors. The case for disaggregation has moved beyond theory—it’s already powering real-world networks with greater flexibility, cost efficiency and innovation. With AI and security capabilities improving rapidly, the barriers are falling.
Hannes’s advice couldn’t be more direct: the time to embrace disaggregation is now.