Modernising Legacy Telecom Platforms: A Blueprint for Scalable, Resilient Architecture

Legacy telecom platforms, once the backbone of connectivity, are buckling under the pressure of today’s data-intensive world. With real-time communication and ever-rising traffic shaping the sector, modernization is no longer optional—it’s urgent. Ankush Gupta, a Cloud Strategist who has been instrumental in overhauling large-scale telecom middleware systems, embodies how strategic foresight paired with technical precision can redefine industry standards.

Gupta recalls the challenges of modernizing one of the largest telecom middleware platforms, which handled more than 18,000 SOAP-based service calls across 120 business domains on Tibco. “Response times were painfully high—over eight seconds. For a telecom operator serving millions, that’s unacceptable,” he reflects. The turning point came with a platform redesign built around RESTful APIs within a new Digital Services Group framework. “We brought response times down to less than a second. That shift not only enhanced customer experience but also strengthened the reliability of the backbone network,” he explains.

The modernization effort was more than a performance upgrade. By migrating core services to AWS infrastructure and adopting Spring Boot microservices, the initiative achieved both scalability and efficiency. Moving away from rigid platforms like Pivotal Cloud Foundry unlocked substantial cost savings. “We realized nearly $20 million in annual savings through optimized resource use,” Gupta notes. Just as critically, the operator’s customer base surged from 69 million to nearly 120 million. “That growth underscores the resilience and strength of a modernized, cloud-native platform,” he says.

Orchestrating such a transition demanded careful coordination. Gupta emphasizes the collaborative dimension: “It wasn’t just about solving engineering problems—it was about aligning strategy, operations, and security.” His team led Kubernetes deployments on AWS, maintained business continuity during critical launches, and designed custom API gateway solutions to strengthen secure communication across interconnected telecom systems. “We didn’t want to rely solely on external tools. Building internally gave us better control and trust,” he adds.

Looking forward, Gupta sees artificial intelligence as the next accelerant in telecom IT. He highlights AI-driven automation and real-time analytics as key to reducing operational risks and streamlining workflows. “Designing for robustness and flexibility today prepares us for the unpredictable challenges of tomorrow,” he remarks. His philosophy is rooted in building loosely coupled, resilient architectures that adapt seamlessly to evolving customer demands.

The story of this transformation offers more than a technical blueprint—it reflects a mindset. “Success in telecom modernization doesn’t come from adopting tools alone. It comes from thoughtful architecture, collaborative problem-solving, and above all, adaptability,” Gupta concludes.

As 5G, IoT, and AI-driven applications expand, Gupta’s approach underscores how blending strategic vision with hands-on execution can help telecom firms not just keep pace, but thrive in the digital era.