The Open Standard: Gary Mackenzie on Modernizing the Telco Ecosystem

As 5G transitions from a futuristic promise to a foundational reality, the telecommunications industry is hitting a critical inflection point. The move toward cloud native infrastructure is no longer optional, but the path to getting there is often cluttered with fragmentation and proprietary roadblocks.

In a recent featured interview with TelecomTV, Gary Mackenzie, GM of Telco Business at SUSE, shares his perspective on how the industry can cut through the noise to build truly scalable, open source networks.

A unified front: the role of Project Sylva

One of the most significant challenges facing modern operators is the sheer variety of cloud stacks. Gary discusses how SUSE is leaning into Project Sylva to solve this. By working with major European operators to create a validated, open source software framework, SUSE is helping to ensure that the telco cloud isn’t just a collection of siloed parts, but a unified, interoperable ecosystem.

Key insights from Gary’s discussion include:

• Driving Operational Consistency: How a standardized platform allows CSPs to deploy services faster while keeping operational costs in check.
• The Importance of Sovereignty: Why having an open, vendor-neutral stack is essential for digital sovereignty and long-term infrastructure control.
• Scaling the Edge: Practical strategies for managing high-density, distributed edge deployments using SUSE Telco Cloud.

Moving beyond “black box” networking

The conversation highlights a major shift in how telcos view their vendors. Gary emphasizes that the future belongs to those who embrace disaggregated architectures. By moving away from integrated, proprietary hardware and software stacks, operators gain the flexibility to innovate at the speed of software.

As Gary notes, the goal is to provide a carrier-grade experience, one that combines the rapid innovation of the open source community with the rigorous security and reliability standards that the telecom industry demands.

If you’re looking for a clear-eyed view of where the telco cloud is heading in 2026 and beyond, watch the full interview.