In Episode 19 of Whiskey & Wireless, Ron Willett sits down with Bart Goethals, Sales Engineering Lead at TMT ID, to discuss one of the most important developments in telecom today: Network APIs.

Bart shares his journey from Belgium's telecom industry to the United States, his work with international carriers, and how mobile operators are becoming a critical part of the fight against fraud, account takeovers, and digital identity abuse.

The conversation explores how carriers can monetize network data, why enterprises are increasingly demanding access to Network APIs, and how technologies like SIM Swap detection, Silent Network Authentication, and identity verification are helping businesses create more secure, frictionless customer experiences.

Ron and Bart also discuss the growing fraud ecosystem fueled by AI, the role regional carriers can play in the emerging Network API economy, and why mobile identity is becoming one of the most valuable assets in digital commerce.

Along the way, they cover everything from international telecom, racing Corvettes and go-karts, life in Belgium and California, and why protecting consumers has never been more important.

In this episode:
• Bart's journey from Belgium telecom to Silicon Valley
• How Network APIs are transforming digital identity
• SIM Swap detection and account takeover prevention
• Silent Network Authentication and frictionless security
• Why carriers are uniquely positioned to fight fraud
• The business opportunity for regional carriers
• AI-driven fraud and the future of identity verification
• Mobile identity, consumer trust, and enterprise security
• Bart's passion for motorsports and international travel

If you work in telecom, cybersecurity, fintech, identity verification, fraud prevention, or carrier services, this episode offers valuable insights into one of the fastest-growing opportunities in the wireless industry.

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In Episode 18 of Whiskey & Wireless, Ron Willett records live from CCA and sits down with three longtime leaders from the regional wireless ecosystem:

• Kim Caronchi, Competitive Carriers Association (CCA)
• Ron Whaley, IDI Billing Solutions
• Slayton Stewart, CEO of Carolina West Wireless

The conversations cover the evolution of RCA into today’s CCA, the relationships that have shaped the regional wireless industry for decades, and the growing challenges facing rural and regional carriers across the United States.

From policy and advocacy in Washington to shrinking roaming revenue, AI adoption, private networks, and the fight to preserve local wireless providers, this episode offers an honest look at the realities of telecom today.

The discussion also explores:

-How CCA became a major advocacy force in Washington
-Why relationships still drive the telecom industry
-The financial pressures facing regional carriers
-The decline of roaming and universal service funding
-AI, automation, and operational efficiency in telecom
-New revenue opportunities through APIs and private networks
-Why local customer service still matters in rural America
-The importance of supporting regional carriers and communities

This episode is part industry history, part business strategy, and part behind-the-scenes look at the people helping keep regional wireless alive.

If you work in telecom, wireless infrastructure, carrier operations, billing, policy, or rural broadband, this is a conversation worth hearing.

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#podcast #wireless #telecom

In Episode 17 of Whiskey & Wireless, Ron Willett sits down with Bill Basquin, VP of Sales, Americas at AppLogic, for a deep dive into how carriers manage the growing complexity of modern data networks.

Bill shares his journey from startup setbacks to leading sales across the Americas, along with a behind-the-scenes look at how network traffic has evolved from early file-sharing days to today’s AI-driven, high-bandwidth environment.

The conversation explores how carriers handle congestion, why adding more bandwidth doesn’t solve the problem, and how solutions like Total Traffic Manager (TTM) help optimize network performance while improving the end-user experience. From Netflix surges to AI traffic bursts, Bill breaks down what’s really happening inside the network.

They also discuss emerging opportunities in enterprise services, satellite infrastructure, and how carriers can unlock new revenue streams through smarter data utilization without crossing the line on privacy.

This episode offers a practical look at the technology powering modern networks and the strategies carriers need to stay competitive.

If you work in telecom, network engineering, carrier operations, or infrastructure strategy, this episode provides valuable insight into how networks are managed at scale.

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#podcast #telecom #wireless #networkoptimization

Description:
In Episode 16 of Whiskey & Wireless, Ron Willett sits down with Alan Lewis, CEO and Co-Founder of Hydeco, to talk about the newly announced partnership between ClearSky and Hydeco and why affordable, dependable SMS infrastructure still matters for regional and rural carriers.

Alan shares the origin story behind Hydeco, from the paging software days to building one of the industry’s most trusted carrier-focused SMS platforms. He and Ron discuss why SMS is far from dead, how smaller carriers can reduce costs without sacrificing service, and why customer support, product reliability, and long-term relationships still win in telecom.

The conversation also covers Hydeco’s carrier-first philosophy, the value of in-house development and support, and what it takes to stay relevant in a business where technology moves slowly until suddenly it doesn’t.

This episode is part partnership story, part telecom history, and part lesson in building sticky, durable products for a changing wireless market.

In this episode:
-The ClearSky and Hydeco partnership
-Why SMS still matters for carriers
-Helping regional operators lower costs and improve service
-How Hydeco built its first SMSC in 1998
-Why in-house code and support make a difference
-The importance of customer-driven product development
-How long-term carrier relationships are built and maintained

If you work in telecom, carrier operations, messaging infrastructure, or rural wireless, this episode offers a practical look at how the right technology partners can create real value.
Subscribe to Whiskey & Wireless for more conversations with the people shaping the telecom industry.

#podcast #whiskeyandwireless #telecom

In Episode 15 of Whiskey & Wireless, Ron Willett sits down with Tim Donovan, President and CEO of the Competitive Carriers Association (CCA), for a conversation about the forces shaping the future of rural wireless.

Tim shares how CCA represents regional and rural carriers on Capitol Hill, advocating for policies that ensure smaller operators can compete, invest, and continue delivering connectivity across the United States. The discussion explores the policy battles behind spectrum, universal service, and why accurate coverage maps and strong industry advocacy remain critical for rural networks.

The conversation also looks ahead at how AI infrastructure, satellite partnerships, and new technology demands could reshape the economics of connectivity. As data demand grows and infrastructure requirements expand, rural carriers may find themselves at the center of the next phase of wireless investment.

This episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at telecom policy, rural connectivity, and the evolving role of regional carriers in the wireless ecosystem.

In this episode:

Tim Donovan’s path to leading the Competitive Carriers Association

How CCA advocates for rural and regional carriers in Washington

The policy challenges facing rural wireless operators

Why accurate coverage maps matter for funding and deployment

AI infrastructure and the growing demand for network capacity

Satellite partnerships and their potential impact on rural connectivity

What the future may hold for regional wireless carriers

If you work in telecom, rural broadband, wireless policy, or carrier strategy, this episode provides valuable insight into the conversations shaping the industry.

Learn more about CCA: https://competitivecarriers.org

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#podcast #whiskeypodcast

In Episode 14 of Whiskey and Wireless, Ron Willett sits down with Miriam Liszewski, RCS Commercial Product Manager at Sinch, to talk about what’s changed in the last 18 months and why RCS is finally moving from “someday” to real adoption.

Miriam shares her path from Google (starting in RCS back in 2018) to Sinch, how RCS for Business is reshaping brand-to-consumer engagement, and why Apple support was the tipping point that made enterprise conversations start happening for real.

They also get into how RCS compares to SMS/MMS and WhatsApp globally, why “entitlement servers” suddenly matter, and what the next wave of messaging looks like as reach increases and fallback becomes the exception instead of the rule.

#WhiskeyAndWireless #RCS #RCForBusiness #Sinch #Messaging #A2P #Telecom #MobileMessaging #CustomerEngagement #CPaaS

In this episode, Ron Willett sits down with Allen Bennion, Director of RINA Operations, to talk about 20 years of powering rural wireless through partnership, persistence, and plenty of tower climbs.

Allen shares how RINA helps regional carriers survive and thrive in a changing industry, what’s next for rural 5G, and why consolidation, shared infrastructure, and new revenue streams like RCS are the key to long-term success.

They also talk about Allen’s background growing up in Vernal, Utah, family life, leadership, values, and why the best therapy might involve a horse, a mountain trail, and no cell service.

Subscribe for more conversations with the people who power the wireless world.

#WhiskeyAndWireless #TelecomPodcast #WirelessIndustry #Business #podcast

In Episode 12 of Whiskey and Wireless, Ron Willett sits down with Stephanie Lashley, VP of Messaging Strategic Alliances & Infrastructure at Bandwidth - widely known in the industry as the Queen of Messaging.

Stephanie shares her journey from growing up in Kansas City to building her career at Sprint and Bandwidth, her perspective on the evolution of A2P messaging and 10DLC, and why she believes RCS is finally here to stay.

They also discuss:
• The explosive growth of political and retail messaging post-2020
• The role of marketing in solving objections before they arise
• How Bandwidth scaled messaging from a “fledgling product” to a major revenue driver
• Leadership lessons, customer-centric strategy, and what’s next in messaging
• The growing momentum of women in telecom, including the Women in Messaging Dinner at MWC

Plus: how travel, Taylor Swift, and sardines all tie in.

Subscribe for more candid conversations with the people shaping the wireless ecosystem.

#WhiskeyAndWireless #StephanieLashley #Bandwidth #MessagingLeadership #RCS #10DLC #A2P #TelecomPodcast #WomenInTelecom #CarrierTech #WirelessMessaging #MEF #BusinessMessaging