The content team at Channel Partners Newsletter tracks stories of interest to the technology advisor and wider channel communities. Anyone selling communication and connectivity solutions will want to stay abreast of these developing stories or catch up on ones they have missed. We are tracking—with the help of ChatGPT along with AI tools our parent Informa has developed—a roundup based on story traffic, mentions, impressions, reposts, and social media engagement. All links are valid as of Oct. 8.

AI Agents Pose New Risks for Telcos

AI agents "are like water, they go where they want to go," and telcos aren't prepared to deal with the risk of an unruly agent, according to a McKinsey partner. Duarte Begonha highlighted the risks during the Ericsson OSS/BSS Summit in London, claiming a lack of risk mitigation processes on the part of telcos could put them at a disadvantage as agents proliferate. Read the Fierce Network story.

Data Deluge Threatens to Drown Telcos

Telcos are still drowning in data, and the barrier standing between their success and failure in an AI-led future remains their ability to manage and understand it all, according to speakers at Ericsson’s 26th OSS/BSS Summit. AT&T, BT and wholesale Australian operator NBN all discussed managing their data and how they are using AI to take steps toward Level 4 automation, in which the network automatically makes decisions based on predictive analysis of data. “Data is the problem, and it’s the first thing we need to tackle,” said Phil Stubbs, AI/Data software engineering director at BT Group. Read the Fierce Network story.

OpenAI Partners with AMD, Launches Dev Tools

OpenAI, creator of ChatGPT, signed a deal with AMD that could include its deployment of 5 million AMD GPUs. OpenAI’s AMD GPU rollout is scheduled to start in late 2026. AMD is the closest competitor to GPU giant Nvidia. OpenAI also unveiled developer tools and services including Apps in ChatGPT, which allows applications to exist inside the GPT environment. Read the Telecoms story.

FCC Commissioner Cites 'Copper Threat Crisis'

FCC Commissioner Olivia Trusty raised alarm about a growing problem of network vandalism and called on Congress, the industry, law enforcement and the public to play a role in solving it. Trusty, a Republican on the Commission, spoke of the "growing epidemic" in remarks delivered via video at a Telecom Industry Summit held in El Segundo, Cal., on managing and prosecuting copper theft. Read the Light Reading story.

2025 TA 101 Lifetime Achievement Winner: Darcee Nelan

Channel Futures named Darcee Nelan its 2025 TA Lifetime Achievement winner, citing her adaptivity to change and drive to build community. Nelan recently retired from her role as CEO of IQ Wired after 10 years, but still serves as the advisory firm’s board president. She is also chairwoman of the Technology Channel Sales Professionals (TCSP) trade association. Channel Futures praised her for the way she has rallied technology advisors (TAs) to embrace the next wave of change. Read the Channel Futures story.

Zayo Gets Dynamic Around AI

Zayo launched DynamicLink, bringing Zayo’s services such as Dedicated Internet Access (DIA), Ethernet and DDoS Protection under its network-as-a-service (NaaS) umbrella. DynamicLink includes an AI assistant designed to make network setup less complicated for customers. Read the Fierce Network story.

Canalys: Channel Must Embrace AI

Although little AI revenue has filtered down to the channel so far, ignoring AI is not a viable option for channel partners according to Informa fellow Steve Brazier. Speaking at the Canalys Channels Forum in Barcelona, Brazier urged people in the channel to take control of their destiny around AI and develop the skills required to support customers and differentiate their proposition. Read the MicroScope story.