T-Mobile - February 2023

Bridging gaps for a more inclusive tech industry

BRIDG GAPS

T-Mobile’s mission is to be the best in the world at connecting customers to their world. It’s at the heart of who we are, enabling more people in more places to have access to the connectivity, service and value they deserve - and making it our priority to not leave anyone behind.

As Edwige A. Robinson, Senior Vice President of Network Engineering and Operations for the Central Region at T-Mobile US, puts it:

“As the Un-carrier the company focused on solving customer pain points and changing the wireless industry for good, consumers and businesses across the US have benefitted from more accessibility and more choice thanks to T-Mobile’s continuing work to deliver more competition in both wireless and in-home broadband."

Delivering Connectivity to Underserved Students and Our Commitment to DE&I

A significant focus for T-Mobile has been helping to bridge the digital divide, ensuring that everyone has the ability to access the internet regardless of location or level of income. Today, that matters more than ever, especially when it comes to providing children with equal education opportunities.

That’s why the company launched Project 10Million in 2020, setting the audacious goal of providing ten million students with a free hotspot, free or highly subsidised data

Edwige A. Robinson, Senior Vice President of Network Engineering and Operations at T-Mobile, explains her passion for making technology more inclusive

EDWIGE A. ROBINSON SVP NETWORK ENGINEERING AND OPERATIONS,

“Here at T-Mobile, in addition to being part of a team focused on driving innovation and network transformation, one of my passions is to help women enter into the tech field. Not just to come in, but to stay and to succeed”

T-MOBILE

Tellworks

using data to create the perfect supply chain

In a partnership with T-Mobile that’s lasted more than 15 years, Tellworks is removing inefficiencies from the supply chain using data and technology

Founded in 2005, Tellworks is a supply chain organisation which has a long-standing relationship with telecom giant T-Mobile.

“Our services enhance the supply chain of T-Mobile,” explains Christo Makrides, Managing Partner of Tellworks Logistics, AIMSPlus Software and Makt-Trans Freight & Brokerage.

Tellworks’ relationship with T-Mobile started back in 2007, Makrides explains, beginning with the telco’s reverse logistics. “Then around 2017 we began discussing a national contract for forward logistics, which we were awarded in 2018,” he says.

With the best interest of the customer at heart, the mantra of ‘service first’ is in Makrides’ DNA, which he sees as the key ingredient to success. The use of data and analytics is critical in supporting supply chain operations and enabling Tellworks to customise T-Mobile’s supply chain to their requirements. “The best technology wins the game,” Makrides comments. “The customisation of technology around the supply chain, specifically in

telecommunications, was the oxygen that T-Mobile needed and is something that we worked very hard to provide and tailor to their needs, rather than provide a platform that is off the shelf and difficult to change.”

For Makrides, it is important to build upon the two organisations’ relationship going forward. “My goal is to have a strategic approach to our relationship,” he says. “I would like to create the perfect warehouse, the perfect transportation solution, and the best software platform. And I believe when, at the end of the day, we complete the mission we are going to provide a lot of cost-effectiveness.”

“We’re going to take the inefficiencies out of the system, and that will translate into a more cost-effective programme within the partnership,” Makrides concludes. “I believe that will give us a long-term relationship. That is the goal for every vendor to be in partnership with such a huge organisation.”

plans and access to laptops and tablets. Through this nationwide program, T-Mobile has invested $3.65bn in services to connect more than 4.3 million students.

In addition to the important work of helping to bridge the digital divide, the company is also focused on advancing diversity, equity and inclusion in our workforce and beyond.

“

We are working for and listening to our customers, as well as our team of experts, so that we can really cater to the need and curate different services and products of a need”

EDWIGE A. ROBINSON SVP NETWORK ENGINEERING AND OPERATIONS, T-MOBILE

At T-Mobile, people are at the heart and soul of the enterprise. The Un-carrier embeds DE&I in all that they do, from hiring and employee development, to award-winning culture and a five-year Equity in Action plan.

T-Mobile has already reached 84% of its goal to hire 10,000 veterans and military spouses by 2023. Additionally, its workforce comprises nearly 60% people of colour, and nearly half of its employees are women.

EDWIGE A. ROBINSON

TITLE: SVP NETWORK ENGINEERING AND OPERATIONS INDUSTRY: TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Edwige is renowned Technologist with 25+ years of experience in the Technology & Leadership realm. She believes a more diverse & inclusive Tech world is possible and lends her expertise and her heart centered leadership approach, to her work and service to the Tech community every day. Described as the Translator of new innovations, she is a “Triple Minority” in tech - A native of Ivory Coast, West Africa - a foreigner, being female, and black, she is known for her unwavering courage and optimism. Despite countless obstacles to impede her success, she forged ahead and has succeeded in vital roles at major companies in the USA. Not only

“At T-Mobile, I lead a team that is focused on driving the innovation and transformation of our network. It’s a privilege to set a leadership example of what is possible, and one of my passions is to give back by helping women and minorities build and thrive in a technology career,” said Robinson.

A huge supporter of gender inclusivity in the workplace, Robinson sits on several Advisory Boards driving STEM education to underserved communities. She serves on the Board of Directors of A Little Bit of Hope and 4Girls 4Change with responsibility to drive strategy, programming and capacity building. Alongside this, her most-anticipated book is coming in Autumn 2023.

“For me personally, supporting gender inclusivity in the workplace and helping to bridge the digital divide are two important issues I’m passionate about supporting. I’m proud that T-Mobile is committed to continuing its DE&I work, and closing the digital equity gap so that future generations

have more equitable opportunities and are prepared with the education and skills needed for future careers.”

“It’s much more than just providing connectivity earlier. It’s about helping to change the trajectory of a lot of kids’ lives and improving their future,” explained Robinson.

According to a Harvard Center for Education Policy report, achievement growth in districts that taught remotely during the pandemic was lower for students attending high-poverty schools compared to those for students attending low-poverty schools. Closing the digital equity gap and recovering the learning loss carries serious weight, which is why T-Mobile is committed to helping students across the country access the internet, technology, and resources they need to receive an education and pursue opportunities.

To this aim, T-Mobile also works with a number of reputable youth networks, such as Big Brother Big Sisters of America,

Bridging gaps for a more inclusive tech industry

EDWIGE A. ROBINSON SVP NETWORK ENGINEERING AND OPERATIONS, T-MOBILE

to further expand its reach across 5,000 communities. We also support California’s Emerging Technology Fund and the Silicon Valley Education Foundation both of which focus on helping to bridge the digital divide.

Creating the 5G networks of the future T-Mobile was the first US wireless provider to launch 5G nationwide in 2019, the next generation of wireless network technology, designed to expand the scope of mobile technology beyond the capabilities of LTE.

In her current role, Robinson, who was appointed in 2020, is responsible for leading her team to design, build and maintain a cutting-edge 5G network and partnering with key stakeholders to deliver an outstanding 5G experience.

“We all know that 5G is super-fast and has more capacity. It is providing a tremendous

“The company will be utilising everything that 5G can offer, helping to bring to life all different types of technology and use cases for connected devices such as AI, drones, healthcare and more”

amount of benefits to our customers, but is it improving customer experience in general?”

“Yes! If the customer has the ability to have their home interconnected, then they are able to check on their home while away or track their dog, for example, which makes life a little bit easier and better,” said Robinson.

Another benefit of T-Mobile’s 5G, according to Robinson, is that their customers don’t have to choose between value and using the best network.

In recent findings from umlaut, an arm of Accenture, it found T-Mobile is the most reliable 5G network with the best 5G coverage and fastest active 5G download and upload speeds – for the third time in a row.

The study confirms that T-Mobile has maintained its lead over AT&T and Verizon for 5G reliability, download speed, upload speed and coverage. T-Mobile users also had 5G coverage significantly more often than Verizon customers, with download and upload speeds faster than both Verizon and AT&T, again.

The Un-carrier’s extended range 5G covers nearly everyone in the country – 323 million people across 1.9 million square

miles. 260 million people nationwide are covered with super-fast Ultra Capacity 5G, and T-Mobile expects this figure to reach 300 million next year.

With investment, T-Mobile continues to execute on its years-long strategy to build the highest-capacity, broadest network in US history.

Working in collaboration with strategic partners

The cornerstone of any relationship, especially at work, is radical collaboration, according to Robinson. It can make or break a team, and provides everyone with a sense of belonging, allowing them

to feel heard and seen. Speaking on the importance of partnerships, Robinson explained how ‘nobody wins alone’.

“It doesn't matter who you are, you need your partners in order to succeed. So for me, it's taken amazing partners such as Nokia or Ericsson to really be at the cornerstone of a delivery machine. We are working with them in order for us to deliver our best network to our customers, so that we can connect our customers to their world. The partnerships, to me, are the baseline in connecting with your vendors and turning them into true strategic partners.”

One thing Robinson has learned throughout her career is that, when it comes

to having a long-term partnership, having a clear goal and mutual accountability are essential in order to succeed and meet the agreed upon commitments.

“I think it is about acknowledging what each other does best and then trying to maximise those inputs for the best business result. So, in terms of T-Mobile, we are on our way to becoming number one, and we are doing it with our partners. We are embracing all our vendors, not as vendors, but as strategic partners. We are working with and listening to our customers, as well as our team of experts, so that we can really cater to the need by curating different services and products accordingly.”

Veteran technology expertise coupled with a leading 5G wireless partner

Nokia’s Head of Mobile Network Services for T-Mobile,Rajan Vashisht and VP of Operations and Customer Delivery Manager, Chantal Tremblay detail the long-standing T-Mobile partnership and their future 5G ambitions.

A telecom industry veteran with over 24 years’ experience, Nokia’s Head of Services for T-Mobile Rajan Vashisht, spoke highly of the company’s partnership with T-Mobile, as an integral relationship that is helping Nokia to achieve its strategic mission—of creating the technology that helps the world act together.

“Our solutions enable service providers, industries and the public sector to create the critical networks that bring people, machines and devices together,” says Vashisht. “We are a trusted technology partner and leader across mobile, fixed, and cloud networks.”

Within the key strategic partnership, Vashisht alongside VP of Operations and Customer Delivery Manager, Chantal Tremblay, highlighted that a cornerstone of their successful relationship is their shared passion for putting the customer experience first.

Both organisations continue working to deliver next-generation wireless connectivity to everyone, everywhere. As Tremblay delves more into the partnership, she explains they are leveraging both company’s expertise to build a 5G network.

“At Nokia, we work to be a true strategic partner, not just a vendor. We listen closely to our customer’s needs and align fully with their vision, working as one team. Ultimately, our success is defined by the success of our customers.”

A partnership with a mobile veteran

As the partnership was formalised and has evolved over time, both organisations responded to their counterparts’ positioning against market trends, as well as sharing any growth opportunities.

“When T-Mobile ‘went all-in’ on 5G, so did Nokia, helping our partner advance the large-scale deployment of 5G services throughout the United States,” Tremblay says.

“Nokia’s 5G technology, software and services have supported the un-carrier in its efforts to bring its network to market, expand coverage, and deploy flexible and scalable 5G networks for enterprise.”

Vashisht believes there are exciting opportunities ahead as a key technology partner for T-Mobile. “We are honoured to have been by T-Mobile’s side during their fantastic 5G journey thus far, but our work together is not done yet.”

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AND OPERATIONS, T-MOBILE

“It doesn't matter who you are, you need your partners in order for you to succeed”

EDWIGE A. ROBINSON SVP NETWORK ENGINEERING

Embracing the ever-evolving changes in technology

As T-Mobile strives to achieve the status of the number one mobile network provider, customer centricity is a focus.

“For us to do that, we need to ensure that our teams and our leaders are able to quickly learn, experiment and implement so that we can provide the best product and the best services at all times.”

As the company enters into 2023, it wants to ensure that it is maximising the benefits of 5G, but, more importantly, that it continues to squash customer pain points and provide them with the highest quality network. To do so, it needs to continue to evolve in this changing world.

“The company will be utilising everything that 5G can offer, helping to bring to life all different types of technology and use cases from connected devices such as AI, drones, healthcare and more.”

T-Mobile 3625 132nd Ave SE Bellevue WA 98006 T: (877) 413-5903 E: Edwige.robinson@t-mobile.com