UponAI
AI Voice Agents & Technology

25 Years in Telecom: A Reality Check

Here's what I've actually learned: The real winners in telecom aren't the ones taking. They're the ones giving. Sharing advice without expecting equity.

By Bill McClainJanuary 20, 20261.0 min read
25 Years in Telecom: A Reality Check

This article is part of the local UponAI blog library and focuses on practical AI voice and communications workflow lessons that matter in live business environments.

I've been in this industry for a quarter century now. Started out in what I can only describe as a Glengarry Glen Ross environment. Family-owned, family-"shady," the works.

The hours were grueling: Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 6:30 PM, plus one Saturday a month. When I briefly dated the owner's nephew, somehow those hours got even worse. But the schedule wasn't what eventually drove me out. It was the shadiness .At first, I thought it was just them. Just that company. Just that family.I was wrong.Twenty-five years later, I've watched the same patterns play out across the industry. Stolen ideas. Copied software. Zero integrity. And the people doing it? They're still considered "leaders." Still getting invited to speak at conferences. Still held up as examples of success.Here's what I've actually learned: The real winners in telecom aren't the ones taking. They're the ones giving. Sharing advice without expecting equity. Helping others without calculating the payout. Building relationships instead of burning them.I sometimes joke that organized crime has more of a moral code than some telecom executives I've encountered. At least they're upfront about what they are.So my question is simple: When is the telecommunications industry going to grow up?The people worth following in this industry aren't hard to spot. They're the ones who give without keeping score.

What This Means

UponAI content is built around production use, not generic AI positioning. The goal is to help teams understand how routing, call handling, automation, and human handoff behave once the system is part of daily operations.

AI Voice Demo

Want To See These Workflows In Practice?

Book a demo to see how UponAI turns inbound demand, AI voice handling, and human escalation into one operating workflow.

Cookie Consent

Control analytics and marketing tracking on UponAI.

UponAI uses non-essential tracking tools for analytics and lead attribution. Accepting allows RB2B and Snitcher to load. Rejecting keeps those scripts off until you opt in later.

Choose whether to allow analytics and marketing cookies