Hello, I’m Matthew Key, and I’ve worked in the telecoms sector for around 25 years. Previously, I worked at BT, where I gained a lot of contacts, and now I am an independent consultant, under the umbrella of Ideas Crucible.
We help raise venture funding for early-stage start-up companies, covering a range of sectors. Telecoms is a crucial area for us. I joined the industry after finishing my MBA in the broadband strategy group at BT, when broadband was in its infancy. I built from there, experiencing the innovation and commercial side.
For global telcos, introducing innovation can be difficult. I once sat in the BT division under the CTO, who wanted to reach out to emerging companies internationally, so I understand the frustration. This experience enables me to bring start-ups and multinational companies together.
I recently gave a short speech about innovating the two opposing worlds at a UKTIN event. The room was buzzing, and people were very complimentary afterwards, which was nice; we now have a potential client out of it.
A large UK-based telecoms company also approached us after another UKTIN event last year. We’ve since had fruitful conversations, and I have written a proposal. The company has six key asks, and we will use our existing contacts to push them forward. This is why forming relationships and developing a telecoms ecosystem is paramount. Telecoms is facing many challenges. We must listen and learn from one another.
What do you enjoy most about working in this space?
Telecoms is an enabler. We work with various clients and technologies, including AI and quantum.
What’s the most ridiculous thing you’ve done in the name of work?
Eight years ago, I participated in a BT-sponsored innovation course. It was a two-week course taught over several months, based at Imperial College London. Imperial had some early prototype drones, and I was fascinated, even though it had nothing to do with my day job. I was given the space to look at this emerging technology and entered the Change Cup competition (a new ideas scheme), building a diverse team and ending up at the final in Monte Carlo. We made the final ten out of 11,000 teams globally.
Where do you see telecoms heading?
There will continue to be structural changes. We recently witnessed the Vodafone and Three merger. This will continue globally. Big tech moves such as 6G and beyond will create change. Then, we’ve got AI, which will transform public services (I think we are only at the beginning of the changes here, which is exciting). There’s also quantum and the chip world… lots is happening, albeit with significant challenges.
What would you like people to know about your work?
We understand what’s happening in the tech world. We understand telecoms and the uncertainties that come with it. My business partner has a PhD, which illustrates the strength of our understanding.
Why is a vibrant, flourishing telecoms ecosystem important for the UK?
For many reasons. It’s an employment route and a massive net contributor to the economy. From a UK Plc perspective, we need a thriving and complex sector. Telecoms intersect with many industries, and an ecosystem is paramount to integrating technologies such as AI.
