AT&T’s India Development Centers (IDC) plays a pivotal role in AT&T’s connectivity strategy, and no one is better suited to speak to that importance more than Santosh Bijur, Vice President of the India Development Center. Under his leadership, the IDC has become a hub of creativity, contributing significantly to AT&T’s mission of connecting people through advancements in 5G and fiber technologies.
IDC’s Strategic Goals and Role in AT&T
A relatively new unit within AT&T Technology Services, the IDC supports four main verticals: Chief Data Office, Chief Information Office, Consumer Technology & Experience, and Business Systems and Process Development.
“The idea is to create a technology powerhouse in India that’s part of the AT&T Technology Services organization,” says Santosh. This aligns with AT&T’s business strategy of evolving from a core telecom company into a leading technology and telecom enterprise.
The IDC is not a separate group, but an extension of AT&T’s global technology services team that contributes to nearly every product that goes to market. For example, Santosh mentions the critical role IDC teams played in the launch of AT&T Internet Air – our latest offering to bring high speed internet to any customer in our wireless footprint.
“Practically anything that you see is happening in the company, there is a part of that being worked on in India,” he adds.
Challenges and Solutions
Being 8,000 miles away from the U.S. headquarters presents challenges, particularly in terms of cultural alignment and brand recognition. “AT&T is not a household name in India,” Santosh notes. To tackle this, AT&T has been investing in enhancing its brand presence through social media, digital platforms, and local media.
Cultural connection is another challenge. Making sure everyone feels connected is a top priority, and Santosh emphasizes the importance of frequent visits between the U.S. and India to bridge this gap.
“It is very easy for a group like ours sitting on the other side of the world to feel like it is in suspended animation,” he says, highlighting the efforts to stay connected with teams in the U.S.
Innovation and Opportunities
Creativity is at the core of IDC’s mission. Santosh explains that nurturing this kind of culture involves more than just hackathons and innovation jams. “A big part of driving innovation is literally to connect our people in India, in the IDC, to real problems of the business and customers,” he states. This connection enables everyday ingenuity, making it a natural part of their workflow.
Generative AI is another area where IDC is making strides.
“GenAI will percolate into all aspects of the work that is needed in the four areas that we talked about, and at all levels,” Santosh mentions. From coding and testing to solving real customer problems, the potential of GenAI is immense.
Opportunities for New Talent
The IDC is on a rapid growth trajectory. Expanding from 800 employees last year to a projected 3,500 by the end of 2025, there’s a lot of opportunity for new talent. Santosh outlines the skills and qualities they are looking for, aligning them with AT&T’s cultural pillars: serving customers first, moving faster, acting boldly, and winning as one.
“Technology skills relative to Salesforce, ServiceNow, data science, data engineering, network systems, corporate systems from a specific technology skill standpoint, Java, full stack, GenAI are all crucial,” he elaborates.
Beyond technical skills, IDC needs individuals who are curious, customer-focused, and capable of continuous improvement.
Final Thoughts
Santosh Bijur’s message to potential employees is clear: “There is a lot of pride in the company about being the originators of the phone call. Our mission of creating a technology powerhouse here in India is going to give everybody an opportunity to be part of that journey for many more years to follow.”
Join the IDC team and be a part of AT&T’s exciting journey of technological innovation and global connectivity.
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