DEVICES
THE TELCO-CPO PARTNERSHIP
From dumb outlets to intelligent networks
The relationship between telecommunications telcos and Charge Point Operators( CPOs) represents a critical B2B partnership. Without telco infrastructure, CPOs would merely install basic power outlets. With it, they operate an intelligent, manageable network. The partnership manifests in three key use cases:
1Maintaining uptime through managed IoT connectivity CPOs managing thousands of chargers face a fundamental challenge: when a charger goes offline, they lose revenue whilst customers face disruption. Dispatching technicians to investigate each failure is not financially sustainable.
Telcos address the challenge through Managed IoT Platforms such as Cisco Jasper or Vodafone IoT. Each charger contains a telco SIM card, allowing the CPO to monitor every device’ s“ heartbeat” in real-time through a centralised dashboard. When a charger stops responding, the platform enables remote diagnostics and modem resets, resolving approximately 30 % of issues without technician visits. It dramatically reduces operational costs whilst improving service reliability.
2
Strategic expansion using mobility data
Building ultra-fast charging hubs represents a significant investment per site. Poor location choices can result in substantial losses. Telcos possess anonymised mobility data from millions of mobile phones, revealing precisely where people drive, park and how long they remain at locations. They can advise CPOs against sites with insufficient dwell time whilst identifying optimal locations where hundreds of potential customers park for extended periods daily. The data-driven approach ensures charging infrastructure is built where it will actually be used, protecting CPO investments and accelerating EV adoption.
3
Enabling cross-border roaming and seamless payments International EV travel creates authentication challenges. A UK driver arriving in France might find their payment app incompatible with local charging networks, as the charger’ s modem cannot securely verify foreign user credentials.
Telcos solve the issue through international roaming agreements on charger SIMs and private, encrypted data tunnels( APNs) that bypass the public internet. When the UK driver connects, authentication data travels securely to their home server for instant payment verification. It enables“ Plug & Charge” functionality under ISO 15118, where chargers automatically recognise vehicles and process payments regardless of country; similar to how mobile phones seamlessly switch networks internationally.
108 January 2026