Episode 451: Tony Stout Discusses API Strategy, Open Architecture, and AI at CDG

In this episode of the Broadband Bunch, recorded live on day three of Fiber Connect 2025 in Nashville, host Pete Pizzutillo sits down with Tony Stout, Chief Technology Officer at CDG. With nearly 30 years in the telecom industry, Tony shares how CDG—a 55-year-old OSS/BSS provider—continues to innovate by building a next-generation, AI-native platform called Elements. Tony tells about CDG’s digital transformation journey, including their move to the cloud via AWS, embracing open architectures, and integrating with partners like VETRO for real-time, self-service API integrations. He emphasizes the shift from telco to techco, and how operators must prioritize data hygiene, process optimization, and architectural flexibility to stay competitive in the AI era. Tony offers insights for operators navigating legacy system modernization. The conversation also touches on the role of standards, the evolution of operational tools, and what’s ahead for the broadband industry in 2026.