And that’s where the gap appears. Most companies weren’t built to be data service providers. They don’t have the systems to handle cross-organizational access, scalable onboarding, or the enforcement of usage conditions across ecosystems. Many are now realizing they need help. Not with strategy or compliance advice, but with trusted infrastructure that simply works. Unexpectedly, that help may come from an industry you already know well: telecom providers.
From networks to data ecosystems
Telecom companies have long operated in the background, delivering connectivity, uptime, and reliability. But as the Data Act accelerates demand for scalable, governed, and interoperable data exchange, they’re moving into a new space: enabling data sharing between organizations. The fit makes sense. Telcos understand:
- how to manage identity and access at scale,
- how to meet regulatory demands,
- and how to provide shared infrastructure without competing with their customers.
They’ve spent decades building trust through neutrality and performance. Now, they’re applying that same discipline to help companies enter and operate in data spaces – the federated ecosystems that the Data Act makes not only relevant, but necessary.
Why this shift matters
The Data Act mandates that product data be made accessible, not just to customers but to other parties they choose. That means organizations must:
- onboard external entities into data-sharing environments,
- verify identities and manage permissions,
- publish APIs and usage conditions,
- and prove that data is used legally and securely.
For most companies, this is uncharted territory. They don’t want to host connectors. They don’t have a legal trust framework in place. And they certainly don’t want to become service providers for their customers’ vendors. Telecom providers are stepping into that void to offer exactly those capabilities as managed services.
Two examples from the field
KPN, the Dutch telecom provider, is supporting companies that need to join data spaces quickly and securely. In the Smart Connected Supplier Network (SCSN), KPN provides managed onboarding, identity verification, and hosting of connectors for over 400 participants in manufacturing and logistics. Their integration of the iSHARE trust framework ensures that access rights are not just configured, but contractually enforceable. T-Systems, part of Deutsche Telekom, offers a modular portfolio of services for companies preparing to operate in data spaces – whether in manufacturing, energy, or mobility. With “Connect & Integrate” and “Data Space as a Service,” they give users the tools to exchange data securely, host or develop applications, and comply with the rules of ecosystems like Catena-X. What these cases have in common is their focus on making data sharing usable by reducing friction, lowering onboarding costs, and translating technical standards into operational support.
For Data Spaces Users, the message is straightforward:
- The Data Act raises infrastructure expectations. Compliance requires scalable systems, not just policy updates.
- You don’t need to build alone. Telecom providers are offering operational support – identity, governance, connectors – that many organizations would struggle to manage internally.
- The model is already working. Real examples show how managed services help companies participate in data ecosystems without delaying other priorities.
If your organization is planning how to meet obligations under the Data Act or wants to participate in regulated ecosystems like SCSN, Catena-X or Mobility Data Space, it may be time to ask what you can outsource, and to whom.
A strategic shift is underway
Telecom providers aren’t simply expanding their product portfolios. They’re repositioning themselves as infrastructure partners for cross-organizational data sharing. This shift reflects a deeper market need. As data becomes a shared resource rather than a private asset, companies will need dependable partners to support that transition. Not just in theory, but in daily operations. And for Data Space Users looking to stay ahead of compliance, reduce risk, and engage confidently in new data ecosystems, those partners might already be in place.
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