Overview of Invisible Infrastructure with T-Mobile for Business
This episode (a paid partnership between Pushkin Industries and T‑Mobile for Business) explores how invisible network infrastructure—specifically 5G network slicing and T‑Mobile’s Supermobile product—enables new workflows and reliability for businesses across industries. Malcolm Gladwell interviews Mo Kadaba (T‑Mobile for Business CMO), Guy Griggs (CNN ad sales & partnerships), and Steve Douglas (Siemens Energy SVP Service Operations) about real-world use cases, technical capabilities, and the broader business and social implications.
Key themes & main takeaways
- Network infrastructure innovations (5G standalone + network slicing) are often invisible yet materially transform how industries operate.
- Slicing lets operators create dedicated, configurable “slices” of the mobile network to guarantee performance characteristics (capacity, latency, reliability) for critical applications.
- Supermobile packages three capabilities for business: intelligent/adaptive performance (slicing), built‑in network security, and satellite-backed coverage.
- Early adopters include live events (F1), news organizations (CNN), utilities/field services (Siemens Energy), and first‑responder/healthcare scenarios.
- The technology not only speeds up current processes but enables reimagined workflows (e.g., “satellite truck in your hand,” live remote expert collaboration, faster asset recovery).
- Future integrations with AI and richer media (4K/vertical video) are likely to amplify the impact—and will drive higher data requirements.
What is network slicing & Supermobile (concise technical summary)
- Network slicing: partitioning a mobile network into virtual, independently managed slices that provide tailored performance (dedicated capacity, lower latency, higher reliability) for specific customers or use cases. Operators can tune slices in real time.
- 5G standalone (SA): the core 5G architecture that enables slicing and other advanced capabilities. T‑Mobile was an early US deployer of 5G SA.
- Supermobile (T‑Mobile for Business): a commercial offering that bundles:
- Intelligent adaptive connectivity via slicing,
- Built‑in network‑layer security for business traffic,
- Seamless satellite coverage for areas without terrestrial coverage.
- Recent milestones: first large-scale slice deployments at F1 Las Vegas (three years ago); 2025 launches including T‑Priority (slice for first responders, Feb 2025) and Supermobile (used by CNN and Siemens Energy).
Use cases & concrete examples
- Formula One (events): dedicated slices handled ticketless entry, POS, push‑to‑talk and media uploads in high‑density crowds.
- CNN (frontline journalism):
- Need: reliable, real‑time reporting from congested venues or remote locations.
- Approach: pilot/test devices embedded with Supermobile tech; side‑by‑side stress tests versus other carriers.
- Result: reporters get steadier uplink; photographers can plug a device into cameras to FTP photos live, accelerating breaking coverage.
- Siemens Energy (power‑plant maintenance):
- Scale: Siemens Energy equipment produced ~25% of US electricity last year; ~2,200 units at 1,100 sites in 48 states.
- Operational profile: maintenance events can range from a few weeks to six months+ with hundreds of technicians and contractors.
- Benefit: replace boxes of manuals and slow communication with live 4K streams, instant access to drawings, remote expert collaboration (“see what I see”), faster diagnostics, reduced plant downtime.
- First responders & healthcare:
- T‑Priority slice provides dynamic capacity to emergency scenes.
- Supermobile + satellite/slicing can enable EMS-to-hospital data handoffs, tele‑assistance to civilians, and improved on‑scene decisioning.
Benefits & business impacts
- Reliability: guaranteed access to bandwidth and prioritized traffic reduces failures in congested environments.
- Performance: low latency and capacity tuning support real‑time video, live streaming, and critical control/telemetry.
- Coverage: satellite layer keeps teams connected in outdoor/remote areas (compatible devices and line of sight to sky required).
- Security: network-layer protections are integrated to support enterprise cybersecurity posture.
- Operational speed & cost: reduced downtime (power plants back online sooner), faster media distribution (newsrooms beat competitors), streamlined field workflows (less physical paperwork, fewer runner jobs).
- New products & formats: enables mobile-first and vertical video storytelling, and leaner field operations (no satellite truck).
Future possibilities & open questions
- AI integration: on‑device/edge/central AI + real‑time video could enable instant diagnostics, predictive maintenance, and richer on‑site guidance. Bandwidth needs vary by modality: text < voice < video.
- Reimagined field operations: connectivity can decentralize decisioning (e.g., mobile command centers), reduce logistics, and enable new safety/utility services.
- Trust as a metric: reliability becomes a fourth pillar of trust (in addition to transparency, fairness, predictability) for institutions that operate in real time.
- New verticals to watch: healthcare, emergency services, government work in remote public lands, large events, and any business with high density or remote fieldwork.
Actionable guidance for businesses considering adoption
- Start with pain points: identify where unreliable connectivity currently causes missed outcomes (e.g., downtime, slow reporting, safety risk).
- Pilot and stress‑test: do device-level field tests (CNN’s approach) to validate slice performance under realistic congestion conditions.
- Match modality to infrastructure: expect higher bandwidth for live video; plan slices and satellite support accordingly.
- Factor security: include network-layer protections as part of your broader cybersecurity architecture.
- Evaluate device compatibility and satellite line‑of‑sight constraints for remote use cases.
- Consider partnerships: choose vendors who will co‑design solutions for specific vertical workflows (events, utilities, first responders).
Notable quotes
- “This technology allows our reporters to literally have a satellite truck in their hands.” — Guy Griggs (CNN)
- “Slicing is replacing what used to take wires to do.” — Mo Kadaba (T‑Mobile for Business)
- “Bringing that unit back sooner is beneficial to [the] owner... Getting my crews off‑site sooner saves me money.” — Steve Douglas (Siemens Energy)
Quick reference facts
- T‑Mobile cited as “best network” per Ookla Speedtest Intelligence Data 1H 2025 (per ad copy).
- T‑Mobile first in the U.S. to deploy 5G standalone (enables slicing).
- 2025 product launches: T‑Priority (first‑responder slice) and Supermobile (business slice + security + satellite).
- Siemens Energy: ~2,200 units across ~1,100 sites; organization supporting ~1,500 employees plus ~3,000 contractors annually.
This episode frames advanced mobile network capabilities as “invisible infrastructure” that, once adopted, both streamlines legacy workflows and unlocks wholly new ways of working across media, energy, emergency services, and beyond.