Podcast

EP 24 – What's up with Totogi?

The latest telco software darling, Totogi, launched at CLOUD CITY during MWC21. And everyone is talking about it – even the biggest software vendor in the space, Amdocs. (Envious, much?)

In this episode, I share the latest on what’s up with Totogi. Totogi is a telco enterprise software solution that is 100% built on the public cloud, which makes it a perfect fit for Tier 1, 2, and 3 providers, MNOs and MVNOs alike. And while telcos of all sizes can benefit from it, its usage-based pricing means that those with fewer than two-million subscribers should be installing it TODAY so they can access best-in-class technology at a price they can TOTALLY afford.

Hit play to hear about:

  • Why working with legacy, on-premise software vendors or Silicon Valley startups is a problem for smaller telcos [3:03];
  • The power of building software right for the public cloud [4:07];
  • The beauty of usage-based pricing and a pay-as-you-grow model [5:07]; and
  • How your telco can use Totogi for FREE [5:49].

WE EVEN WROTE A NEW SONG FOR THE NEW SERIES [0:59]. So go check it out. (It’s hilarious!)

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The Telco in 20 podcast won a 2022 Gold Hermes Award and was recognized on Forrester’s 2021 list of the Top 100 Channel Podcasts and Feedspot’s Top 10 Telecom Podcasts list.

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Podcast Credits

  • Executive Producer and Host: Danielle Rios Royston, TelcoDR
  • Executive Producer: Kristin Donelson, OneLouder Marketing
  • Senior Producer: Lindsay Grubb, TillCo Media
  • Editor/Producer: Alisa Jenkins Wilson, Springboard Marketing
  • Audio Editing: Andrew Condell
  • Music: Dyami Wilson

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Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is Totogi and who is it built for?

Totogi is a 100% cloud-native, enterprise software solution built exclusively for the telecom industry, covering charging systems and BSS platforms. It’s designed for telcos of all sizes—Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3, MNOs, and MVNOs—though its launch focus is on CSPs and MVNOs with fewer than 2 million subscribers that need best-in-class technology at an affordable price.

2. Why was Totogi created, and what problem does it solve?

Smaller telcos have historically been stuck between expensive legacy vendors such as Ericsson, Huawei, and Amdocs (with multi-million dollar price tags and long delivery times) and Silicon Valley startups that ignore them in favor of Tier 1 logos. Totogi offers a third path: enterprise-grade software built for the public cloud, making it genuinely affordable and fast to deploy for smaller operators.

3. How does the public cloud change the economics of telco software?

Building software natively for the public cloud can deliver up to 80% lower total cost of ownership. With Totogi, there’s no upfront license fee, no hardware to buy, and no large operations team required. Telcos simply connect their network, configure plans, and load subscribers—Totogi’s team handles everything else. Learn more about the value of the public cloud for telco in DR’s TelecomTV DSP Leaders World Forum talk.

4. What does Danielle Rios mean by “usage-based pricing”—and why does it matter?

Rather than charging per subscriber or requiring large upfront license commitments, Totogi bills by the transaction or API call. This pay-as-you-grow model means telcos pay for only what they actually use, with no need to over-purchase capacity and grow into it—a critical advantage for operators where cash is tight in early stages.

5. Can telcos actually use Totogi for free?

Yes—Totogi offers a permanent free tier, not a time-limited trial. The charging system provides up to 500 million transactions per month at no cost, and the BSS system includes up to 500 million API calls per month for free. The free tier runs on exactly the same software and APIs as paid tiers—there’s no pared-down version. Set up a meeting with the Totogi team to get started.

6. What real-world example shows that a cloud-native telco model can work?

DR points to Juha Korhonen, formerly of Zain Group, who built Yaqoot—a highly profitable, high-growth B-brand—by going fully digital with cloud-native technologies from the ground up. His approach validated the core premise behind Totogi: that redesigning user journeys and ditching legacy infrastructure is not just possible, but a competitive advantage. Hear Juha’s story in episode 18 of Telco in 20.