Telcos and EV charging.
Is it the most unexpected crossover we have seen, or simply the most logical one? We believe it's the latter. And if you look at recent moves from telecom industry giants, it’s already happening.
Let’s unpack why telecom operators are uniquely positioned to win in EV charging, and how Solidstudio can accelerate that journey.
The hidden power of telco infrastructure
If you already own thousands of connected, powered sites with parking access, you’re not starting from scratch; you’re halfway in. Telcos already manage real estate like tower compounds, exchange buildings, rooftops, and even retail locations. Each comes with something most new entrants can only dream of: power, connectivity, and nationwide reach.
Consider Deutsche Telekom’s Comfortcharge: built on existing Telekom real estate, with charging stations leveraging in-place grid access, data lines, and even local field service teams. This is the playbook.
Add to that the telecom-grade backend, such as hyperscale data centers, dedicated analytics teams, and complex SLAs, and you’ve got the backbone to run charging at scale. Throw in native IoT and cellular backhaul, and you’re looking at the perfect storm of capability.
Your brand is already trusted
This is the often-overlooked advantage: telcos don’t need to “break into” the mobility space; they’re already household names. Customers already trust you with sensitive data, payments, and everyday digital experiences. That trust translates directly into the EV charging market.
Launching a branded charging app from a telco instantly gives users confidence. Instead of a random startup with a map, they get their mobile provider offering a reliable, secure, and recognizable mobility service.
That brand equity drastically lowers acquisition costs, increases app installs, and boosts loyalty, especially when charging is bundled into mobile plans or loyalty programs.
Starting with IoT: The easiest entry point
For telcos, the simplest way to step into eMobility is by doing what they already do best: connecting devices. EV chargers increasingly rely on cellular IoT for telemetry, payments, and remote management, making SIM cards and managed connectivity the natural on-ramp for telecom operators.
Vodafone, for example, offers dedicated IoT solutions for charge point operators, providing SIMs, private networks, and fleet-level management to keep chargers online. This type of service requires no new real estate investments or hardware deployments from the telco itself, but it creates immediate relevance in the EV ecosystem.
For many operators, IoT is not the endgame but the first foothold, though.
From there, it’s a short step into higher-value models like launching an eMSP app, operating as a CPO on owned sites, forming hybrid site-host partnerships, or acting as a system integrator in national projects.
Why “eMSP-first” is a smart move for telcos
Not every player needs to pour concrete or install hardware to lead in eMobility. In fact, the fastest-growing models are software-first, and “eMSP-first” is the leanest of them all.
With an eMSP (Electric Mobility Service Provider) approach, you launch a branded driver app that connects to existing charging infrastructure through roaming hubs like Hubject or GIREVE. Instead of building, you aggregate.
What makes it ideal for telcos
National coverage from day one
OCPI and OICP roaming protocols let you plug into thousands of public chargers instantly. One hub integration can unlock 200k+ stations across Europe.
Low hardware risk, light CAPEX
Roaming lets eMSPs launch without building physical infrastructure or waiting for grid connections. Instead, the main upfront cost is software and licensing, like the EMSP platform itself, making entry far less capital-intensive than deploying chargers on the ground.
You’re already set up for success
Telcos have everything eMSPs need: identity management, payment systems, CRM support, and an engaged customer base. You’re not building from zero, but adding a vertical.
Loyalty and bundling advantages
Offering EV charging as part of telco bundles adds real value. Whether it’s roaming credits with a mobile plan or integrated billing, you’re in the perfect position to make charging a sticky service.
How Solidstudio can help telcos become an eMSP
Becoming an eMSP is less about reinventing the wheel and more about choosing the right foundation. Solidstudio provides telcos with a proven platform that handles the heavy lifting, such as roaming integrations, payments, and operations, so you can focus on customer experience, brand positioning, and market growth.
At the core of this is Solidstudio’s white-label driver app, which comes with all essential features, like maps, real-time charger status, start/stop, payments, and invoices ready to go. This gives you an immediate entry point while keeping the freedom to build a competitive edge.
That edge comes from integration and ownership. The app can be connected with telcos’ existing systems, such as CRM, billing, loyalty, or identity management. This way, you can bundle EV charging with mobile plans, tie it into reward programs, or align with customer logins and payments.
Unlike SaaS-style solutions, Solidstudio delivers the platform in a licensed model: the telco owns the code, avoids vendor lock-in, and keeps a clear path for scaling operations without roadblocks.
On the business side, Solidstudio enables flexible tariffs, transparent billing, and growth levers like subscriptions or coupon campaigns. On the operational side, it equips teams with the right tools to monitor sessions, manage users, and uphold service levels across large networks.
Most importantly, the platform ensures long-term flexibility. No matter if your goal is to remain a pure eMSP, move into hybrid landlord deals, or expand into CPO operations, Solidstudio provides the scalability, compliance, and ownership model that telcos need to stay in control of their eMobility future.
Why telcos can succeed as charge point operators
Telecom companies already control something most new entrants struggle to secure: thousands of powered, connected sites with parking access. This makes them uniquely positioned to succeed as charge point operators (CPOs). By deploying chargers on exchanges, offices, tower lots, or rooftops, telcos can turn existing infrastructure into profitable charging networks.
Instead of only aggregating third-party networks, this model lets telcos install their own hardware, connect it to a CPMS, ensure AFIR-compliant payments, and sell electricity under their brand. Deutsche Telekom’s Comfortcharge proves the point: hundreds of public fast chargers deployed on Telekom properties, using in-place power, data lines, and parking.
What makes it ideal for telcos
Monetize your footprint
Turn existing real estate and grid connections into a new revenue line. Comfortcharge grew to ~280 public DC chargers and 500+ internal units without the cost of new greenfield builds.
Own the experience
As CPO, you set tariffs, manage uptime, and control the customer journey end to end. OCPP 2.0.1 and ISO 15118 provide the standards and tools to run secure, large-scale networks reliably.
Straightforward compliance
AFIR requires card payments at public DC ≥50 kW. By standardizing payment terminals across your sites, you simplify compliance and keep costs predictable.
Fast to deploy
With power, parking, and backhaul already in place, many telco sites are almost CPO-ready. Add dynamic load management, and you can expand charger count without expensive grid upgrades.
How Solidstudio can help telcos become CPOs
Solidstudio offers a licensed CPMS platform that gives telecom companies complete ownership of their infrastructure operations. Unlike SaaS, this model means you own the code, avoid lock-in, and maintain a clear runway to scale your network on your own terms.
The platform is fully OCPP 2.0.1-native, works with certified hardware, and is ready for ISO 15118. Built-in smart charging and load management let you maximize capacity across your sites. AFIR-compliant payment modules ensure that your DC chargers meet EU standards with transparent pricing and receipts.
In short, with Solidstudio, telecom companies can run charging networks that are truly their own, controlling assets, software, and customer experience, while staying flexible to expand into hybrid or eMSP roles in the future.
The hybrid model: Lease sites, keep the customer
For telcos moving into eMobility, the hybrid model offers a way to monetize real estate without taking on the full responsibility of running chargers. In this setup, you lease your sites to a specialist CPO who installs and operates the hardware, while you retain the customer relationship through your own branded eMSP app.
It’s the same pattern that retailers have proven at scale, McDonald’s with InstaVolt, Aldi with Shell Recharge, adapted to telcos who bring far greater site density, connectivity, and brand trust to the table.
What makes it ideal for telcos
Monetize without heavy ops
Your exchanges, tower lots, and retail spaces generate revenue while the CPO handles installation, maintenance, uptime SLAs, and AFIR compliance.
Keep the customer relationship
Through your eMSP app, you remain the front door for drivers. OCPI and OICP roaming ensure partner-operated chargers show up under your brand from day one.
Faster scale, lower capex
Leasing avoids the delays of building a CPO organization. With prime sites already under your control, you can expand coverage quickly and credibly.
How Solidstudio can help telcos run the hybrid model
Solidstudio ensures that partner-operated chargers appear in your branded app from day one, thanks to built-in roaming integrations with OCPI, OICP, and Gireve. Beyond visibility, the platform gives telcos the tools to stay in control where it matters:
- Commercial levers: apply your own tariffs on top of partner rates, run promotions with coupons or subscriptions, and bundle charging with telco services.
- Operational oversight: track partner sessions, payments, and roaming data quality in one dashboard, ensuring SLAs and compliance are met.
- Future flexibility: even while outsourcing hardware today, you own the platform and the customer experience, ready to expand into full CPO operations later without switching systems.
In practice, Solidstudio’s products ensure the hybrid model drives revenue while keeping the brand, the data, and the customer firmly under the control of a telecom company.
The system integrator model: Serving cities, fleets, and retailers
Not every telecom company that enters eMobility has to target consumers directly.
Another path is to step into large-scale infrastructure projects by partnering with cities, utilities, fleets, or retailers. In this role, the telco acts as a system integrator, connecting local CPOs to roaming hubs, unifying payments, managing data flows, and providing operational support.
It’s a model telcos know well from telecom and IT projects, now applied to eMobility. And it’s already proven at scale: T-Systems powers Deutsche Telekom’s Comfortcharge backend, while NTT DATA runs Singapore’s national EV charging platform.
What makes it a good fit for telcos
Leverage your strengths
Networks, billing, 24/7 operations, cybersecurity, and integration expertise are all core telecom capabilities. The SI model extends these into EV charging without a steep learning curve.
Open standards win tenders
Public authorities increasingly require OCPI, OICP, and vendor-neutral solutions in procurement. That aligns naturally with how telcos operate.
Scale through hubs
One OCPI or OICP connection via Hubject or GIREVE gives you access to thousands of charging points, making footprint growth far simpler.
How Solidstudio can help telcos as system integrators
Solidstudio provides the foundation telcos need to deliver large-scale EV charging projects. The platform is fully aligned with industry standards, making it easy to connect local CPOs through roaming hubs like Hubject or GIREVE and ensure data flows meet tender requirements.
For telcos, the real value lies in control and credibility:
- Confidence in procurement: Solidstudio’s standards compliance and roaming expertise help you win public tenders that demand interoperability and security.
- Visibility across operators: you can monitor uptime, usage, and performance in one place, ensuring service levels are met.
- Seamless financial operations: tools for billing, reconciliation, and reporting make it easier to manage multi-operator environments.
- Scalability for national projects: built to support large teams, complex partner ecosystems, and long-term growth.
With Solidstudio, telcos can manage multi-operator projects on open standards without adding complexity.
Finding the model that fits
Telecom companies are uniquely placed to boldly enter the eMobility sector. They already have the infrastructure, brand, and customer reach that most new entrants can only build from scratch.
The key question isn’t if telcos should enter eMobility, but how. Each path comes with different investment levels, operational responsibilities, and growth potential. What matters is choosing the model that aligns best with your existing strengths and long-term strategy.
At Solidstudio, we work with telecom companies to map out these options, evaluate what’s feasible with current assets, and plan a phased approach that minimizes risk while opening new revenue streams.
If you’re exploring eMobility and want to understand the most strategic way forward, we invite you to book a free consultation. We’ll help you assess which model fits your organization and how to execute it with confidence.