In the fast-evolving landscape of telecommunications, few opportunities allow an individual to build something that has "never been done before." Steven Wilson, Head of Public Cloud at EchoStar, discovered this scarce type of opportunity. His journey is a compelling story of technical leadership, audacious innovation and a leadership philosophy that empowers teams to achieve the impossible. For aspiring technologists, Steven's experience offers a fascinating glimpse into a career at the edge of wireless and cloud technology.
What ultimately drew Steven to EchoStar was an irresistible proposition: the chance to work on a project that was genuinely unprecedented on a global scale. Having just completed significant data center migrations and established a cloud center of excellence at his previous role, the allure of breaking new ground in telecommunications was too strong to resist. "As a technologist," Steven notes, "those words come along very rarely... what we did here had literally not been done anywhere in the world." This pursuit of revolutionary technological advancement, combined with EchoStar's established presence, was the primary driver for his motivation.
"When I was joining EchoStar, I was told we had the opportunity to do something that has never been done before. As a technologist, those words come along very rarely and are extremely exciting. What we did here had literally not been done anywhere in the world."
— Steven Wilson, Head of Public Cloud
As Head of Public Cloud, Steven is responsible for the entire cloud platform. His purview ensures that all services operate as expected, with meticulous attention to maintenance, security and overall platform integrity. A key initiative he spearheaded was the establishment of the Architecture Review Board for the wireless side. This critical function serves as a gatekeeper, vetting proposed solutions upfront to ensure they align with cost optimization, security and scalability requirements, preventing wasted cycles on ill-fitting implementations. Beyond strategic oversight, Steven also drives the production support and automation for the platform, ensuring seamless operation across various domains, including core, RAN, network operations, and security. His team manages the entire lifecycle, "from somebody saying, 'Hey, I have an idea to put on the cloud,' to how does it get to the cloud, run on the cloud, remain supported long-term."
Steven's work at EchoStar is deeply intertwined with ORAN, a concept he articulates with remarkable clarity. He debunks the misconception that ORAN implies open access to a network's inner workings. Instead, he explains its true revolutionary nature: opening up historically proprietary interfaces between network components. Traditionally, major vendors locked down these interfaces, making it costly and difficult to access crucial telemetry, fault and performance data. "What we're saying is with ORAN... those interfaces can actually be opened up," Steven states. This shift means developers gain unprecedented access to data, fostering innovation, increasing interoperability and reducing vendor lock-in. The flexibility and potential for better performance that ORAN affords are relatively new to the telecom industry, making EchoStar's commitment to it truly groundbreaking.
The ultimate manifestation of EchoStar's ambition and Steven's work is the nationwide cloud-native 5G ORAN network. Steven encapsulates this monumental undertaking: "We've fundamentally redefined what a telecom network can be by building on the public cloud." This endeavor has moved beyond mere theory, delivering a "truly automated, software-defined 5G experience that's years ahead of the curve." He proudly describes it as a "network of networks" characterized by zero-touch network provisioning, self-healing infrastructure and the ability to deploy new services for millions of customers in minutes, not months. The results, he emphasizes, have been revolutionary, backed by a list of "world's first" patents—a testament to EchoStar's unparalleled innovation. Steven highlights that meeting the challenging coverage milestones underscores the high-stakes, high-impact nature of his work.
"We've fundamentally redefined what a telecom network can be by building on the public cloud. We've moved beyond theory, delivering a truly automated, software-defined 5G experience that's years ahead of the curve."
— Steven Wilson, Head of Public Cloud
The culture within Boost Mobile, the public-facing brand for this network, is profoundly customer-focused. Steven elaborates that this intense customer-centric approach governs every decision his team makes. Every action is weighed against its potential impact on the customer experience, striving for seamless, positive interactions. This meticulous attention to detail, even down to preventing a momentary disconnect, defines the operational passion for winning at EchoStar.
Steven's leadership style is defined by transparency and a radical approach to trust. He believes a leader's responsibility is to provide clear direction and remove roadblocks so the team can "create magic." Unlike the conventional wisdom of earning trust, Steven prefers to "give all of my trust upfront" after an initial vetting, asking his team members to maintain the trust instead of earning it. He finds this approach accelerates success, particularly with highly-skilled professionals who value autonomy. Steven fosters a "learning environment" where mistakes are seen as opportunities for growth, ensuring guardrails are in place to prevent production impacts but also allowing room for experimentation. He's even created a "path to promotion" document for his team, openly charting career progression and ensuring that everyone feels empowered to grow, whether they stay with his team or move on to other opportunities within the broader EchoStar portfolio of brands.
“This isn't your traditional telecom environment. We are fundamentally redefining what a telecommunication network can be by building on the public cloud,” Steven emphasizes. Steven Wilson's journey at EchoStar is a compelling story of unparalleled technical innovation, bold leadership and a deep commitment to both technological breakthroughs and empowering people. It's a vision that's not just talking about the future of wireless but actively building it, setting new global standards and offering a truly unique and impactful career path for those ready to make their mark.
