Explore the challenges and insights of implementing a decentralized cloud infrastructure for telecommunications applications in this 21-minute conference talk. Delve into the intricacies of Verizon's Cloud Platform (VCP) and Virtual Radio Access Network (VRAN) as Gene Bagwell shares valuable lessons learned from building, managing, and operating these systems. Learn about deployment models, scale considerations, and critical factors such as operating temperatures, firmware updates, and worker node limitations. Gain practical knowledge on prioritization, resource management, DNS issues, and monitoring strategies. Discover how to navigate unexpected obstacles and optimize performance in a complex telco cloud environment.