diff --git a/ci/cloudbuild/builds/demo-install.sh b/ci/cloudbuild/builds/demo-install.sh
index 2e055514d1c1b..84b383c179591 100755
--- a/ci/cloudbuild/builds/demo-install.sh
+++ b/ci/cloudbuild/builds/demo-install.sh
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ cmake -S . -B cmake-out \
   -DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX="${PREFIX}" \
   -DBUILD_TESTING=OFF \
   -DGOOGLE_CLOUD_CPP_ENABLE_EXAMPLES=OFF \
-  -DGOOGLE_CLOUD_CPP_ENABLE=__ga_libraries__
+  -DGOOGLE_CLOUD_CPP_ENABLE=__ga_libraries__,opentelemetry
 cmake --build cmake-out -- -j "$(nproc)"
 cmake --build cmake-out --target install
 ## [DONE packaging.md]
diff --git a/ci/cloudbuild/dockerfiles/demo-alpine-stable.Dockerfile b/ci/cloudbuild/dockerfiles/demo-alpine-stable.Dockerfile
index 7f9668a16b656..962b6c7df0e34 100644
--- a/ci/cloudbuild/dockerfiles/demo-alpine-stable.Dockerfile
+++ b/ci/cloudbuild/dockerfiles/demo-alpine-stable.Dockerfile
@@ -74,6 +74,28 @@ RUN curl -fsSL https://github.com/google/crc32c/archive/1.1.2.tar.gz | \
     cmake --build cmake-out --target install -- -j ${NCPU:-4}
 # ```
 
+# #### opentelemetry-cpp
+
+# The project has an **optional** dependency on the OpenTelemetry library.
+# We recommend installing this library because:
+# - the dependency will become required in the google-cloud-cpp v3.x series.
+# - it is needed to produce distributed traces of the library.
+
+# ```bash
+WORKDIR /var/tmp/build/opentelemetry-cpp
+RUN curl -fsSL https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-cpp/archive/v1.12.0.tar.gz | \
+    tar -xzf - --strip-components=1 && \
+    cmake \
+        -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release \
+        -DBUILD_SHARED_LIBS=yes \
+        -DWITH_EXAMPLES=OFF \
+        -DWITH_ABSEIL=ON \
+        -DBUILD_TESTING=OFF \
+        -DOPENTELEMETRY_INSTALL=ON \
+        -S . -B cmake-out && \
+    cmake --build cmake-out --target install -- -j ${NCPU:-4}
+# ```
+
 ## [DONE packaging.md]
 
 WORKDIR /var/tmp/sccache
diff --git a/ci/cloudbuild/dockerfiles/demo-centos-7.Dockerfile b/ci/cloudbuild/dockerfiles/demo-centos-7.Dockerfile
index ac2b65abdba3b..fe31a6988db26 100644
--- a/ci/cloudbuild/dockerfiles/demo-centos-7.Dockerfile
+++ b/ci/cloudbuild/dockerfiles/demo-centos-7.Dockerfile
@@ -213,6 +213,29 @@ RUN curl -fsSL https://github.com/nlohmann/json/archive/v3.11.2.tar.gz | \
     ldconfig
 # ```
 
+# #### opentelemetry-cpp
+
+# The project has an **optional** dependency on the OpenTelemetry library.
+# We recommend installing this library because:
+# - the dependency will become required in the google-cloud-cpp v3.x series.
+# - it is needed to produce distributed traces of the library.
+
+# ```bash
+WORKDIR /var/tmp/build/opentelemetry-cpp
+RUN curl -fsSL https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-cpp/archive/v1.12.0.tar.gz | \
+    tar -xzf - --strip-components=1 && \
+    cmake \
+        -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release \
+        -DBUILD_SHARED_LIBS=yes \
+        -DWITH_EXAMPLES=OFF \
+        -DWITH_ABSEIL=ON \
+        -DBUILD_TESTING=OFF \
+        -DOPENTELEMETRY_INSTALL=ON \
+        -S . -B cmake-out && \
+    cmake --build cmake-out --target install -- -j ${NCPU:-4} && \
+    ldconfig
+# ```
+
 ## [DONE packaging.md]
 
 WORKDIR /var/tmp/sccache
diff --git a/ci/cloudbuild/dockerfiles/demo-debian-bookworm.Dockerfile b/ci/cloudbuild/dockerfiles/demo-debian-bookworm.Dockerfile
index 59bcef4d8ce13..7ac8ba862e87a 100644
--- a/ci/cloudbuild/dockerfiles/demo-debian-bookworm.Dockerfile
+++ b/ci/cloudbuild/dockerfiles/demo-debian-bookworm.Dockerfile
@@ -79,6 +79,29 @@ RUN curl -fsSL https://github.com/google/crc32c/archive/1.1.2.tar.gz | \
     ldconfig
 # ```
 
+# #### opentelemetry-cpp
+
+# The project has an **optional** dependency on the OpenTelemetry library.
+# We recommend installing this library because:
+# - the dependency will become required in the google-cloud-cpp v3.x series.
+# - it is needed to produce distributed traces of the library.
+
+# ```bash
+WORKDIR /var/tmp/build/opentelemetry-cpp
+RUN curl -fsSL https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-cpp/archive/v1.12.0.tar.gz | \
+    tar -xzf - --strip-components=1 && \
+    cmake \
+        -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release \
+        -DBUILD_SHARED_LIBS=yes \
+        -DWITH_EXAMPLES=OFF \
+        -DWITH_ABSEIL=ON \
+        -DBUILD_TESTING=OFF \
+        -DOPENTELEMETRY_INSTALL=ON \
+        -S . -B cmake-out && \
+    cmake --build cmake-out --target install -- -j ${NCPU:-4} && \
+    ldconfig
+# ```
+
 ## [DONE packaging.md]
 
 WORKDIR /var/tmp/sccache
diff --git a/ci/cloudbuild/dockerfiles/demo-debian-bullseye.Dockerfile b/ci/cloudbuild/dockerfiles/demo-debian-bullseye.Dockerfile
index f84833fbbacdc..3498df3a8f44b 100644
--- a/ci/cloudbuild/dockerfiles/demo-debian-bullseye.Dockerfile
+++ b/ci/cloudbuild/dockerfiles/demo-debian-bullseye.Dockerfile
@@ -151,6 +151,29 @@ RUN curl -fsSL https://github.com/grpc/grpc/archive/v1.59.2.tar.gz | \
     ldconfig
 # ```
 
+# #### opentelemetry-cpp
+
+# The project has an **optional** dependency on the OpenTelemetry library.
+# We recommend installing this library because:
+# - the dependency will become required in the google-cloud-cpp v3.x series.
+# - it is needed to produce distributed traces of the library.
+
+# ```bash
+WORKDIR /var/tmp/build/opentelemetry-cpp
+RUN curl -fsSL https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-cpp/archive/v1.12.0.tar.gz | \
+    tar -xzf - --strip-components=1 && \
+    cmake \
+        -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release \
+        -DBUILD_SHARED_LIBS=yes \
+        -DWITH_EXAMPLES=OFF \
+        -DWITH_ABSEIL=ON \
+        -DBUILD_TESTING=OFF \
+        -DOPENTELEMETRY_INSTALL=ON \
+        -S . -B cmake-out && \
+    cmake --build cmake-out --target install -- -j ${NCPU:-4} && \
+    ldconfig
+# ```
+
 ## [DONE packaging.md]
 
 WORKDIR /var/tmp/sccache
diff --git a/ci/cloudbuild/dockerfiles/demo-debian-buster.Dockerfile b/ci/cloudbuild/dockerfiles/demo-debian-buster.Dockerfile
index 24957b92abeb0..9cea49ffab541 100644
--- a/ci/cloudbuild/dockerfiles/demo-debian-buster.Dockerfile
+++ b/ci/cloudbuild/dockerfiles/demo-debian-buster.Dockerfile
@@ -162,6 +162,29 @@ RUN curl -fsSL https://github.com/grpc/grpc/archive/v1.59.2.tar.gz | \
     ldconfig
 # ```
 
+# #### opentelemetry-cpp
+
+# The project has an **optional** dependency on the OpenTelemetry library.
+# We recommend installing this library because:
+# - the dependency will become required in the google-cloud-cpp v3.x series.
+# - it is needed to produce distributed traces of the library.
+
+# ```bash
+WORKDIR /var/tmp/build/opentelemetry-cpp
+RUN curl -fsSL https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-cpp/archive/v1.12.0.tar.gz | \
+    tar -xzf - --strip-components=1 && \
+    cmake \
+        -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release \
+        -DBUILD_SHARED_LIBS=yes \
+        -DWITH_EXAMPLES=OFF \
+        -DWITH_ABSEIL=ON \
+        -DBUILD_TESTING=OFF \
+        -DOPENTELEMETRY_INSTALL=ON \
+        -S . -B cmake-out && \
+    cmake --build cmake-out --target install -- -j ${NCPU:-4} && \
+    ldconfig
+# ```
+
 ## [DONE packaging.md]
 
 WORKDIR /var/tmp/sccache
diff --git a/ci/cloudbuild/dockerfiles/demo-fedora.Dockerfile b/ci/cloudbuild/dockerfiles/demo-fedora.Dockerfile
index 859df781c64e8..bf9744b062ebc 100644
--- a/ci/cloudbuild/dockerfiles/demo-fedora.Dockerfile
+++ b/ci/cloudbuild/dockerfiles/demo-fedora.Dockerfile
@@ -90,6 +90,29 @@ RUN curl -fsSL https://github.com/nlohmann/json/archive/v3.11.2.tar.gz | \
     ldconfig
 # ```
 
+# #### opentelemetry-cpp
+
+# The project has an **optional** dependency on the OpenTelemetry library.
+# We recommend installing this library because:
+# - the dependency will become required in the google-cloud-cpp v3.x series.
+# - it is needed to produce distributed traces of the library.
+
+# ```bash
+WORKDIR /var/tmp/build/opentelemetry-cpp
+RUN curl -fsSL https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-cpp/archive/v1.12.0.tar.gz | \
+    tar -xzf - --strip-components=1 && \
+    cmake \
+        -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release \
+        -DBUILD_SHARED_LIBS=yes \
+        -DWITH_EXAMPLES=OFF \
+        -DWITH_ABSEIL=ON \
+        -DBUILD_TESTING=OFF \
+        -DOPENTELEMETRY_INSTALL=ON \
+        -S . -B cmake-out && \
+    cmake --build cmake-out --target install -- -j ${NCPU:-4} && \
+    ldconfig
+# ```
+
 ## [DONE packaging.md]
 
 WORKDIR /var/tmp/sccache
diff --git a/ci/cloudbuild/dockerfiles/demo-opensuse-leap.Dockerfile b/ci/cloudbuild/dockerfiles/demo-opensuse-leap.Dockerfile
index 8510fa79a840d..f46f6dc152df8 100644
--- a/ci/cloudbuild/dockerfiles/demo-opensuse-leap.Dockerfile
+++ b/ci/cloudbuild/dockerfiles/demo-opensuse-leap.Dockerfile
@@ -173,6 +173,29 @@ RUN curl -fsSL https://github.com/nlohmann/json/archive/v3.11.2.tar.gz | \
     ldconfig
 # ```
 
+# #### opentelemetry-cpp
+
+# The project has an **optional** dependency on the OpenTelemetry library.
+# We recommend installing this library because:
+# - the dependency will become required in the google-cloud-cpp v3.x series.
+# - it is needed to produce distributed traces of the library.
+
+# ```bash
+WORKDIR /var/tmp/build/opentelemetry-cpp
+RUN curl -fsSL https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-cpp/archive/v1.12.0.tar.gz | \
+    tar -xzf - --strip-components=1 && \
+    cmake \
+        -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release \
+        -DBUILD_SHARED_LIBS=yes \
+        -DWITH_EXAMPLES=OFF \
+        -DWITH_ABSEIL=ON \
+        -DBUILD_TESTING=OFF \
+        -DOPENTELEMETRY_INSTALL=ON \
+        -S . -B cmake-out && \
+    cmake --build cmake-out --target install -- -j ${NCPU:-4} && \
+    ldconfig
+# ```
+
 # Use the following environment variables to configure the compiler used by
 # CMake.
 
diff --git a/ci/cloudbuild/dockerfiles/demo-rockylinux-8.Dockerfile b/ci/cloudbuild/dockerfiles/demo-rockylinux-8.Dockerfile
index 274567180a541..0817e64fcf356 100644
--- a/ci/cloudbuild/dockerfiles/demo-rockylinux-8.Dockerfile
+++ b/ci/cloudbuild/dockerfiles/demo-rockylinux-8.Dockerfile
@@ -193,6 +193,29 @@ RUN curl -fsSL https://github.com/nlohmann/json/archive/v3.11.2.tar.gz | \
     ldconfig
 # ```
 
+# #### opentelemetry-cpp
+
+# The project has an **optional** dependency on the OpenTelemetry library.
+# We recommend installing this library because:
+# - the dependency will become required in the google-cloud-cpp v3.x series.
+# - it is needed to produce distributed traces of the library.
+
+# ```bash
+WORKDIR /var/tmp/build/opentelemetry-cpp
+RUN curl -fsSL https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-cpp/archive/v1.12.0.tar.gz | \
+    tar -xzf - --strip-components=1 && \
+    cmake \
+        -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release \
+        -DBUILD_SHARED_LIBS=yes \
+        -DWITH_EXAMPLES=OFF \
+        -DWITH_ABSEIL=ON \
+        -DBUILD_TESTING=OFF \
+        -DOPENTELEMETRY_INSTALL=ON \
+        -S . -B cmake-out && \
+    cmake --build cmake-out --target install -- -j ${NCPU:-4} && \
+    ldconfig
+# ```
+
 ## [DONE packaging.md]
 
 WORKDIR /var/tmp/sccache
diff --git a/ci/cloudbuild/dockerfiles/demo-rockylinux-9.Dockerfile b/ci/cloudbuild/dockerfiles/demo-rockylinux-9.Dockerfile
index e1e787efd693a..63b9fa8ab9f62 100644
--- a/ci/cloudbuild/dockerfiles/demo-rockylinux-9.Dockerfile
+++ b/ci/cloudbuild/dockerfiles/demo-rockylinux-9.Dockerfile
@@ -199,6 +199,29 @@ RUN curl -fsSL https://github.com/nlohmann/json/archive/v3.11.2.tar.gz | \
     ldconfig
 # ```
 
+# #### opentelemetry-cpp
+
+# The project has an **optional** dependency on the OpenTelemetry library.
+# We recommend installing this library because:
+# - the dependency will become required in the google-cloud-cpp v3.x series.
+# - it is needed to produce distributed traces of the library.
+
+# ```bash
+WORKDIR /var/tmp/build/opentelemetry-cpp
+RUN curl -fsSL https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-cpp/archive/v1.12.0.tar.gz | \
+    tar -xzf - --strip-components=1 && \
+    cmake \
+        -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release \
+        -DBUILD_SHARED_LIBS=yes \
+        -DWITH_EXAMPLES=OFF \
+        -DWITH_ABSEIL=ON \
+        -DBUILD_TESTING=OFF \
+        -DOPENTELEMETRY_INSTALL=ON \
+        -S . -B cmake-out && \
+    cmake --build cmake-out --target install -- -j ${NCPU:-4} && \
+    ldconfig
+# ```
+
 ## [DONE packaging.md]
 
 WORKDIR /var/tmp/sccache
diff --git a/ci/cloudbuild/dockerfiles/demo-ubuntu-focal.Dockerfile b/ci/cloudbuild/dockerfiles/demo-ubuntu-focal.Dockerfile
index 123f8579898ce..94fca3053fb0b 100644
--- a/ci/cloudbuild/dockerfiles/demo-ubuntu-focal.Dockerfile
+++ b/ci/cloudbuild/dockerfiles/demo-ubuntu-focal.Dockerfile
@@ -164,6 +164,29 @@ RUN curl -fsSL https://github.com/nlohmann/json/archive/v3.11.2.tar.gz | \
     ldconfig
 # ```
 
+# #### opentelemetry-cpp
+
+# The project has an **optional** dependency on the OpenTelemetry library.
+# We recommend installing this library because:
+# - the dependency will become required in the google-cloud-cpp v3.x series.
+# - it is needed to produce distributed traces of the library.
+
+# ```bash
+WORKDIR /var/tmp/build/opentelemetry-cpp
+RUN curl -fsSL https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-cpp/archive/v1.12.0.tar.gz | \
+    tar -xzf - --strip-components=1 && \
+    cmake \
+        -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release \
+        -DBUILD_SHARED_LIBS=yes \
+        -DWITH_EXAMPLES=OFF \
+        -DWITH_ABSEIL=ON \
+        -DBUILD_TESTING=OFF \
+        -DOPENTELEMETRY_INSTALL=ON \
+        -S . -B cmake-out && \
+    cmake --build cmake-out --target install -- -j ${NCPU:-4} && \
+    ldconfig
+# ```
+
 ## [DONE packaging.md]
 
 WORKDIR /var/tmp/sccache
diff --git a/ci/cloudbuild/dockerfiles/demo-ubuntu-jammy.Dockerfile b/ci/cloudbuild/dockerfiles/demo-ubuntu-jammy.Dockerfile
index 03f4c48657b44..d7f184481c20f 100644
--- a/ci/cloudbuild/dockerfiles/demo-ubuntu-jammy.Dockerfile
+++ b/ci/cloudbuild/dockerfiles/demo-ubuntu-jammy.Dockerfile
@@ -146,6 +146,29 @@ RUN curl -fsSL https://github.com/nlohmann/json/archive/v3.11.2.tar.gz | \
     ldconfig
 # ```
 
+# #### opentelemetry-cpp
+
+# The project has an **optional** dependency on the OpenTelemetry library.
+# We recommend installing this library because:
+# - the dependency will become required in the google-cloud-cpp v3.x series.
+# - it is needed to produce distributed traces of the library.
+
+# ```bash
+WORKDIR /var/tmp/build/opentelemetry-cpp
+RUN curl -fsSL https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-cpp/archive/v1.12.0.tar.gz | \
+    tar -xzf - --strip-components=1 && \
+    cmake \
+        -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release \
+        -DBUILD_SHARED_LIBS=yes \
+        -DWITH_EXAMPLES=OFF \
+        -DWITH_ABSEIL=ON \
+        -DBUILD_TESTING=OFF \
+        -DOPENTELEMETRY_INSTALL=ON \
+        -S . -B cmake-out && \
+    cmake --build cmake-out --target install -- -j ${NCPU:-4} && \
+    ldconfig
+# ```
+
 ## [DONE packaging.md]
 
 WORKDIR /var/tmp/sccache
diff --git a/doc/packaging.md b/doc/packaging.md
index bd759843e2760..57e39dbfdea24 100644
--- a/doc/packaging.md
+++ b/doc/packaging.md
@@ -196,6 +196,29 @@ curl -fsSL https://github.com/google/crc32c/archive/1.1.2.tar.gz | \
 sudo cmake --build cmake-out --target install -- -j ${NCPU:-4}
 ```
 
+#### opentelemetry-cpp
+
+The project has an **optional** dependency on the OpenTelemetry library. We
+recommend installing this library because:
+
+- the dependency will become required in the google-cloud-cpp v3.x series.
+- it is needed to produce distributed traces of the library.
+
+```bash
+mkdir -p $HOME/Downloads/opentelemetry-cpp && cd $HOME/Downloads/opentelemetry-cpp
+curl -fsSL https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-cpp/archive/v1.12.0.tar.gz | \
+    tar -xzf - --strip-components=1 && \
+    cmake \
+        -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release \
+        -DBUILD_SHARED_LIBS=yes \
+        -DWITH_EXAMPLES=OFF \
+        -DWITH_ABSEIL=ON \
+        -DBUILD_TESTING=OFF \
+        -DOPENTELEMETRY_INSTALL=ON \
+        -S . -B cmake-out && \
+sudo cmake --build cmake-out --target install -- -j ${NCPU:-4}
+```
+
 #### Compile and install the main project
 
 We can now compile and install `google-cloud-cpp`:
@@ -208,7 +231,7 @@ cmake -S . -B cmake-out \
   -DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX="${PREFIX}" \
   -DBUILD_TESTING=OFF \
   -DGOOGLE_CLOUD_CPP_ENABLE_EXAMPLES=OFF \
-  -DGOOGLE_CLOUD_CPP_ENABLE=__ga_libraries__
+  -DGOOGLE_CLOUD_CPP_ENABLE=__ga_libraries__,opentelemetry
 cmake --build cmake-out -- -j "$(nproc)"
 cmake --build cmake-out --target install
 ```
@@ -293,6 +316,30 @@ sudo cmake --build cmake-out --target install -- -j ${NCPU:-4} && \
 sudo ldconfig
 ```
 
+#### opentelemetry-cpp
+
+The project has an **optional** dependency on the OpenTelemetry library. We
+recommend installing this library because:
+
+- the dependency will become required in the google-cloud-cpp v3.x series.
+- it is needed to produce distributed traces of the library.
+
+```bash
+mkdir -p $HOME/Downloads/opentelemetry-cpp && cd $HOME/Downloads/opentelemetry-cpp
+curl -fsSL https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-cpp/archive/v1.12.0.tar.gz | \
+    tar -xzf - --strip-components=1 && \
+    cmake \
+        -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release \
+        -DBUILD_SHARED_LIBS=yes \
+        -DWITH_EXAMPLES=OFF \
+        -DWITH_ABSEIL=ON \
+        -DBUILD_TESTING=OFF \
+        -DOPENTELEMETRY_INSTALL=ON \
+        -S . -B cmake-out && \
+sudo cmake --build cmake-out --target install -- -j ${NCPU:-4} && \
+sudo ldconfig
+```
+
 #### Compile and install the main project
 
 We can now compile and install `google-cloud-cpp`:
@@ -305,7 +352,7 @@ cmake -S . -B cmake-out \
   -DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX="${PREFIX}" \
   -DBUILD_TESTING=OFF \
   -DGOOGLE_CLOUD_CPP_ENABLE_EXAMPLES=OFF \
-  -DGOOGLE_CLOUD_CPP_ENABLE=__ga_libraries__
+  -DGOOGLE_CLOUD_CPP_ENABLE=__ga_libraries__,opentelemetry
 cmake --build cmake-out -- -j "$(nproc)"
 cmake --build cmake-out --target install
 ```
@@ -471,6 +518,30 @@ sudo cmake --build cmake-out --target install -- -j ${NCPU:-4} && \
 sudo ldconfig
 ```
 
+#### opentelemetry-cpp
+
+The project has an **optional** dependency on the OpenTelemetry library. We
+recommend installing this library because:
+
+- the dependency will become required in the google-cloud-cpp v3.x series.
+- it is needed to produce distributed traces of the library.
+
+```bash
+mkdir -p $HOME/Downloads/opentelemetry-cpp && cd $HOME/Downloads/opentelemetry-cpp
+curl -fsSL https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-cpp/archive/v1.12.0.tar.gz | \
+    tar -xzf - --strip-components=1 && \
+    cmake \
+        -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release \
+        -DBUILD_SHARED_LIBS=yes \
+        -DWITH_EXAMPLES=OFF \
+        -DWITH_ABSEIL=ON \
+        -DBUILD_TESTING=OFF \
+        -DOPENTELEMETRY_INSTALL=ON \
+        -S . -B cmake-out && \
+sudo cmake --build cmake-out --target install -- -j ${NCPU:-4} && \
+sudo ldconfig
+```
+
 Use the following environment variables to configure the compiler used by CMake.
 
 export CXX=g++-8
@@ -489,7 +560,7 @@ cmake -S . -B cmake-out \
   -DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX="${PREFIX}" \
   -DBUILD_TESTING=OFF \
   -DGOOGLE_CLOUD_CPP_ENABLE_EXAMPLES=OFF \
-  -DGOOGLE_CLOUD_CPP_ENABLE=__ga_libraries__
+  -DGOOGLE_CLOUD_CPP_ENABLE=__ga_libraries__,opentelemetry
 cmake --build cmake-out -- -j "$(nproc)"
 cmake --build cmake-out --target install
 ```
@@ -627,6 +698,30 @@ sudo cmake --build cmake-out --target install -- -j ${NCPU:-4} && \
 sudo ldconfig
 ```
 
+#### opentelemetry-cpp
+
+The project has an **optional** dependency on the OpenTelemetry library. We
+recommend installing this library because:
+
+- the dependency will become required in the google-cloud-cpp v3.x series.
+- it is needed to produce distributed traces of the library.
+
+```bash
+mkdir -p $HOME/Downloads/opentelemetry-cpp && cd $HOME/Downloads/opentelemetry-cpp
+curl -fsSL https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-cpp/archive/v1.12.0.tar.gz | \
+    tar -xzf - --strip-components=1 && \
+    cmake \
+        -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release \
+        -DBUILD_SHARED_LIBS=yes \
+        -DWITH_EXAMPLES=OFF \
+        -DWITH_ABSEIL=ON \
+        -DBUILD_TESTING=OFF \
+        -DOPENTELEMETRY_INSTALL=ON \
+        -S . -B cmake-out && \
+sudo cmake --build cmake-out --target install -- -j ${NCPU:-4} && \
+sudo ldconfig
+```
+
 #### Compile and install the main project
 
 We can now compile and install `google-cloud-cpp`:
@@ -639,7 +734,7 @@ cmake -S . -B cmake-out \
   -DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX="${PREFIX}" \
   -DBUILD_TESTING=OFF \
   -DGOOGLE_CLOUD_CPP_ENABLE_EXAMPLES=OFF \
-  -DGOOGLE_CLOUD_CPP_ENABLE=__ga_libraries__
+  -DGOOGLE_CLOUD_CPP_ENABLE=__ga_libraries__,opentelemetry
 cmake --build cmake-out -- -j "$(nproc)"
 cmake --build cmake-out --target install
 ```
@@ -796,6 +891,30 @@ sudo cmake --build cmake-out --target install -- -j ${NCPU:-4} && \
 sudo ldconfig
 ```
 
+#### opentelemetry-cpp
+
+The project has an **optional** dependency on the OpenTelemetry library. We
+recommend installing this library because:
+
+- the dependency will become required in the google-cloud-cpp v3.x series.
+- it is needed to produce distributed traces of the library.
+
+```bash
+mkdir -p $HOME/Downloads/opentelemetry-cpp && cd $HOME/Downloads/opentelemetry-cpp
+curl -fsSL https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-cpp/archive/v1.12.0.tar.gz | \
+    tar -xzf - --strip-components=1 && \
+    cmake \
+        -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release \
+        -DBUILD_SHARED_LIBS=yes \
+        -DWITH_EXAMPLES=OFF \
+        -DWITH_ABSEIL=ON \
+        -DBUILD_TESTING=OFF \
+        -DOPENTELEMETRY_INSTALL=ON \
+        -S . -B cmake-out && \
+sudo cmake --build cmake-out --target install -- -j ${NCPU:-4} && \
+sudo ldconfig
+```
+
 #### Compile and install the main project
 
 We can now compile and install `google-cloud-cpp`:
@@ -808,7 +927,7 @@ cmake -S . -B cmake-out \
   -DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX="${PREFIX}" \
   -DBUILD_TESTING=OFF \
   -DGOOGLE_CLOUD_CPP_ENABLE_EXAMPLES=OFF \
-  -DGOOGLE_CLOUD_CPP_ENABLE=__ga_libraries__
+  -DGOOGLE_CLOUD_CPP_ENABLE=__ga_libraries__,opentelemetry
 cmake --build cmake-out -- -j "$(nproc)"
 cmake --build cmake-out --target install
 ```
@@ -880,6 +999,30 @@ sudo cmake --build cmake-out --target install -- -j ${NCPU:-4} && \
 sudo ldconfig
 ```
 
+#### opentelemetry-cpp
+
+The project has an **optional** dependency on the OpenTelemetry library. We
+recommend installing this library because:
+
+- the dependency will become required in the google-cloud-cpp v3.x series.
+- it is needed to produce distributed traces of the library.
+
+```bash
+mkdir -p $HOME/Downloads/opentelemetry-cpp && cd $HOME/Downloads/opentelemetry-cpp
+curl -fsSL https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-cpp/archive/v1.12.0.tar.gz | \
+    tar -xzf - --strip-components=1 && \
+    cmake \
+        -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release \
+        -DBUILD_SHARED_LIBS=yes \
+        -DWITH_EXAMPLES=OFF \
+        -DWITH_ABSEIL=ON \
+        -DBUILD_TESTING=OFF \
+        -DOPENTELEMETRY_INSTALL=ON \
+        -S . -B cmake-out && \
+sudo cmake --build cmake-out --target install -- -j ${NCPU:-4} && \
+sudo ldconfig
+```
+
 #### Compile and install the main project
 
 We can now compile and install `google-cloud-cpp`:
@@ -892,7 +1035,7 @@ cmake -S . -B cmake-out \
   -DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX="${PREFIX}" \
   -DBUILD_TESTING=OFF \
   -DGOOGLE_CLOUD_CPP_ENABLE_EXAMPLES=OFF \
-  -DGOOGLE_CLOUD_CPP_ENABLE=__ga_libraries__
+  -DGOOGLE_CLOUD_CPP_ENABLE=__ga_libraries__,opentelemetry
 cmake --build cmake-out -- -j "$(nproc)"
 cmake --build cmake-out --target install
 ```
@@ -1037,6 +1180,30 @@ sudo cmake --build cmake-out --target install -- -j ${NCPU:-4} && \
 sudo ldconfig
 ```
 
+#### opentelemetry-cpp
+
+The project has an **optional** dependency on the OpenTelemetry library. We
+recommend installing this library because:
+
+- the dependency will become required in the google-cloud-cpp v3.x series.
+- it is needed to produce distributed traces of the library.
+
+```bash
+mkdir -p $HOME/Downloads/opentelemetry-cpp && cd $HOME/Downloads/opentelemetry-cpp
+curl -fsSL https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-cpp/archive/v1.12.0.tar.gz | \
+    tar -xzf - --strip-components=1 && \
+    cmake \
+        -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release \
+        -DBUILD_SHARED_LIBS=yes \
+        -DWITH_EXAMPLES=OFF \
+        -DWITH_ABSEIL=ON \
+        -DBUILD_TESTING=OFF \
+        -DOPENTELEMETRY_INSTALL=ON \
+        -S . -B cmake-out && \
+sudo cmake --build cmake-out --target install -- -j ${NCPU:-4} && \
+sudo ldconfig
+```
+
 #### Compile and install the main project
 
 We can now compile and install `google-cloud-cpp`:
@@ -1049,7 +1216,7 @@ cmake -S . -B cmake-out \
   -DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX="${PREFIX}" \
   -DBUILD_TESTING=OFF \
   -DGOOGLE_CLOUD_CPP_ENABLE_EXAMPLES=OFF \
-  -DGOOGLE_CLOUD_CPP_ENABLE=__ga_libraries__
+  -DGOOGLE_CLOUD_CPP_ENABLE=__ga_libraries__,opentelemetry
 cmake --build cmake-out -- -j "$(nproc)"
 cmake --build cmake-out --target install
 ```
@@ -1204,6 +1371,30 @@ sudo cmake --build cmake-out --target install -- -j ${NCPU:-4} && \
 sudo ldconfig
 ```
 
+#### opentelemetry-cpp
+
+The project has an **optional** dependency on the OpenTelemetry library. We
+recommend installing this library because:
+
+- the dependency will become required in the google-cloud-cpp v3.x series.
+- it is needed to produce distributed traces of the library.
+
+```bash
+mkdir -p $HOME/Downloads/opentelemetry-cpp && cd $HOME/Downloads/opentelemetry-cpp
+curl -fsSL https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-cpp/archive/v1.12.0.tar.gz | \
+    tar -xzf - --strip-components=1 && \
+    cmake \
+        -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release \
+        -DBUILD_SHARED_LIBS=yes \
+        -DWITH_EXAMPLES=OFF \
+        -DWITH_ABSEIL=ON \
+        -DBUILD_TESTING=OFF \
+        -DOPENTELEMETRY_INSTALL=ON \
+        -S . -B cmake-out && \
+sudo cmake --build cmake-out --target install -- -j ${NCPU:-4} && \
+sudo ldconfig
+```
+
 #### Compile and install the main project
 
 We can now compile and install `google-cloud-cpp`:
@@ -1216,7 +1407,7 @@ cmake -S . -B cmake-out \
   -DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX="${PREFIX}" \
   -DBUILD_TESTING=OFF \
   -DGOOGLE_CLOUD_CPP_ENABLE_EXAMPLES=OFF \
-  -DGOOGLE_CLOUD_CPP_ENABLE=__ga_libraries__
+  -DGOOGLE_CLOUD_CPP_ENABLE=__ga_libraries__,opentelemetry
 cmake --build cmake-out -- -j "$(nproc)"
 cmake --build cmake-out --target install
 ```
@@ -1402,6 +1593,30 @@ sudo cmake --build cmake-out --target install -- -j ${NCPU:-4} && \
 sudo ldconfig
 ```
 
+#### opentelemetry-cpp
+
+The project has an **optional** dependency on the OpenTelemetry library. We
+recommend installing this library because:
+
+- the dependency will become required in the google-cloud-cpp v3.x series.
+- it is needed to produce distributed traces of the library.
+
+```bash
+mkdir -p $HOME/Downloads/opentelemetry-cpp && cd $HOME/Downloads/opentelemetry-cpp
+curl -fsSL https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-cpp/archive/v1.12.0.tar.gz | \
+    tar -xzf - --strip-components=1 && \
+    cmake \
+        -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release \
+        -DBUILD_SHARED_LIBS=yes \
+        -DWITH_EXAMPLES=OFF \
+        -DWITH_ABSEIL=ON \
+        -DBUILD_TESTING=OFF \
+        -DOPENTELEMETRY_INSTALL=ON \
+        -S . -B cmake-out && \
+sudo cmake --build cmake-out --target install -- -j ${NCPU:-4} && \
+sudo ldconfig
+```
+
 #### Compile and install the main project
 
 We can now compile and install `google-cloud-cpp`:
@@ -1414,7 +1629,7 @@ cmake -S . -B cmake-out \
   -DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX="${PREFIX}" \
   -DBUILD_TESTING=OFF \
   -DGOOGLE_CLOUD_CPP_ENABLE_EXAMPLES=OFF \
-  -DGOOGLE_CLOUD_CPP_ENABLE=__ga_libraries__
+  -DGOOGLE_CLOUD_CPP_ENABLE=__ga_libraries__,opentelemetry
 cmake --build cmake-out -- -j "$(nproc)"
 cmake --build cmake-out --target install
 ```
@@ -1606,6 +1821,30 @@ sudo cmake --build cmake-out --target install -- -j ${NCPU:-4} && \
 sudo ldconfig
 ```
 
+#### opentelemetry-cpp
+
+The project has an **optional** dependency on the OpenTelemetry library. We
+recommend installing this library because:
+
+- the dependency will become required in the google-cloud-cpp v3.x series.
+- it is needed to produce distributed traces of the library.
+
+```bash
+mkdir -p $HOME/Downloads/opentelemetry-cpp && cd $HOME/Downloads/opentelemetry-cpp
+curl -fsSL https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-cpp/archive/v1.12.0.tar.gz | \
+    tar -xzf - --strip-components=1 && \
+    cmake \
+        -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release \
+        -DBUILD_SHARED_LIBS=yes \
+        -DWITH_EXAMPLES=OFF \
+        -DWITH_ABSEIL=ON \
+        -DBUILD_TESTING=OFF \
+        -DOPENTELEMETRY_INSTALL=ON \
+        -S . -B cmake-out && \
+sudo cmake --build cmake-out --target install -- -j ${NCPU:-4} && \
+sudo ldconfig
+```
+
 #### Compile and install the main project
 
 We can now compile and install `google-cloud-cpp`:
@@ -1618,7 +1857,7 @@ cmake -S . -B cmake-out \
   -DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX="${PREFIX}" \
   -DBUILD_TESTING=OFF \
   -DGOOGLE_CLOUD_CPP_ENABLE_EXAMPLES=OFF \
-  -DGOOGLE_CLOUD_CPP_ENABLE=__ga_libraries__
+  -DGOOGLE_CLOUD_CPP_ENABLE=__ga_libraries__,opentelemetry
 cmake --build cmake-out -- -j "$(nproc)"
 cmake --build cmake-out --target install
 ```
@@ -1811,6 +2050,30 @@ sudo cmake --build cmake-out --target install -- -j ${NCPU:-4} && \
 sudo ldconfig
 ```
 
+#### opentelemetry-cpp
+
+The project has an **optional** dependency on the OpenTelemetry library. We
+recommend installing this library because:
+
+- the dependency will become required in the google-cloud-cpp v3.x series.
+- it is needed to produce distributed traces of the library.
+
+```bash
+mkdir -p $HOME/Downloads/opentelemetry-cpp && cd $HOME/Downloads/opentelemetry-cpp
+curl -fsSL https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-cpp/archive/v1.12.0.tar.gz | \
+    tar -xzf - --strip-components=1 && \
+    cmake \
+        -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release \
+        -DBUILD_SHARED_LIBS=yes \
+        -DWITH_EXAMPLES=OFF \
+        -DWITH_ABSEIL=ON \
+        -DBUILD_TESTING=OFF \
+        -DOPENTELEMETRY_INSTALL=ON \
+        -S . -B cmake-out && \
+sudo cmake --build cmake-out --target install -- -j ${NCPU:-4} && \
+sudo ldconfig
+```
+
 #### Compile and install the main project
 
 We can now compile and install `google-cloud-cpp`:
@@ -1823,7 +2086,7 @@ cmake -S . -B cmake-out \
   -DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX="${PREFIX}" \
   -DBUILD_TESTING=OFF \
   -DGOOGLE_CLOUD_CPP_ENABLE_EXAMPLES=OFF \
-  -DGOOGLE_CLOUD_CPP_ENABLE=__ga_libraries__
+  -DGOOGLE_CLOUD_CPP_ENABLE=__ga_libraries__,opentelemetry
 cmake --build cmake-out -- -j "$(nproc)"
 cmake --build cmake-out --target install
 ```
diff --git a/google/cloud/opentelemetry/quickstart/README.md b/google/cloud/opentelemetry/quickstart/README.md
index 82a8e3fc3ad30..89c3699704d67 100644
--- a/google/cloud/opentelemetry/quickstart/README.md
+++ b/google/cloud/opentelemetry/quickstart/README.md
@@ -116,29 +116,6 @@ To enable these features, add the following to your CMake configuration command:
 -DGOOGLE_CLOUD_CPP_ENABLE="storage,opentelemetry"
 ```
 
-#### Fetching `opentelemetry-cpp`
-
-Here is an example command to fetch and install `opentelemetry-cpp` on Fedora
-Linux.
-
-```Dockerfile
-WORKDIR /var/tmp/build/
-RUN curl -fsSL https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-cpp/archive/v1.9.0.tar.gz | \
-    tar -xzf - --strip-components=1 && \
-    cmake \
-        -DCMAKE_CXX_STANDARD=14 \
-        -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release \
-        -DCMAKE_POSITION_INDEPENDENT_CODE=TRUE \
-        -DBUILD_SHARED_LIBS=ON \
-        -DWITH_EXAMPLES=OFF \
-        -DWITH_ABSEIL=ON \
-        -DBUILD_TESTING=OFF \
-        -DOPENTELEMETRY_INSTALL=ON \
-        -S . -B cmake-out && \
-    cmake --build cmake-out --target install && \
-    ldconfig && cd /var/tmp && rm -fr build
-```
-
 #### Details
 
 We must supply the `-DWITH_ABSEIL=ON` flag when compiling `opentelemetry-cpp`