Broadband Pulse

Broadband Pulse is tracking new broadband build-out developments in this new weekly news roundup series. 
We're tracking new builds from various providers, including Comcast, Fidium, ImOn Communications, Lumos, Nexstream, and Vero Fiber.
You can also read about these deployments in out weekly Building Broadband feature on our website at www.lighwaveonline.com. 

Broadband Pulse is tracking new broadband build-out developments in this new weekly news roundup series. 
We're tracking new builds from various providers, including: AT&T, Brightspeed, eX² Technology, Fidium, GoNetspeed, Metronet, PhireLink and Vero Fiber.
You can also read about these deployments in out weekly Building Broadband feature on our website at www.lighwaveonline.com. 

In this latest episode of Broadband Pulse, we talked to Stephen Douglas, Spirent’s Head of Market Strategy.
Spirent recently released its sixth annual 5G Outlook Report, based on analysis and takeaways from 415 new 5G engagements globally in 2024.
During the episode, Douglas talked about some findings from that study.

Clearfield, a fiber optic connectivity and management product designer, has made a name for itself, helping service providers reduce the high costs associated with a fiber optic network. The company has successfully tailored its products for rural and community-based broadband networks.
Like other companies, Clearfield continues to evolve. During this episode, we talked to Anis Khemakhem, who became the new Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) in January. 
Anis took over the CMO position from telecom industry veteran Kevin Morgan, who is transitioning into another role at the company.
Here's a timeline of the interview's key moments:
Opening | 0.00
Host introduction of guests | 0:20
Key priorities for 2025 | 1:03
Strengthening Clearfield’s market leadership | 3:27
Broadband labor challenges | 5:38
New Presidential Administration’s influence on the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program | 8:56
Collaboration with former CMO Kevin Morgan on BEAD and community broadband messaging | 12:27
Final thoughts/Closing | 14:45
About the Podcast In the Lightwave Broadband Pulse podcast, we address the key issues affecting the optical and broadband industry segments. Join us every week for insights from industry leaders on these topics.

Alianza is looking to help traditional service providers abandon their traditional methods. The voice-centric service provider, which started serving regional operators, is gaining momentum with Tier 1 operators like Lumen. The service provider is leveraging Alianza’s cloud communications platform in its Cloud Communications offering.
By purchasing Metaswitch, a once dominant player in the Softswitch voice arena from Microsoft, Alianza will have a combined customer base of over 1,000 communications service providers, including 19 of the top 20 global operators, and a comprehensive portfolio of services focused on creating a path to cloud-orchestrated, AI-powered communications.   
During this episode, we talked to Dag Peak, the CTO of Alianza
Here's a timeline of the interview's key moments:
Opening | 0.00
Host introduction of guests | 0:22
Alianza’s top priorities for 2025 | 1:00
Telcos’ service transition options | 4:00
AI’s impact on small businesses | 8:04
How the telecom industry’s five nines of reliability concept are killing innovation | 10:19
Microsoft, Cisco (and others) leaving the service provider business | 20:27
Hidden costs of operating and building networks | 22:32
Shifting to a SaaS-based service approach | 25:15
Final thoughts and wrap-up | 27:39
About the Podcast In the Lightwave Broadband Pulse podcast, we address the key issues affecting the optical and broadband industry segments. Join us every week for insights from industry leaders on these topics.

Rob Laudati, who joined Render Networks as vice president of product and partnerships in the fall of 2023, shared his perspective on his first year with the company and the broadband trends we will see in 2025.  
Laudati came to the Render role with extensive experience in executive products and partnerships in the geospatial and infrastructure domains. Before coming to Render, he served as Esri's global partner channel business. Earlier, he held product and technology leadership positions at GE, Autodesk, Trimble, and Synchronoss. 
Here’s a timeline of the conversation the Broadband Pulse had with Laudati.
Opening | 0:00
Host introduction of guest | 0:20
First year at Render | 0:56
Expectations for 2025? | 2:36
Anticipating BEAD pickup | 4:06
Render’s AI Blueprinting | 5:36
Digitizing broadband construction workflows | 8:39
Customer themes | 13:11
Broadband wireless and LEO satellite-based broadband | 18:27
New presidential administration influence|22:51
Final thoughts | 24:45
About the Podcast In the Lightwave Broadband Pulse podcast, we address the key issues affecting the optical and broadband industry segments. Join us every week for insights from industry leaders on these topics.

Since no two service providers are the same, nor should their DWDM solutions be, XKL has taken a consultative approach that considers every service provider's network expansion and upgrade needs and collaborates to design the ideal optical DWDM solution. The company has developed a “set and forget” DWDM solution. 
During this episode we talked to two key optical networking experts: 
Chad Lamb, Chief Systems Architect for XKL
And
Darren Yuet, Marketing Manager for XKL
Here's a timeline of the interview's key moments:
Opening | 0.00
Host introduction of guests | 0.30
Disaggregated network hardware and management approaches | 0.57
Procuring equipment | 5:09
IP over DWDM market adoption | 6:08
Outsourcing network management | 9:17
Understanding Layer 1 Optical Network Environments | 11:13
Network design complexities | 12:31
Engaging with different service provider types | 16:05
Operational cost issues | 19:29
Final thoughts and wrap-up | 22:05
About the Podcast In the Lightwave Broadband Pulse podcast, we address the key issues affecting the optical and broadband industry segments. Join us every week for insights from industry leaders on these topics.

Seneca Mullins, President of AFL US Services, where he oversees six distinct service companies under the AFL umbrella. Seneca has been with AFL for 18 years, driving innovation and excellence across AFL’s diverse service lines.
AFL Wireless Services recently had a big win with Allegiant Stadium, the home of the Las Vegas Raiders. We’ll talk about that during the podcast today as one of the key highlights of the division.
While our focus today is on AFL’s Wireless Services division—which includes OTS, DGP, and BEAM Wireless—it’s also worth noting that AFL US Services is also a premier provider of residential broadband internet installation services and is a technology solutions provider for carriers, internet services providers, major financial customers, and Hyperscalers across dozens of markets nationwide.
Here's a timeline of the interview's key moments:
Opening | 0.00
Host introduction of guest | 0.27
Overview of AFL Wireless Services | 1:36
Challenges in the wireless landscape, particularly in large venues | 3:02
OTS, DGP, and BEAM Wireless capabilities | 4:49
Wireless technology evolutions | 7:39
Addressing the unique wireless deployment challenges of venues | 8:41
Future-proofing solutions | 10:07
Success stories | 10:54
Sports stadium momentum | 12:25
Future opportunities and challenges | 12:31
Private wireless networks | 13:26
AFL Wireless Services' differentiator | 14:18
About the Podcast In the Lightwave Broadband Pulse podcast, we address the key issues affecting the optical and broadband industry segments. Join us every week for insights from industry leaders on these topics.

FarrPoint in partnership with Shaping Our Appalachian Region (SOAR) and Connect Humanity, recently conducted a study that showed that improving broadband in Harlan County, Kentucky, could generate $71.5 million in economic benefits.
During this episode we talked to two key broadband and community advocacy experts: 
Colby Hall, Director at SOAR
and
Matthew Izatt-Lowry, senior economist for FarrPoint
Here's a timeline of the interview's key moments:
Opening | 0.00
Host introduction of guests | 0:50
Shaping Our Appalachian Region (SOAR) and Connect Humanity broadband advocacy roles | 1:10 
The impact of improved digital connectivity |  5:50
How broadband connectivity attracts new businesses | 11:20
Broadband adoption | 15:46
Service providers' actions | 19:19
The role of public broadband funding | 21:49
Final thoughts/wrap up | 24:00
About the Podcast In the Lightwave Broadband Pulse podcast, we address the key issues affecting the optical and broadband industry segments. Join us every week for insights from industry leaders on these topics.

For this episode of the Broadband Pulse Podcast, Lightwave+BTR editor-in-chief Sean Buckley talked to Ed Fox, MetTel's Chief Technology Officer (CTO). He oversees MetTel’s broadband, data, and VoIP network infrastructure planning, deployment, and operations.
A 30-year telecom and networking veteran, Fox has broad experience managing massive organizational and customer growth at major telecommunications providers.
In addition to his duties at MetTel, Fox is a member of the Forbes Technology Council and a contributing author for the IDG influencer network.
One of MetTel’s latest moves was becoming an Authorized Starlink Reseller for government and commercial enterprises to extend its managed service suite to more locations. MetTel has also been an aggressive player in the burgeoning SD-WAN and SASE market segments.
Here's a timeline of the interview's key moments:
Opening 0.00
Host introduction of guest | 0:21
MetTel’s key priorities for the remainder of 2024 and into 2025 | 0:45
Becoming an Authorized Starlink Reseller for both government and commercial enterprises. | 2:20
Using Starlink satellite connections as a primary/secondary business connection. | 5:19
MetTel’s Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS) voice line replacement service. | 6:12
SD-WAN opportunities| 8:38
How being an early SD-WAN adopter is a differentiator. | 9:58
The growth of Ethernet and other access platforms for businesses. | 11:04
The role of automation. |12:12
Cybersecurity trends |15:04
Retaining a spot on the Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Managed Network Services.| 16:41
Final thoughts | 19:03
About the Podcast In the Lightwave Broadband Pulse podcast, we address the key issues affecting the optical and broadband industry segments. Join us every week for insights from industry leaders on these topics.