Broadband Pulse

OFC 2025 Show Daily - Day One

In the first episode Lightwave+BTR's daily podcast for Day One of OFC 2025, we're breaking down the key announcements, presentations, and conversations at the San Francisco show.
Some of the highlights of the day included: 
Quantum takes center stage at OFC 2025
LPO MSA releases Linear Pluggable Optical Modules specification
OIF celebrates optical industry interoperability at OFC
Ethernet Alliance unites around Ethernet innovation and interoperability at OFC 2025
2025 Lightwave+BTR Innovation Reviews Honorees
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. Visit our website at www.lightwave.com and click on our podcast site at https://broadbandpulse.podbean.com/.
 
 

Belden's Sadura on the state of broadband

In this latest episode of the Broadband Pulse podcast, we speak with Sev Sadura, VP of product management at Belden.
Belden has been going through a transition. The company, well-known in the optical and broadband arenas as a supplier of cabling and other infrastructure, has recently completed its acquisition of Precision Optical Technologies.
Precision brings several things into the Belden fold. For one, Belden can leverage Precision Optical Technologies’ optical transceiver capabilities to grow its solutions offerings in the Enterprise Solutions segment and broadband markets.
Also, Belden strengthens its broadband capabilities with Precision’s PON expertise. The combination of Belden fiber and network products with Precision’s capabilities will now feature enhanced PON components, positioning them more prominently in the fiber network. This enhancement will enable additional use cases and opportunities for MSOs, telcos, data centers, and enterprise customers.
Precision’s PON Extender for XGS-PON, an optical module designed for passive and low-noise extended PON links, received a 4.5 score on Lightwave+BTR’s 2025 Innovation Awards.  
Here's a timeline of the interview's key moments:
Opening | 0.00
Host introduction of guests | 0:20
State of the broadband market| 1:21
The new presidential administration’s potential influence on broadband policy| 3:33
Broadband customers’ key concerns| 4:48
Fiber versus wireless broadband investments| 9:53
Labor and workforce challenges| 12:13
Final thoughts/Closing | 15:17
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. Visit our website at www.lightwave.com and click on our podcast site at https://broadbandpulse.podbean.com/.

TIA's CEO Stehlin weighs on what's next in broadband, security

Dave Stehlin, CEO of TIA addresses new opportunities for broadband under the new presidential administration. 
Stehlin is a veteran of the telecommunications and broadband industry. Earlier in his career, he led two pioneering Ethernet startups: Ceterus Networks and later Overture Networks.
He was also a proud member of our country's service. Before coming into the networking industry, Dave was a Captain in the U.S. Marine Corps.
Here's a timeline of the interview's key moments:
Opening | 0.00
Host introduction of guests | 0:20
TIA’s activities and plans for 2025? | 1:01
The new presidential administration’s proposed tariff policies. | 2:50
The Rip and Replace program, which reimburses smaller telecom providers for replacing Huawei and ZTE equipment in their networks | 4:50
New proposals to accelerate the BEAD program | 6:30
Build America Buy America | 10:43
Ensuring security in broadband networks | 11:58
Financial and policy support for the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) | 16:09
Final thoughts/Closing | 19:08
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. Visit our website at www.lightwave.com and click on our podcast site at https://broadbandpulse.podbean.com/.

Building Broadband: BroadbandOne expands fixed wireless access into Savannah, Ga.; HyperFiber kicks off St. Petersburg, Florida fiber build

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 BroadbandOne, eX² Technology, Fidium, GoNetspeed, HyperFiber, Intrepid Fiber, Massachusetts Broadband Institute (MBI) and Vero Networks.
You can also read about these deployments in our Lightwave+BTR's weekly Building Broadband feature on our website at www.lighwaveonline.com. 

Building Broadband: Comcast lights up broadband for 18.5K Northeastern Pennsylvania locations; Fidium begins fiber construction in Boothbay, Maine

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 our weekly Building Broadband feature on our website at www.lighwaveonline.com. 

Building Broadband: AT&T, Brightspeed and Vero Fiber expand regional broadband presence

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. 

Spirent's Douglas sounds off on the 5G opportunity

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's new CMO sets course for 2025

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’s Peak on service providers necessary move to a cloud-based structure

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.

Render’s Laudati reflects on the evolving broadband industry

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.