Broadband Pulse

Collaborative Synergy takes a fresh look at the broadband make-ready process

As more service providers look to expand their fiber reach into new markets, leveraging existing utility pole infrastructure is key. To do that, service providers must navigate the process of making new attachments, such as fiber optic lines, which require utility poles. 
Because this process involves ensuring the pole is structurally sound, has adequate space for the new attachments, and meets safety standards, it often requires existing attachments to be moved or the pole itself to be modified, making it a daunting process for providers.
However, companies like Collaborative Strategy are looking to simplify this process.
In this new Broadband Pulse Podcast, conducted during the recent Fiber Connect tradeshow in Nashville, we spoke with Johannes Maassen, founder and president of Collaborative Synergy.
Collaborative Synergy is a telecom and utility infrastructure field engineering firm known for precision fieldwork, complex permitting solutions, and make-ready engineering.
During the podcast, we addressed the following issues:
Fiber Connect 2025 show observations
Collaborative Synergy’s make-ready approach
Helping providers and communities
Regional differences
Automating the make-ready processes
The role of pole loading software—O-Calc and SPIDACalc to IKE PoleForeman
One Touch Make Ready’s (OTMR) emergence
Final thoughts
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 broadbandpulse.podbean.com/.

Ethernet Alliance coalesces around interoperability and future innovations

In this podcast, we talked to two Ethernet Alliance leaders during this year’s OFC 2025 show:
David Rodgers, Ethernet Alliance Events & Conferences Committee Chair, and Technical Business Development Manager for EXFO
Peter Jones, Distinguished Engineer@Cisco, Chair@Ethernet Alliance
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 broadbandpulse.podbean.com/.

Fiber Connect 2025 Show Daily - Day Three

In Lightwave’s day three daily podcast for Fiber Connect 2025, we're breaking down the key announcements, presentations, and conversations at the Nashville show.
Some of the highlights of the day included: 
Frontier Communications’ Scott Mispagel Receives 2025 Connect the Unconnected Award
FBA’s state broadband summit
T-Mobile brings its Fiber Home Internet service
Fiber Broadband Association previewed its ThoughtWaves Documentary
Lightera’s new InvisiLight Home Fiber Kit
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 broadbandpulse.podbean.com/.

Fiber Connect 2025 Show Daily - Day Two

In Lightwave’s day two podcast for Fiber Connect 2025, we're breaking down the key announcements, presentations, and conversations at the Nashville show.
Some of the highlights of the day included: 
Economic Impact Underscores Importance of NTIA BEAD Program
Nokia's co-existence solution for 10G, 25G, and 50G PON
The marriage of fiber and AI
Enhancing middle mile networks 
Ting emphasizes community-centric approach to delivering broadband
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 broadbandpulse.podbean.com/.

Fiber Connect 2025 Show Daily - Day One

In the first episode Lightwave’s daily podcast for Fiber Connect 2025, we're breaking down the key announcements, presentations, and conversations at the Nashville show.
Some of the highlights of the day included: 
Keynote speeches from Sasktel, U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn and Ting Internet
Sean Buckley’s hosting of the Tribal Broadband: Key Considerations and Expectations Creating the Framework for Innovation and Enhanced Connectivity panel
MDU products: We feature new products from AirTies, Harmonic and Vecima
BEAD—How industry groups, including the Fiber Broadband Association, are asking the Trump administration to end its delay with BEAD funding
Funding—Ripple Fiber secured $250 million in new funding
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 broadbandpulse.podbean.com/.

WISPA’s CEO on making common-sense fixes to the BEAD program

In this new Broadband Pulse podcast, Lightwave editor Sean Buckley talked to David Zumwalt, President and CEO of WISPA. 
During this episode, Zumwalt addressed how the federal government could simplify the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) program.
He also addressed the FCC's move to pull to ban all bulk billing agreements in multi-tenant environments (MTEs). 
About the Podcast In the Lightwave+BTR 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 www.broadbandpulse.podbean.com/.

Building Broadband: altafiber and Avondale Development Corporation strike Wi-Fi pact; Bluepeak expands fiber internet to Yukon, Oklahoma

In Broadband Pulse podcast's special Memorial Day holiday edition, we’re rounding up new broadband builds from various providers over the past week. 
We’re tracking new broadband deployments from altafiber, Bluepeak, Comcast, Fidium, GoNetspeed, IdeaTek, Kinetic and Stellar Broadband.
We also highlight two key broadband developments made over the past week that will likely alter the competitive landscape in broadband: AT&T's move to acquire Lumen's Mass Markets fiber business and Charter and Cox's merger plans. 
About the Podcast In the Lightwave+BTR 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 www.broadbandpulse.podbean.com/.
 

Consolidated aims its capacity platforms at the data center market

In this episode of the Broadband Pulse podcast, host Sean Buckley, editor in chief of Lightwave and BTR, talked to Sean Baillie, SVP of Carrier, Channel and Hyperscale for Consolidated Communications about new wholesale opportunities for the data center services market.
As data center connectivity demands rise due to AI's emergence, Consolidated has responded by expanding its platform and delivering high-capacity network options.
Consolidated is expanding its fiber network across major data center hubs. Offering a platform that delivers Ethernet and optical wavelengths, Consolidated’s fiber footprint serves data centers across the Upper Midwest, Texas, Northern California and its newest unique route connecting Montreal and Boston.  
About the Podcast In the Lightwave+BTR 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 www.broadbandpulse.podbean.com/.

GTT sets an adaptable managed services vision

In this episode of the Broadband Pulse podcast, we talked with Chris Bonavita, VP of strategy and technology adoption for GTT, about the provider's vision to simplify enterprise customers’ consumption of managed services.  
Last September, GTT launched GTT Envision, a global technology platform for connecting, orchestrating, virtualizing, and automating enterprise networks. Built on its network backbone, GTT Envision enables enterprises to solve complex networking and security challenges by simplifying the orchestration and management of global security, cloud, and networking solutions.
The GTT Envision platform combines the technology of EnvisionCORE and EnvisionEDGE to enable the virtual deployment of orchestrated network functions anywhere. This is managed, customized, and controlled through a single digital experience with EnvisionDX.
Here's a timeline of the interview's key moments:
Opening | 0.00
Host introduction of guests | 0:29
GTT’s outlook and priorities for 2025 | 0:52
GTT Envision’s elements | 2:37
5G wireless and satellite partnerships | 5:30
Regional reach | 8:10
Virtual options for Dedicated Internet Access (DIA) and MPLS | 9:20
Scaling SD-WAN | 11:03
Final thoughts/closing | 13:49
About the Podcast In the Lightwave+BTR 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 www.broadbandpulse.podbean.com/.

Verizon paves AI path for small to medium-sized businesses

In this episode, we discussed how AI can be helpful to small to medium-sized businesses.
We feature Michael Caralis, Verizon's VP of business markets.
With over 20 years of experience driving success in multi-billion-dollar business units, he oversees Verizon’s inside and digital sales teams, ensuring effective implementation of company strategies and exceptional customer service. Additionally, he directs strategy, innovation, and sales operations across small and medium business sales channels.
Here's a timeline of the interview's key moments:
In this episode, we discussed how AI can be helpful to small to medium-sized businesses.
We feature Michael Caralis, Verizon's VP of business markets.
With over 20 years of experience driving success in multi-billion-dollar business units, he oversees Verizon’s inside and digital sales teams, ensuring effective implementation of company strategies and exceptional customer service.
Additionally, he directs strategy, innovation, and sales operations across small and medium business sales channels.
Here's a timeline of the interview's key moments:
Opening | 0.00
Host introduction of guests | 0:22
AI philosophy and plans around AI? | 1:02
AI benefits for your business customers? | 3:34
Verizon’s differentiation | 5:21
SMB’s key concerns implementing AI | 6:34
How SMBs can implement the Verizon AI platform | 8:36
Business vertical adoption | 10:59
Final thoughts/closing | 13:50
About the Podcast In the Lightwave+BTR 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/.