Broadband Pulse

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.

For this episode of the Broadband Pulse Podcast, Lightwave+BTR editor-in-chief Sean Buckley talked to Jason Moore, CEO of Route This, a company focused on helping service providers and IoT/smart home brands deliver consistent Wi-Fi connectivity to their customers.
Jason Moore comes to the CEO role with over 10 years of experience in the networking industry, from silicon engineering to software development to SaaS sales. Before founding RouteThis, Moore was the CEO of a leading video platform in the early smart home market.
Here's a timeline of the interview's key moments:
Opening 0.00
Host introduction of guest | 0.22
RouteThis’ Wi-Fi focus | 0.40
The critical challenges to manage consumer Wi-Fi today | 1:50
RouteThis’ QoI Insights capability | 3:45
Service provider’s reception to RouteThis Qol Insights capability |6:34
Enhancing service provider broadband APRU | 8:17
Using real-time data to drive best practices and elevate support and customer satisfaction | 10:29
Process Maturation Models for Field Teams | 12:26
Final thoughts |13:39
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 on these topics from industry leaders.

While the market is still in its early stages of development, quantum computing holds considerable potential. A recent Quantum Insider report forecasts that quantum computing will contribute $1 trillion in value creation by 2035. Also, Quantum computing vendors are expected to generate $50 billion in revenue by 2035.
PacketLight, an optical vendor that continues to establish its presence in service providers and enterprises, aims to be a collaborative force driving new quantum developments forward.
In this episode of the Broadband Pulse podcast, we talk to Koby Reshef, CEO of PacketLight, about the potential of optical networking’s role in quantum.  
During this episode, we discuss how PacketLight is identifying new opportunities in the rapidly growing quantum computing segment.
Here’s a timeline of the interview:
Opening | 0.00
Host introduction of guests | 0:14
Key priorities | 0:39
The advent of 400G and 800G | 1:40
Quantum networking collaboration| 2:43
Service provider, enterprise quantum adoption | 5:09
Security issues | 6:35
Quantum interoperability | 8:01
Data center trends | 9:15
The role of AI | 10:14
Final Thoughts/closing | 10:43
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.
 

In this latest episode of the Broadband Pulse podcast, we talk to Kevin Morgan, Clearfield's Chief Marketing Officer.
Morgan, who has served in this role since 2016, will transition into the newly created role of Executive Advisor to the CEO in January 2025.
During this episode, Morgan addressed several issues facing broadband providers:
Highlights of the 2024 Fiber Connect trade show
How the upcoming unprecedented buildout of fiber prompted by the Broadband, Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) program can be made easier with proper planning
Customers’ critical concerns about the BEAD allocation process
How service providers and communities continue to take advantage of existing funding like the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and ReConnect
How Clearfield’s BILT and the ClearPass®Dust Cap can simplify new fiber broadband deployments
Upcoming innovations Clearfield plans to release in 2024 and 2025

In this latest episode of the Broadband Pulse podcast, we talk to Charles Seifert, senior manager of network test hardware platforms for Keysight, about the 800GE network opportunity. 
Seifert, who has decades of experience in the networking industry, addresses several issues: 
What technologies are driving changes in data center interconnects that affect the buildout of new network infrastructures
How has AI and/or HPC effected Keysight’s strategy for testing network infrastructures
The challenges in building a new network infrastructure for AI and HPC network applications
Listen to this episode to hear from Charles about the emerging 800GE market, and how it will evolve to meet current and future needs. 
 

In this latest Broadband Pulse podcast, we talked to Nigel Alvares, Marvell's VP of global marketing and business planning. 
During the podcast, we addressed the need to accommodate growing AI and other applications, and data center power and water consumption is poised to skyrocket. 
Marvell has also been actively enhancing its product line to deal with the AI explosion. 
During the September ECOC 2024 tradeshow, Marvell highlighted new product innovations like:
Orion 800G coherent DSP for carrier and data center interconnect
COLORZ® 800G ZR/ZR+ DCI optical modules with C-Band and L-Band support
Nova 1.6T PAM4 DSP for AI and cloud connectivity

Dan Watts, CEO of US Signal, joined the Broadband Pulse podcast to discuss how the competitive business service provider enhances its cloud service reach through acquisitions and new product development.
One of US Signal's critical priorities for 2024 is integrating its earlier acquisition of One Neck, a data center provider from TDS Telecom. This acquisition enhances US Signal’s data center, cloud hosting, and solutions provider operations.
The provider is also actively enhancing its product set. It recently launched its Infrastructure-as-a-Service product, OpenCloud, an alternative response to the volatility in the cloud computing market, including provider shakeups and recent license price hikes.
What will tie all of US Signals ambitions together is its network assets. US Signal has a 9,500-mile-lit fiber network with access to over 225 data centers and POPs, Tier 1 peering relationships, and metro rings in strategic markets. 
Listen to this podcast to gain insights into how US Signal harnesses its capabilities to address the ever-evolving cloud services market.

Madison Carroll, Global Program Manager at Orbia’s Dura-Line Academy, joined the Broadband Pulse podcast to discuss fiber broadband workforce issues.
During our conversation, we discussed that while the advent of BEAD will put broadband into more consumers' and businesses' hands, the need to make those connections is challenged by a need for more skilled technicians to install services.
To address this issue, Dura-Line has created an online training academy that anyone can use. The company has alliances with the Power Communications Contractors Association, the Fiber Broadband Association, the Mississippi State Broadband Association, and many others.
Listen to this podcast to gain insights into how Dura-Line academy is helping to close the fiber technician gap.