Broadband Pulse

Alabama Fiber Network’s (AFN) middle-mile network nears completion; Breezeline launches 2.5G internet with promotional wireless offering

In this week's episode of Building Broadband, we're tracking new broadband builds from Alabama Fiber Network (AFN), Breezeline, Brightspeed, eX² Technology, Home Telecom, and Ziply Fiber.  
These providers are all using a mix of public and private funding for a host of new broadband build-outs across a diverse set of communities.
Lightwave is tracking service providers' ongoing efforts to extend broadband to more homes and businesses via our Building Broadband series.
If you want to share a new broadband build, contact Lightwave Editor in Chief Sean Buckley at sbuckley@endeavorb2b.com.
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 our podcast site at www.broadbandpulse.podbean.com. 

Global NaaS Event Day One Roundup

In this special edition of the Broadband Pulse podcast, we're in Dallas, Texas, covering this year’s Mplify (formerly MEF) Global NaaS Event GNE 2025 show.
For this episode, we’re taking a look at the key highlights of the first day of the event: 
Mplify’s leadership transition
Mplify Market Brief Positioning NaaS as Foundation for Agentic AI
Mplify’s Carrier Ethernet for AI certification
Advancing Mplify's certification efforts in wireless through aligning with the GSMA
Addressing standardized automation for enterprises
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 our podcast site at www.broadbandpulse.podbean.com. 
 

Brightspeed fires up fiber for three new Virginia Communities; Cleveland's DigitalC connects nearly 7,000 households

In this week's episode of Building Broadband, we're tracking new broadband builds from Brightspeed, Digital C, Ezee Fiber, Fidium, Greenlight Networks, Junction Internet, Lyte Fiber, Metro Communications, Metronet, and Vero Fiber are all using a mix of public and private funding for a host of new broadband build-outs across a diverse set of communities.
As part of this mix, we also saw three service providers move to expand their footprints through M&A: 
Greenlight Networks to acquire FastBridge Fiber
Metro Communications’ Clearwave Fiber Southern Illinois deal bolsters its FTTH plans
Vero Fiber extends its Southeast reach with the acquisition of Telephone Electronics Corporation (TEC) acquisition
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 our podcast site at www.broadbandpulse.podbean.com. 

Arkansas's $1B BEAD broadband moment

In late August, the Arkansas State Broadband Office released the state’s final proposal for the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program, officially opening the plan for public review and comment.
According to the Arkansas State Broadband Office, the state's $1 billion BEAD program represents the largest public broadband investment in Arkansas history. The state's BEAD program garnered a strong response. Arkansas' State Broadband Office received 730 applications from 33 internet service providers (ISPs), and 23 providers were selected by the broadband office for preliminary awards. 
During this Broadband Pulse podcast, we talked to Glen Howie, director of the Arkansas State Broadband Office, about how it will apply the BEAD program to bring broadband to its communities.
Here is a timeline of the episode:
Opening
0:39    Arkansas's Broadband EffortsHow state and federal grants like Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) are helping the state expand broadband availability.
2:12    Arkansas's landscapeHow the state can extend broadband to rural and urban areas.
3:06    Final BEAD proposal for public comment Howie sees BEAD as the true blueprint to achieve universal broadband access across the state.
5:04    BEAD provider diversityArkansas’s BEAD proposal drew a wide swath of service providers: 29 from Arkansas and 19 from outside the state.
7:55    Navigating BEAD uncertaintyEven with the change of the White House administration, Arkansas continued to move with a sense of urgency.
9:26    Sharing BEAD experiences with other statesArkansas continues to talk to other states about its best practices.
9:56    Digital skills trainingAs the state wires more locations with broadband, it is also focusing on helping people acquire digital skills to access and use the service for employment and education opportunities.
14:30 Communicating with communities How the state and the BEAD participants are working with local leaders to provide information on how the BEAD program will impact their communities.
16:55 Final thoughts/wrap up
About our guestGlen Howie is a seasoned professional with extensive experience in both the private and public sectors. A proud native of a small town of about 12,000, he understands the sense of pride and "community" that permeates Main Street USA, as well as the concerns and challenges facing rural Arkansas. In his current role as Director of the Arkansas State Broadband Office, he is leading an "all-of-state" effort to provide "all-of-state" solutions for the "all-of-state" issue of broadband. With a once-in-a-century opportunity to transform the Arkansas economy, Glen's vision, and the Arkansas State Broadband Office's mandate, is to be a leader in the South and a Top Ten state in the country, in all things broadband. Glen earned an undergraduate degree in finance and a master’s degree in public administration from LSU. After he completed the MPA program, he was selected as the recipient of the David B. Johnson Award for Academic Excellence, highlighting his academic achievement, critical analysis of public policy issues, and commitment to improving public management.
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 our podcast site at www.broadbandpulse.podbean.com. 

Ethernet Alliance on how 200G per lane will support AI and cloud computing innovations

In this episode of the Broadband Pulse, we talked to the Ethernet Alliance about the upcoming High-Speed Networking (HSN) Plugfest that will be held from December 8-12, 2025, at Keysight Technologies in Santa Clara, CA.
The Plugfest will feature interoperability testing for Ethernet devices ranging from 200GbE to 1.6TbE, covering various interconnects and transceivers. The event supports the transition to 200Gbps per lane, enabling breakthroughs in AI, cloud computing, and high-performance data centers.
Besides the Plugfest, the Ethernet Alliance is also hosting the TEF 2025: Ethernet for AI. Taking a page from the TEF 2024: Ethernet in the Age of AI event, held in October 2024, the new event will take a deeper exploration into 400 Gbps electrical and optical signaling in response to the industry’s need to address the growing demands of AI workloads.
During the podcast, we talked to two key members of the Ethernet Alliance: 
John D’Ambrosia, a Distinguished Engineer with the Datacom Standards Research team at Futurewei and Ethernet Alliance TEF ChairAnd
Sam Johnson, HSN Subcommittee Chair for the Ethernet Alliance and manager of the Link Applications Engineering team within Intel’s Networking Solutions Group
Here’s a timeline of the episode:
Opening
0:03    Host introduces guestsBroadband Pulse host Sean Buckley introduced John D’Ambrosia and Sam Johnson
1:08    Ethernet Alliance Plugfest eventThe details of the Ethernet Alliance’s High-Speed Networking (HSN) plugfest event in December at Keysight Technologies’ headquarters in Santa Clara, California.
5:16    200 Gbps per laneHow 200G is the next building block speed in the evolution of Ethernet.
7:34    Seeing the potential in 1.6 TbpsThe HSN interoperability tests will look at Ethernet devices ranging from 200GbE to 1.6TbE.
11:15 Coalescing around the Ethernet standard and the IEEEHow vendors and the Ethernet industry are trying to find commonality.
12:14 TEF 2025: Ethernet For AIHow the TEF 2025 for AI will address how to help the Ethernet industry address increased bandwidth, faster signaling, power delivery challenges, advanced packaging technologies, next-generation test equipment and methodologies, and new approaches to cooling.
15:05 AI networking based on 400Gbps signalingHow the next generation of AI networking, based on 400 Gbps signaling, is likely to diverge significantly from today’s architectures.
19:14 Final Thoughts/ClosingJohn D’Ambrosia and Sam Johnson give their final thoughts about the ongoing evolution of Ethernet.
About our guests:John D’Ambrosia, a Distinguished Engineer with the Datacom Standards Research team at Futurewei and Ethernet Alliance TEF ChairJohn D’Ambrosia is a Distinguished Engineer with the Datacom Standards Research team at Futurewei Technologies, a U.S. subsidiary of Huawei.  John has over 25 years of experience supporting standards development.   John is currently the chair of the IEEE P802.3dj 200 Gbps, 400 Gbps, 800 Gb/s, and 1.6 Tbps Task Force.  Previously, John chaired the IEEE 802.3 Task Forces that developed 40 GbE and 100 GbE, 200 and 400 GbE, and 800 GbE. Additionally, he chaired other IEEE 802.3 task forces, as well as the IEEE 802.3 New Ethernet Applications Ad hoc.  John is also a member of the IEEE 802 LAN / MAN Standards Committee and is an IEEE Senior Member.  In addition to his multiple roles in IEEE 802, John is one of the founders of the Ethernet Alliance and served as Chairman from 2011 to 2019.  John served as an advisor to the European Photonics Industry Consortium from 2019 to 2022c. His previous work experience includes Dell, Force10 Networks, and Tyco Electronics.
Sam Johnson, HSN Subcommittee Chair for the Ethernet Alliance and manager of the Link Applications Engineering team within Intel’s Networking Solutions GroupSam Johnson is an Engineering Manager with Intel Corporation, leading the Link Applications Engineering team within the Network and Edge Group. Sam started at Intel in 2010 with a focus on 10G Serial Ethernet debug and has built a career based on High Speed Serial Ethernet PHY and pluggable media behavior, configuration, and interoperability. He and his team work to define and develop the Ethernet hardware control infrastructure and to enable and support Intel customers' Ethernet solutions. Sam holds multiple patents related to Ethernet interoperability and is a co-chair of the High Speed Networking subcommittee within the Ethernet Alliance, with a focus on L1 protocol and interoperability testing. Outside of work, Sam enjoys spending time with his family, woodworking, and all forms of outdoor recreation.
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 our podcast site at www.broadbandpulse.podbean.com. 
 
 

Semtech’s Kimber on advancing Linear Pluggable Optics (LPO) standards

As bandwidth demand accelerates and power consumption issues become more acute, the emergence of Linear Pluggable Optics (LPO) has become a welcome technology. LPO is a technology that creates low-power optical modules for ultra-short-reach data center connections by removing the complex DSP (Digital Signal Processor) chip from the module. This design reduces power consumption, cost, and latency, making it ideal for AI clusters and hyperscale data centers. Industry standards groups have focused on two main developments: electrical interface standards and testing and optical link performance and deployment. The Optical Internetworking Forum (OIF) is moving forward with electrical interface standards while the LPO Multi-Source Agreement (LPO MSA) is addressing optical link performance and deployment challenges.In this podcast, we talked with Mark Kimber, the senior principal product definition specialist for Semtech.Here’s a timeline of the episode:
Opening
0:05    Host introduces guests Broadband Pulse host Sean Buckley introduced Kimber to the program. 
0:38    LPO’s emergenceMark Kimber addresses emergence of LPO and Semtech’s role.  
1:54    The LPO Multi-Source Agreement (MSA)How the new LPO MSA is establishing a specification and a methodology to make LPO work.
3:40    LPO standards efforts How the LPO MSA and the Optical Internetworking Forum (OIF) call for creating optical and electrical standards.
4:56    Semtech’s direct edge portfolio Semtech’s LPO platforms can help data center providers accommodate AI’s new power, latency and size requirements.
6:31    LPO plug and play operationsPlug-and-play is key to help simplify large data center operations and management.
11:04 OIF’s Common Management Interface Specification (CMIS) roleCMIS manages the LPO module's diagnostic capabilities, including monitoring the optical and electrical interfaces.11:35 200G per lane technologyHow LPO can save power at higher speeds like 200G per lane.14:10 Final Thoughts/ClosingMark Kimber offers his final thoughts on LPO.
About our guestMark Kimber is the Principal Product Definition Specialist at Semtech Corporation. Mark received the BE (Elect) degree from the University of Queensland in 1984.  Since then, he has worked on research and product development at GEC Hirst Research Centre, STC Laboratories, Bell Northern Research, Nortel, Bookham, Gennum and Semtech. Mark currently works on product definition for Semtech products and is a contributor to various standards groups.
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 our podcast site at www.broadbandpulse.podbean.com. 

Vistabeam’s Larsen on taking a hands-on local approach to rural broadband

Vistabeam is another example of a company finding a way to serve the often-overlooked rural market. Matt and Monique Larsen, who co-founded Vistabeam in 2004, believed rural communities deserved better internet and better opportunities. Like other entrepreneurs who rose during the early days of the internet, the Larsens were working at another ISP, but saw an opportunity to leverage new wireless technology with a local hands on focus that a national provider can’t offer. 
Vistabeam has continued to grow. Today, its network covers 50,000 square miles and serves more than 100 towns across western Nebraska, northeastern Colorado, and southeastern Wyoming — the region it calls Wyobraskarado. The company maintains that its differentiator is not technology, but rather “its heart.” The company is family-owned, locally operated, and committed to creating good jobs in the communities it serves. 
Key Moments in This Episode
Opening
0:05 Introduction of our guest
0:28 Vistabeam’s broadband journeyMatt Larsen talks about how Vistabeam has evolved since its founding in 2004. 2:36 Fixed wireless and fiber How Vistabeam is leveraging fixed wireless and fiber to bring broadband to rural areas of Nebraska, northeastern Colorado, and southeastern Wyoming. 4:27 Weighing fiber and wireless optionsVistabeam sees fiber and wireless as being a tool that fits specific situations. 
5:52 The competitive landscapeWhile Vistabeam faces a mix of traditional rural telcos and competitors, the company says its value lies in its local and responsive approach.  7:19 Middle MileVistabeam has built its own middle mile networks with microwave and available fiber to backhaul traffic. 9:19 Fiber broadband expansionsThe service provider has been leveraging state grants to build fiber in Kimball, Mitchell and Oshkosh, Nebraska. 
12:18 Business service optionsVistabeam is being opportunistic with business services, which are resonating with tractor dealerships and others. 14:27 Final Thoughts/closing
About our guest Matt Larsen is the CEO and founder of Vistabeam. Since co-founding the company in 2004, Vistabeam has grown to cover over 50,000 square miles and serve more than 100 towns across western Nebraska, northeastern Colorado, and southeastern Wyoming — the region it calls Wyobraskarado. Vistabeam is a hybrid broadband provider that offers both fixed wireless and fiber-based services. Besides his role at Vistabem, he serves as the chairman of WISPA.
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 listen here.

SCTE TechExpo25 Roundup Day 3

In this special episode of the Broadband Pulse podcast, we're tracking key trends taking place at SCTE's TechExpo25 show. 
As the final installment in this series, we’re tipping our hat to the vendors who showcased new wares that are designed to assist cable MSOs with their ongoing migration to DOCSIS 4.0, fiber broadband, and enhance the reach of their metro and long-haul optical networks.
Lightwave is conducting a roundup of the key product releases during the recent SCTE TechExpo25 event in Washington, DC. This roundup highlights innovations from ATX, Go! Foton, Nokia/InCoax, ProLabs, Render, Vecima and VIAVI.  
For more on cable innovations, check out our SCTE TechExpo25 coverage page: SCTE TechExpo25 special report.
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 listen here.

SCTE TechExpo25 Roundup Day 2

In this special episode of the Broadband Pulse podcast, we're tracking key trends taking place at SCTE's TechExpo25 show. 
This episode has highlights from the second day of the show, including:
DOCSIS 4.0 Evolution: Comcast and Mediacom revealed their progress during the show through their vendor partnerships with CommScope and Harmonic.
MDU broadband: As they did with cable TV, cable operators and competitive carriers are capitalizing on the multi-dwelling unit (MDU) broadband opportunity. Parks Associates, in partnership with Cox, released a study that found that nearly one in five multifamily residents with home internet reported receiving gigabit or faster download speeds. Meanwhile, CommScope's Ruckus unit continues to deepen its MDU presence across various verticals, including large apartment complexes, college campuses, retirement communities and federal prisons. 
Rural Markets: Bringing broadband to rural areas is becoming a big opportunity for large and smaller cable operators. Comcast  announced that it is deploying Ciena’s 5131 Coherent Access Platform (CAP) to extend the reach of its current fiber deployments more than 100 km and deliver 100 Gbps—capacity to serve residential, small to medium-sized business (SMB), enterprise, and community anchor institutions—to new and existing communities with unserved or underserved connectivity needs.
Service convergence and the customer experience: A Lightwave panel called Maintaining a Sustainable Competitive Advantage in Converged Service Offerings leveraged research results to uncover service providers’ plans for building networks that are robust enough to fulfill their business aspirations.
The panel included two key fiber and cable industry experts:
Barry Walton, Senior Broadband Solutions Advisor for Corning
AndLamar Horton, VP, Network Engineering and Operations for Astound Broadband/Astound Business Solutions
Among the many themes discussed during the panel was how to create a good customer experience regardless of if a broadband provider is using HFC or fiber.
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 listen here.

SCTE TechExpo25 Roundup Day One

In this special episode of the Broadband Pulse podcast, we're tracking key trends taking place at SCTE's TechExpo25 show. 
This episode has highlights from the first day of the show. 
In this SCTE TechExpo25 podcast, we’re tracking several key news items:
· FCC commissioners’ perspective: Anna Gomez and Olivia Trusty, gave their views on broadband, the BEAD program, affordability and efforts to streamline permitting processes to expand broadband.
· State broadband office perspectives: Leaders of the broadband offices of Georgia, Kentucky, and Minnesota shared key insights into how they are adapting to NTIA’s changes to the BEAD program.
· Cable industry trends: NCTA, in a new study conducted in partnership with Chumra and S&P Global, found that cable’s broadband and video drives are creating new economic opportunities in terms of job growth across multiple segments. In 2024, the cable industry delivered 59% of all fixed internet connections, serving 80 million broadband subscribers nationwide.
· Case Studies: Wyandotte, Michigan’s Wyandotte Municipal Services (WMS), a community-owned provider in Wyandotte, Michigan, finds orchestration balance across legacy and next-generation devices through its partnership with Synamedia.
Finally, if you want to get a bigger picture of how Lightwave is covering the TechExpo25 show, you can check out our coverage page: SCTE TechExpo25 special report.
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 listen here.