News and perspectives from the world of fiber optic networking

• Utilities
• Communications service providers
• Fiber deployment

Fibre at the core: Powering the smart cities of tomorrow

One global report estimated that the smart city platform market is set to be worth $292.1 billion by 2028, the primary factor driving this growth being various government initiatives to develop digitised, smart city infrastructure.¹ Meanwhile, at a European level at least, FTTH Council reports that full fibre coverage across the continent has reached 74.6%.² As these two trends converge, the message is clear: the future of smart cities and the expansion of fibre networks are not just parallel initiatives—they are fundamentally connected.

• Fiber network management
• Fiber network industry and markets
• Communications service providers
• FTTH

What did FTTH Conference tell us about the future of fibre?

If this year’s FTTH Conference in Amsterdam made anything clear, it’s that the fibre industry is moving faster, growing smarter, and getting a whole lot more collaborative. The exhibition hall was alive with activity, as rows of booths hummed with demos, meetings, and panel debriefs. Conversations were wide-ranging: AI and automation, sustainable transformations, new builds, rural challenges, and, of course, how to plan, deploy, and manage networks that are only getting more complex.

But as much as the conversations varied, there were some common threads.

• Internet service
• Communications service providers
• Altnets
• FTTH

From buildout to buy-in: What's driving full fibre take-up in the UK?

The UK’s full fibre broadband market is at a critical inflection point. With billions invested in network buildouts over the past few years, the focus has firmly shifted to take-up—how many households are actually subscribing to services. Several recent industry reports have provided various insights and discussions around the current state of play and what’s shaping adoption across the country.

• Fiber network industry and markets
• Communications service providers
• Fiber deployment

2025 and beyond: What’s next for telecom?

Fiber networks have transformed how we live, work, and connect. They power everything from streaming our favorite shows to enabling the smart cities of the future. But as demand skyrockets and technology advances, fiber networks are stepping up to the challenge in ways that go beyond what we’ve seen before. So, what’s next for this critical infrastructure? Let’s explore the trends and technologies shaping the future of telecom.

• Fiber network industry and markets
• Telecom technologies
• Communications service providers

Connected America 2025 recap: Innovations and regulations shaping telecom's future

Last week, I had the opportunity to attend the third annual Connected America conference in Dallas. Over 2,200 industry professionals gathered to explore the future of connectivity, and throughout the event, two major themes became apparent: emerging technologies are transforming telecom operations in exciting new ways, and the industry is adapting to evolving regulatory frameworks under the new administration.

• Fiber network management
• Telecom technologies
• Communications service providers

The case for a scalable physical network inventory

With the surge in fibre network rollouts, the demands on network management solutions are greater than ever. Yet, many telcos are still navigating the complexities of managing their operations without a solid, scalable physical network inventory (PNI) solution at the heart of their infrastructure.

• Fiber network management
• Communications service providers
• Fiber deployment

How fiber mapping software cuts costs – Part 1: CapEx and OpEx considerations

Fiber networks are complex, high-value investments, and every decision about their design, deployment, and maintenance impacts the bottom line. Some network operators view fiber mapping software as a necessary capital expenditure (CapEx), ensuring their network is built on accurate, scalable data from day one. Others see it as a strategic investment that reduces operational expenses (OpEx) over time by minimizing costly errors, avoiding unnecessary truck rolls, and streamlining maintenance. The reality? The right software protects both your initial investment while lowering the costs of managing and maintaining your network. 

• Fiber network industry and markets
• Digital transformation
• Communications service providers

The digital divide in fiber management: Research reveals industry transformation

28% of telecommunications organizations still lack a dedicated fiber asset management system.¹  For these companies - and many others using outdated solutions - this gap creates cascading challenges that impact everything from customer service to network maintenance.