News and perspectives from the world of fiber optic networking

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

Telecom industry pulse: May 2025 recap

Network news roundup

The past month has seen significant developments across the telecom space. Major broadband expansions into rural and agricultural areas, industry consolidation through a surprise cable merger, and strategic partnerships in cloud services. Meanwhile, consumer broadband speeds continue to climb, with 500 Mbps now emerging as the new baseline for residential internet service.

• Fiber network industry and markets
• Telecom technologies
• GIS

How GIS transforms fiber proposals - Part 3: Creating accurate cost estimates

Cost miscalculations. The silent deal-killers of the fiber proposals process. Following our exploration of slow, manual processes and asset visibility challenges, we now address the most problematic factor that 37% of organizations we surveyed in a recent webinar identify as their biggest hurdle: creating accurate cost estimates.

• Fiber network industry and markets
• Telecom technologies
• GIS

How GIS transforms fiber proposals - Part 1: The cost of manual proposal methods

Ever wonder why some fiber providers consistently win contracts while others struggle to close deals? In a recent webinar, we pulled back the curtain on what's really happening in the proposal process. The (not so) shocking reality? Many providers are losing winnable deals due to slow, manual processes, poor visibility into their network assets, and proposals with cost estimates that miss the mark.

• 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.

• 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 industry and markets
• FTTH
• Fiber deployment

Rural vs urban fiber network planning: The challenges and opportunities

The approach to planning and deploying fiber networks can vary dramatically between rural and urban environments. While modern fiber design software has revolutionized how providers tackle these challenges, the differences in these environments require carefully tailored, data-driven strategies to maximize ROI, reduce deployment risks, and accelerate time to market.

• Fiber network industry and markets
• Telecom technologies
• Fiber deployment

Why AI's data center boom demands smarter fiber planning

With the announcement of a $500 billion AI infrastructure initiative and Microsoft's planned $80 billion investment in data center expansions, the race to build America's AI infrastructure is accelerating rapidly.¹ AI isn't just another tech trend—it's becoming woven into the fabric of daily life, from the algorithms that personalize our streaming services to the chatbots handling customer inquiries. For telecom operators, this shift represents more than just an infrastructure challenge. As AI applications become essential to business operations, network reliability and speed directly impact their customers' abilities to compete in an AI-driven world.