Broadband Pulse

Jaksot

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  FiberLight’s Major on how fiber enables AI benefits for consumers and businesses 08.09.2026 18min

  In this Broadband Pulse podcast interview, we caught up with Bill Major, CEO of FiberLight, a competitive service provider expanding its fiber footprint to support growing business and data center providers scaling to meet AI needs. Meet our guest Bill Major, CEO of FiberLightMajor is a seasoned telecommunications executive with more than 20 years of experience leading teams across sales, operations, and process improvement, and a track record of delivering strong operating performance and financial results. Most recently, he served as CEO and President of Everstream Solutions, where he oversaw execution of Everstream’s strategy as the premier enterprise and wholesale fiber platform in the Midwest of the United States. He was also responsible for overseeing the sales, operations, legal, enterprise technology & IT and human resources executive leadership teams. Bill first joined Everstream in 2015 as Vice President of Sales & Marketing and was promoted to Chief Revenue Officer in 2019 and President in 2021. Before that, Bill held sales and operations leadership roles with Fibertech Networks (acquired by Lightower and Crown Castle) and McLeodUSA (acquired by PAETEC and ultimately Windstream).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 www.broadbandpulse.podbean.com.  
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  Lightcurve differentiates its fiber service with a local feel 27.08.2026 17min

  Lightcurve’s evolution as a fiber broadband provider represents the can-do attitude inherent in the independent ILEC industry. Formerly known as Rainier Connect, the company was founded in 1910 and has more than 110 years of regional history. Based in Tacoma, WA, Lightcurve has served Washington for more than 110 years. It offers high-speed internet, Stream TV, voice, and other business connectivity solutions serving Tacoma, Eatonville, Centralia, Chehalis, and Graham. One of the key developments in Lightcurve’s recent history took place in 2023 when Palisade Infrastructure purchased Rainier Connect, after which it changed its name to Lightcurve. At the time, the company said changing its name to Lightcurve marked the next chapter of its journey and the beginning of significant investments in fiber internet infrastructure. In this Broadband Pulse podcast interview, we caught up with Beth Barnes, VP of Marketing and Consumer Sales for Lightcurve, to talk about the service provider’s rich history and its commitment to being a local fiber service provider for the consumers and businesses it serves.  Here’s a timeline of the episode: Opening/Introduction | 0:03 Lightcurve’s fiber broadband evolution | 0:23Barnes talks about how Lightcurve, formerly Rainier Connect, transitioned from a traditional independent ILEC founded in 1910 that served the Pacific Northwest to a fiber broadband provider. The pace of Lightcurve’s fiber transition | 1:50Being an ILEC, it continues to transition its copper and HFC networks to fiber. Prioritizing fiber builds | 2:35Lightcurve will consider various factors, including the return on investment, customer affordability, permitting, and serving new and existing communities. Community outreach | 4:32Barnes noted it approaches not only the residents, but also the community’s leaders when they set a new service target. Lightcurve’s main 2026 highlights | 5:59The service provider has built out about 10,000 new fiber locations in both new and existing communities in both central and western Washington. Serving up an 8 Gbps speed tier | 7:13How offering 8 gig is a statement in the market that can do as much as, or more than, its competitors. Service targets | 8:01Lightcurve continues to serve a mix of single-family and multi-dwelling unit (MDUs) in the market it serves. Fiber workforce | 9:21Lightcurve manages a group of outside contractors for its fiber builds. Competitive differentiation | 10:03With all broadband providers touting reliability, price, and speed, LightCurve focuses on its local community roots. Business services | 12:34Barnes talks about how Lightcurve’s fiber drive is enabling it to offer a broader set of services to local business customers. Lightcurve's digital equity partnership program | 14:17Through its public-private partnership with the City of Tacoma’s Click network, Lightcurve provides free internet to organizations that have access to or provide services to low-income or underserved members of the community. Philanthropic investments | 15:19The impact of Lightcurve’s recently announced series of philanthropic investments to support economic growth in downtown communities in Central and Western Washington. Final thoughts/closing | 16:15Beth Barnes shares her closing thoughts and how Lightcurve plans to continue to expand its fiber broadband presence in existing and new communities.   Meet our guestBeth Barnes joined Lightcurve as Vice President of Marketing and Consumer Sales in 2024. She came to the Lightcurve team from Alaska Communications, where she spent over a decade in various leadership roles, most recently as Vice President of Mass Markets and Marketing. Lightcurve is making significant investments in fiber broadband combined with excellence in customer service and a deep commitment to the communities it serves. Beth helps drive Lightcurve’s mission by focusing on customer engagement and experience, positioning Lightcurve as the internet provider of choice at
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  NRECA’s Matheson advocates for high-speed and high quality rural broadband 20.08.2026 13min

  As a national service organization that represents America's electric cooperatives, the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) has come into the telecom industry’s spotlight as a key advocate of rural broadband. Over 250 of its electric cooperatives are deploying or developing plans to deliver broadband service to their consumers. NRECA has been a key voice on broadband regulatory issues, including the FCC’s proposals to overhaul the Universal Service Fund (USF). In a recent FCC filing, NRECA said that reforms to a national program to subsidize telecommunications networks in high-cost areas must ensure that rural residents “are not relegated to second-tier broadband service.” In this interview, we spoke with Jim Matheson, CEO of NRECA, about how its electric cooperative members are leveraging existing customer relationships to help bridge the rural broadband divide. Opening/Introduction | 0:03 Overview of NRECA | 0:26Jim Matheson, CEO of NRECA, provides an overview of the advocacy group and how more than 200 of its members provide broadband in rural areas today. Electric cooperatives’ moving into broadband | 2:28Having delivered electricity in a near-monopoly, NRECA has emphasized to its members that broadband is a different business with different competitive and consumer expectations. The importance of rural broadband | 4:12How broadband is an important issue across all rural America. NRECA members deploying broadband | 5:28Matheson notes that many of its members who provide broadband services have seen great success in take rates. Navigating the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) program | 6:02How the changes to the program could affect quality of experience and building future-proofed networks, as well as the non-deployment funds. Middle mile fiber networks | 8:37The benefits of electric cooperatives partnering to create statewide networks to serve others outside of their service territories.   Electric cooperative/Investor-owned utility partnerships | 10:14Matheson discusses how its electric cooperative members have at times partnered with larger investor-owned utilities to share best practices and resources. Final thoughts/Closing | 11:36How NRECA will advocate to enable its members to deliver high-quality broadband services in rural markets. Meet our guestJim Matheson is CEO of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), the national service organization that represents the nation’s more than 900 not-for-profit, consumer-owned electric cooperatives. NRECA members provide service to 42 million people in 48 states. Jim joined NRECA in July 2016 following distinguished careers in both the public and private sectors. Before joining NRECA, Jim served as Principal, Public Policy Practice, at the international law firm Squire Patton Boggs, based in Washington, D.C. From 2001 to 2015, Jim served as a United States Representative from Utah for seven terms. During his tenure on Capitol Hill, Jim was known for working with colleagues on both sides of the aisle. He served as Chief Deputy Whip for the House Democratic Caucus and co-chairman of the Blue Dog Coalition. He served on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, as well as the Financial Services, Transportation and Infrastructure, and Science committees. Prior to entering government service, Jim worked in the energy industry for several years. Jim was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah. He received a bachelor’s degree in government from Harvard University, and an MBA in Finance and Accounting from UCLA. Jim's wife, Amy, is a pediatrician, and they have two sons, William and Harris. 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 www.broadbandpulse.podbean.com.
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  Lightmatter’s Harris on overcoming electrical bottlenecks for scaling AI with optics 12.08.2026 12min

  Lightmatter, an emerging photonics provider, is centering its efforts on building a photonic infrastructure for AI at scale—interconnects, lasers, and eventually compute itself. Its interconnect product line—Passage — overcomes the limitations of traditional electrical, where bandwidth is constrained by the shoreline—the physical perimeter of the chip. Since its founding by MIT researchers in 2017, Lightmatter has raised $850 million and has gained a $4.4 billion valuation. In this latest Broadband Pulse podcast, we caught up with Nick Harris, founder and CEO of Lightmatter, about how it is helping the AI hyperscaler community find new ways to scale. Opening/Introduction | 0:03 Overview of Lightmatter | 0:23Lightmatter’s CEO Nick Harris provides an overview of the company and its optical network platforms. Lightmatter’s interconnect platform | 1:49Harris describes how its Passage L20, a bi-directional near-package optics (NPO) engine, can help overcome the fiber shortage, as well as its partnerships with Qualcomm and Nvidia. Addressing fiber shortages | 4:46How Lightmatter’s platforms use half the fiber, enabling cost savings. Co-packaged Optics (CPO) and near-packaged optics (NPO) opportunities | 5:56Lightmatter is seeing the initial ramp-up for NPO for 2027 and the end of 2028 for CPO. Lightmatter’s NVIDIA relationship | 7:08NVIDIA will play a critical part in scaling and delivering on performance promise for AI workloads, inference, and training. The XPO (eXtra-dense Pluggable Optics) Multi-Source Agreement (MSA) | 8:25Lightmatter talks about its motivation to join Arista and other companies to advance XPO technology. Bidirectional (BiDi) technology | 9:27How Lightmatter’s BiDi technology will affect the data center scale-out segment. Final thoughts/Closing | 10:47Harris provides his final thoughts about where Lightmatter sees the optical market going through the rest of 2026 and beyond. Meet our guest Nick Harris is the CEO of Lightmatter. With over 30 patents and 70 publications in journals including Nature, Nature Photonics, and Nature Physics, Nicholas’ seminal work on quantum and classical information processing with integrated photonics has helped launch the international research field of programmable photonics. Nicholas has been recognized by the MIT Technology Review through the prestigious Innovators Under 35 award (2021). The award had over 500 nominees and a panel of judges including artificial intelligence luminary Andrew Ng; previous winners include Larry Page and Sergey Brin (Google founders), Mark Zuckerberg (Facebook founder), and Jony Ive (Apple). He received his doctorate in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he was a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow and later served as a Postdoctoral Fellow through the Intelligence Community Postdoctoral Fellowship. 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 www.broadbandpulse.podbean.com.
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  ACA Connects, NCTC on independent cable operators’ striving for innovation and service consistency 03.08.2026 23min

  Independent cable operators and telcos, while the backbone of rural and secondary markets, often get overlooked. But what they lack in size and reach, they make up for with a similar dedication to service and innovation. Like the Tier 1 operators, independent providers are moving fast, not only enhancing their networks with fiber to offer higher-speed broadband, but are also looking to provide standalone wireless service, converged services, and making use of AI to better the service experience. NCTC, on its website, sums up the mission of the independent operator best: “Whether that’s launching new services, managing customer expectations or elevating our offerings, we strive to meet or exceed the big guys.​” No less important are the policy and regulatory issues that all providers are facing today. Given their dedication to expanding broadband into unserved and underserved areas, a chief policy concern for ACA Connects’ members is permitting reform, which will enable its members to deploy broadband faster. ACA is also closely watching programming regulations as well as the BEAD broadband funding program. In this episode, we talked with two key cable industry veterans about emerging trends--Lou Borrelli, CEO of NCTC and Grant Spellmeyer, president and CEO of ACA Connects.  For further perspective on ACA and NCTC, you can also listen to an earlier podcast we did with Borrelli and Spellmeyer.   Here's a timeline of the interview's key moments: Opening | 0:00 Host's introduction of guests | 0:03 Independent cable operators' evolution | 0:54Borrelli addresses how all cable operators face similar competition, supply chain and service delivery issues. The regulatory outlook | 2:21 Spellmeyer outlines how ACA Connects is helping its members overcome regulatory obstacles so they can deepen broadband in rural areas. AI’s role in broadband Borrelli discusses the NCTC’s creation of its new AI center through its partnership with Ernst & Young. | 3:16 Spellmeyer addresses how Congressional actions could affect the broadband industry and the overall economy. | 5:32 State of competition | 6:41Borrelli cites NCTC Mobile initiative, which allows independent broadband and cable operators to launch white-labeled 4G LTE and 5G mobile services without building their own wireless networks. | 7:15 Spellmeyer cites how delays in securing permits from federal, state and local government have held up new broadband deployments as well as new rules for the BEAD program. | 10:25 Highlights of the summer 2026 Independent Show | 12:38Borrelli talks about the show’s imagination meets innovation theme and some of the keynote speakers, including Noel Russell, FCC’s Olivia Trusty and Cable One's new CEO Jim Holanda | 13:14 Spellmeyer highlights that besides the policy and technology discussions, the value of the show is the interaction between attendees. | 17:05 Final thoughts/Closing | 20:03 Lou Borrelli, CEO of NCTC, and Grant Spellmeyer, president and CEO of ACA Connects, provide their final thoughts. Meet our guests: Lou Borelli, CEO of NCTCA 40-plus-year cable television industry veteran, Lou Borrelli was named NCTC’s CEO in 2021. Before joining NCTC, Borrelli served as the CEO of Home and Entertainment for Digicel Group, which provides mobile phone, cable, and broadband services to 27 countries in the Caribbean, Central, and South America. He was responsible for cable and broadband strategy, policy, operations, content strategy and distribution rights for Digicel's sports and entertainment networks. Having owned and operated cable systems in second and third-tier markets, Borrelli has plenty of experience in the independent cable industry segment with an extensive understanding of the challenges facing operators of all sizes in today's competitive landscape. A founding partner of Marcus Cable, Borrelli and his colleagues were recognized as Cable Operator of the Year in 1998, and he was inducted into the Cable Pioneers in 2002. Grant Spell
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  Lightelligence's Steinman on the data center and computing world’s hunger for optical solutions 20.07.2026 19min

  In this latest Broadband Pulse podcast, we talked with Mo Steinman, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Lightelligence. About our guestMaurice (Mo) Steinman is Senior VP and General Manager, US at Lightelligence. Throughout his forty-year career, he has worked for various companies in the networking and computing industry, including Digital Equipment Corp., Compaq, Hewlett-Packard, Intel, and AMD. He joined Lightelligence in 2018. He holds a BS in Computer and Systems Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) and is named as an inventor on over fifty US patents. About the Podcast In the Lightwave Broadband Pulse podcast, we address key issues affecting the optical and broadband industries. 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/.
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  Welcome to Data Center Insights 2026 07.07.2026 5min

  In this podcast, we're highlighting the upcoming Data Center Insights event.  On July 15 and 16, Lightwave will join several of its “sister” media outlets to host an online conference-style event titled Data Center Insights. Comprising 11 technical sessions, the event will be broadcast from 11:00 am to 3:30 pm EDT each day. The full agenda, available at https://endeavor.swoogo.com/DataCenterInsights2026, reflects the breadth of these outlets’ audiences and coverage areas. Sean Buckley, Editor in Chief of Lightwave will host the panel: Testing High-Density Fiber Links: Best Practices for VSFF, and 400G+ Networks on Wednesday, July 15 at 1:30 ET. Joining Lightwave on this panel will be Jim Davis, Product Application Specialist from Fluke Networks.  About the Podcast In the Lightwave Broadband Pulse podcast, we address key issues affecting the optical and broadband industries. 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/.  
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  Mission Telecom’s Colwell on reaching 20K families with affordable wireless broadband service 29.06.2026 15min

  When the FCC voted last fall to strip hotspot and school bus Wi-Fi from the E-Rate program, Mission Telecom responded swiftly – growing its network of partners and launching new services to ensure vulnerable communities were not left behind. The service provider recently reached a key milestone: it connected 20,000 families and impacted 50,000 lives. But it’s not stopping there. Through its Project: Volume Up, Mission is now providing a nationwide initiative designed to help public libraries launch or expand hotspot lending programs in their communities. Volume Up brings together hardware, nationwide 4G and 5G coverage, and nonprofit pricing into a single, ready-to-launch solution – so libraries can quickly get hotspot programs up and running. Partnerships are a big focus. Mission Telecom established partnerships with nonprofits, including CACRC, to close the digital divide by providing affordable computers to Louisiana families who need them most, and it launched the RESPOND Kit – a portable hotspot and broadband solution designed to keep communities connected before, during, and after natural disasters. In this new Broadband Pulse podcast, we talked with Mark Colwell, director of broadband operations at Mission Telecom, about how its new offering will make schools' and libraries' budgets whole after the E-Rate cuts. Here's a timeline of the interview's key moments: Opening | 0:00 Host's introduction of guests | 0:03 Mission’s progress | 0:21The service provider recently reached a key milestone, connecting 20,000 families and impacting 50,000 lives. Service partnerships | 1:11Colwell discusses how Mission Telecom expanded its network of partners to help communities bridge the gap created by the FCC's decision to cut hotspot and school bus Wi-Fi from the E-Rate program. FCC's proposed childhood E-Rate service usage protections | 2:50How Mission views the FCC’s consideration of a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) on measures to protect children better when using E-Rate-funded networks. Mission Telecom’s Volume Up program | 4:52With libraries being Mission Telecom’s fastest-growing segment, Colwell talks about how the Volume Up program helps public libraries launch or expand affordable hotspot lending programs. Belen Public Library | 6:39How Mission Telecom’s low-cost hotspot program is giving the rural New Mexico community, where many families can’t afford home broadband. Capital Area Corporate Recycling Council (CACRC) device refurbishment | 9:12Mission works with CACRC to provide low-cost computing devices to families in need.   Navigating the BEAD broadband program | 12:01Colwell notes that non-deployment funds could be a good way to bring broadband to public housing facilities in urban poor communities. Mission bolsters its board of directors | 13:29Adding new voices like Sabrina Hersi Issa, who will also serve on the board of the organization’s philanthropic arm, Mission Telecom Giving, broadens the board by bringing in people from diverse backgrounds. Final thoughts/Closing | 14:55Mark Colwell provides his final thoughts. Meet our guest:Mark Colwell is the Interim Executive Director and the Director of Broadband Operations. Before joining Mission Telecom, Mark served as the Senior Manager of Broadband Programs for the Colorado Broadband Office, where he managed a team overseeing federal broadband grant programs, including the Capital Projects Fund (CPF) and the Broadband, Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program. In addition, Mark was appointed by Governor Polis to serve on the Colorado Broadband Deployment Board, funding state and federal grants to connect unserved and underserved Coloradans. Colwell began his career as a Legislative Assistant in the U.S. Congress, focusing on telecommunications, spectrum, rural broadband, and IT issues. He also worked as a Senior Business Operations Analyst at DISH Network, managing projects focused on delivering world-class customer experience. Mark earned a master'
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  Fort Collins Connexion's Josh Hales on making fiber services relevant and competitive 17.06.2026 22min

  Fort Collins Connexion, a municipal broadband utility that was created by and for the community, has as its sole purpose to improve life and business in Fort Collins, Colorado through what it says is better, more affordable internet. Connexion offers affordably priced symmetrical multi-gig service with no long-term contracts. In addition to residential broadband, Connexion offers competitive phone and TV services. Also, Connexion has become a key source of broadband and enhanced services for local businesses. Joining other Colorado communities like Longmont, Montrose, Boulder and Yuma County, Connexion’s emergence is the result of a Colorado State effort to enable local governments to become broadband providers. Signed into law in 2023, Colorado’s Senate Bill 23-183 repealed the restrictive Senate Bill 05-152. Previously, the 2005 law prohibited most local governments from entering the broadband market or using municipal funds for infrastructure without a local voter referendum. SB 23-183 explicitly eliminates this requirement, allowing cities, towns, and counties to deploy advanced communication services directly. Helping to lead the service charge for Fort Collins Connexion is Josh Hales, Senior Manager of Broadband Sales. When the Broadband Pulse caught up with Hales, who has been with Connexion for four years, he said the effect is clear: incumbent cable and telcos are now responding with new broadband options. Opening/introduction | 0:03 Fort Collins’ Connexion fiber focus | 0:24Hales talks about how Connexion’s fiber network enables it to move quickly on many of the things residents were asking for that weren’t possible on the legacy copper network. Broadband evolution | 2:52Connexion’s gigabit-speed evolution is predicated on staying ahead of the competition and on using it for other applications, such as providing connectivity for a community center in Fort Collins. Incumbent provider’s response | 4:43Traditional providers like AT&T and others are responding with their own fiber-based broadband offerings. Gigabit speed subscriber adoption | 7:06By preparing its network to handle multi-gigabit speeds, Connexion noted that 33% of its newest customers are opting for them. Voice and video services | 9:29While Connexion continues to maintain voice and video services because they ease the complexity of switching, it continues to evaluate adoption rates. Community services | 11:48Connexion is leveraging its fiber network to provide services such as Wi-Fi in city parks and, potentially, smart traffic applications. PON technology evolution | 14:09Connexion is leveraging 25G PON to support its downtown community center Wi-Fi deployment and local businesses that require higher bandwidth. Business services growth | 16:00Given the competitive environment for business services, Connexion is focused not just on selling higher speeds but on reliable connectivity. Greenfield housing developments | 20:09By working with developers during the construction phase, Connexion is helping ensure that every new single-family home or multi-dwelling unit (MDU) is built to be sold in a fiber-ready state. Final thoughts | 21:55The Broadband Pulse gets Josh Hales' final thoughts about his work at Connexion. About our guest With over a decade of experience in sales and operations, Joshua Hales is currently serving as the Senior Manager of Broadband Sales at Fort Collins Connexion, contributing to customer acquisition and operational excellence. In previous leadership roles at Comcast and Xerox, Hales honed his expertise in sales operations, project management, and team leadership. He is passionate about driving growth through innovative strategies and collaborative approaches that align with organizational goals. A key focus of Hales is enhancing customer experiences and delivering impactful results in the broadband industry. About the Podcast In the Lightwave Broadband Pulse podcast, we address key issues affecting the optical and bro
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  Broadcom’s Szymanski on how creating a quality 50G, FWA broadband experience 10.06.2026 16min

  Broadcom is addressing the emergence of 50G PON and fixed wireless access (FWA) with a series of new products and partnerships aimed at helping service providers ensure users experience sound quality of service (quality of service) on their broadband and wireless connections. While still emerging, the transition to 50G PON delivers the massive network headroom and deterministic latency required for the next era of broadband. According to Market Intelo, the 50G PON market was valued at $3.2 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach $18.6 billion by 2034, growing at a robust compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 21.6% from 2026 to 2034. However, Dell’Oro notes that as services transition from GPON to XGS-PON, the focus has shifted from 10G speeds to reducing latency. The research firm notes that this “approach is fundamentally reshaping PON roadmaps, pushing large-scale 50G PON adoption out by 3-5 years as operators instead invest in XGS-PON enhancements that deliver immediate quality improvements.”  Nevertheless, Broadcom is moving forward with its 50G plans. The silicon vendor recently debuted its 50G ITU-PON home gateway system-on-chip (SoC), featuring an integrated neural processing unit (NPU) and native Wi-Fi 8 compatibility. It also enhanced its Wi-Fi 8 portfolio with a new trio of highly integrated SoC devices. On the fixed wireless access (FWA) front, Broadcom has partnered with Samsung Electronics to develop a new, cost-optimized reference platform featuring the Samsung B1320 5G Modem and Broadcom BCM6776 Wi-Fi 8 SoC. This platform unifies 3GPP Release 17 connectivity with the emerging Wi-Fi 8 (IEEE 802.11bn) standard. In this latest podcast, we talked with Chris Szymanski, director of product marketing for the Wireless Broadband Communications for Broadcom, about its latest 50G and FWA developments. Here’s a timeline for the interview: Opening/Introduction | 0:03 50G PON market | 0:30Broadcom’s Szymanski addresses how 50G will enable service providers to deliver a much higher level of service. 50G deployment strategies| 2:41Broadcom expects initial rollouts to begin in the central office, then move to ONUs, and finally to the 50-gig PON Wi-Fi gateways it recently announced. Broadcom’s new BCM 68850 50G platform | 3:21When broadband providers upgrade to a 50G PON gateway, they can reduce latency and improve the user experience at home. A path from the CO optical line terminal to the network edge | 4:48How Broadcom’s 68850, a 50G gateway device with Edge AI compute and native Wi-Fi support, enables operators to build an intelligent 50G pipe. Pairing 50G PON with Wi-Fi 8 | 5:48How Broadcom is eliminating the Wi-Fi and WAN bottleneck. Wi-Fi 8’s streamlined approach requirements | 8:41By integrating chipsets, Broadcom can reduce form factor size and overall bill-of-materials costs for its partners. Consolidating silicon elements | 10:26Broadcom’s SoCs consolidate the application processor, network processor, radios, and Ethernet PHY onto a single die. Broadcom and Samsung’s Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) partnership | 11:40The design is ideal for gateways that use the 5G modem as a wireless backup for fixed broadband. Unifying 3GPP’s Release 17 connectivity and the Wi-Fi 8 standard |12:43Ensuring 5G speeds and reliability are handed off to smart home devices. Final thoughts/closing |13:37 About our guest Chris Szymanski, director of product marketing for the Wireless Broadband Communications for BroadcomChristopher Szymanski is Director of Product Marketing for Broadcom Inc.’s Mobile Connectivity Division, with a focus on technology strategy, spectrum policy, regulatory affairs, and standards development. Mr. Szymanski serves as Director on the Wi-Fi Alliance Board and the Dynamic Spectrum Alliance Board. Before taking on this role, Mr. Szymanski served as Global Trade Compliance Officer, Director of Global Regulatory Affairs, and Secretary of the Political Activity Committee (PAC) for Broadcom Corporation. Before
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  Debra Freitas, CEO of Light Source Communications, on being a dark fiber resource for hyperscalers 03.06.2026 16min

  Debra Freitas, CEO of Light Source Communications (LSC), has a simple view of its role as a dark fiber provider: a primary hyperscale and data-center resource on a growth path. LSC is a carrier-neutral, customer-agnostic provider focused on designing, building, and operating custom dark fiber infrastructure purpose-built to deliver capacity for GPU-dense clusters, minimal latency for real-time processing, and diversity to ensure network resilience. The dark fiber provider’s metro rings in Phoenix, Tulsa, Las Vegas, Kansas City and Indianapolis, as well as its long-haul route linking Tulsa and St. Louis, are delivering connectivity to support hyperscalers, neoclouds, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML) and other High-Performance Computing (HPC) applications. Growth is clearly a priority for LSC. In April, LSC announced its latest dark fiber route, bridging Amarillo, Texas, with Oklahoma City, Stillwater, and Tulsa, Oklahoma — the third new dark fiber build LSC has commenced this year. Construction is currently underway on dark fiber networks in Las Vegas, Phoenix, and Tulsa. Additionally, in June, LSC completed a 35-mile ring in Kansas City. Broadband Pulse recently caught up with Freitas to discuss how Light Source Communications is building new fiber routes based on customer demand and how dark fiber can transform the surrounding communities where data centers are located. Here’s a timeline for the interview: Opening/Introduction | 0:00 LSC’s dark fiber | 0:39Freitas addresses its role as a dark fiber resource for the hyperscale and data center space. Prioritizing fiber builds | 3:03LSC is building out new fiber routes based on customer demands. Regulatory/permitting challenges | 4:50LSC is taking a proactive approach to getting ahead on permitting by engaging regional vice presidents and right-of-way specialists in each market it serves.   Competitive differentiation | 7:36Freitas notes that it can stand out from other wholesale providers by focusing on supplying dark fiber to hyperscaler data center providers. Enterprise service opportunities | 8:42While they are slower to adopt, LSC sees the potential to extend dark fiber to local governments and educational institutions. Smart city potential | 10:03A city could use LSC’s dark fiber for a private fiber backbone. Workforce issues | 10:17LSC has created a deep staff of experienced technicians and network planners to ensure it can complete projects on time and on budget. Working with ISPs |12:42LSC notes the potential to provide ISPs with a fiber backbone that would enable them to connect to major data centers and technology hubs. Network maintenance and co-location services | 13:53How its managed network service capabilities ease the strain for its customers. Final thoughts/closing | 15:52 About our guest Debra Freitas, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder, has led Light Source Communications (LSC) since 2014, overseeing business development, strategic planning, and customer relationships for the dark fiber network owner-operator. A recognized leader in the technology sector, Debra was named to Inc.’s 2026 Female Founders 500 and has received multiple honors from the TITAN Women in Business Awards, including Platinum recognition for Outstanding Chief Executive Officer and Gold for Outstanding Female in Digital Transformation. She was also recognized by the TITAN Business Awards in 2025 for her leadership and impact in digital transformation. She earned a Bronze Stevie® Award for Best Female CEO of the Year that same year, when LSC was additionally named a Silver Stevie® Company of the Year. A University of Michigan alumna, Debra is an active member of the Arizona Technology Council, Women’s Tech Forum, and iMasons. She lives in Michigan with her husband and three children, where they enjoy traveling and supporting Michigan football. About the Podcast In the Lightwave Broadband Pulse podcast, we address key issues affecting the optical and broadb
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  Show Daily 3 Fiber Connect 2026 news roundup 29.05.2026 6min

  In the third and final episode of the Fiber Connect 2026 show-daily podcast, we're chronicling the last day and wrap-up of the Fiber Connect 2026 trade show. Here’s a breakdown of the episode’s key moments: 0:00 Opening/Introduction 0:13 | New market researchFiber Broadband Association research highlights the requirements for fiber broadband in precision agriculture. 1:30 | Fidium’s Fiber DriveSarah Davis, Vice President of Marketing Development at Fidium, discussed its community-centric approach to expanding its fiber network presence. 2:27 | Quantum and AI We noted that our colleague Matt Vincent, Editor-in-Chief of Data Center Frontier, covered Fiber Connect’s focus on quantum computing and artificial intelligence. 4:07 | Keynote Dr. Michio Kaku gave a speech on the connection between fiber and quantum computing technology. 4:38 | Final panelThe Infinity and Beyond AI Quantum and Telecom panel featured speakers from Gigapower, Cisco and Emtelle. 5:14 | Wrap up and Closing About the Podcast In the Lightwave Broadband Pulse podcast, we address key issues affecting the optical and broadband industries. 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/.
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  Show Daily 2 Fiber Connect 2026 news roundup 20.05.2026 6min

  In the second episode of the Fiber Connect 2026 show daily podcast, we're tracking key trends during the show.  Here’s a breakdown of the episode’s key moments: 0:00    Opening/Introduction 0:50    Florida’s broadband promiseLeo Garcia, Director of the Florida Commerce Office of Broadband, opened the second day of Fiber Connect, highlighting Florida’s progress in connecting underserved and unserved communities. 1:16    Editor’s panelsOur colleague Matt Vincent, editor of Data Center Frontier, hosted “A Data Center Without Connectivity is an Expensive Warehouse” with DC BLOX CTO Jeff Wabik. 1:36    FBA’s Fiber FeudFBA’s Fiber Feud finalists then competed for the championship title, and the Guardians of Connectivity Team proved that instant communication and quick response are advantages both on the broadband network and in game-show teamwork.  2:15    Broadband Forum’s QoE effortCraig Thomas, CEO of the Broadband Forum, on developing standard mechanisms to ensure Quality of Experience in broadband. 3:01    MCNC’s Tracy Doaks, president and CEO of MCNCDuring our conversation, we discussed how broadband is essential for telehealth and for connecting research institutions to data centers in rural areas. 4:06    Fiber Broadband Association’s (FBA) annual awards programThis year’s winners were celebrated at the 25th Anniversary Awards Gala on Tuesday evening at Fiber Connect 2026.  4:48    ISE’s Connect the Unconnected AwardPresented by Lightwave’s colleagues at ISE Magazine in collaboration with Corning, the award was presented to Chris Brooks, Senior Director of Operations at GoNetspeed. 6:29    Closing About the Podcast In the Lightwave Broadband Pulse podcast, we address key issues affecting the optical and broadband industries. 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/.
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  Show Daily 1 Fiber Connect 2026 news roundup 19.05.2026 8min

  In the first episode of the Fiber Connect 2026 show daily podcast, we're tracking key trends during the show.  Here’s a breakdown of the episode’s key moments: 0.00    Opening 0:47    Editor’s panelsOur colleague Hayden Beeson, editor of ISE, and I moderated panels during the first day of the show: Common Construction Roadblocks and How to Avoid Them and Edge Compute and Digital Transformation Across Sectors. 1:33    Broadband Forum activitiesThe Broadband Forum hosted four BASe workshops focused on the latest key industry topics. 1:50    Broadband Forum CEOLightwave spoke with Craig Thomas, CEO of the Broadband Forum, about wholesale fiber broadband and quality-of-experience (QoE) visibility across different networks.  3:08    FBA researchFBA’s Technology Committee developed a white paper, Upgrading MSO Networks to Fiber to the Home (FTTH): A Technical Perspective, examining deployment models, technology options, and operational considerations for Multiple System Operators (MSOs) evaluating long-term network upgrades.   4:40    Workforce developmentHow the FBAs' on-demand platform delivers scalable education to support the workforce needs of fiber infrastructure deployment.   5:32    New fiber broadband productsDuring the event, we’re seeing new customer premises equipment, MoCA gear and PON from Adtran, Calix, Clearfield, Harmonic, InCoax, and Vecima. 7:20    Fiber Broadband 2026 Coverage page Lightwave will have a coverage page of the Fiber Connect 2026 event on our site at www.lightwaveonline.com. 7:43    Closing Tune in each day during Fiber Connect 2026 for more insights into the fiber broadband industry's key trade show.  About the Podcast In the Lightwave Broadband Pulse podcast, we address key issues affecting the optical and broadband industries. 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/.
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  CIR’s Lawrence Gasman sizes up CPO and quantum computing's potential 12.05.2026 25min

  If you want a broad look at the evolution of today’s optical networking industry, look no further than Lawrence Gasman, president of CIR. In this latest episode, the Broadband Pulse sat down with Gasman, who has been conducting forecasts on enterprise computing, telecommunications, optical components since the late 1970s when he founded the firm. One of his latest pursuits has been quantum technology. During our time together, we talked about his view of the OFC trade show, co-packaged optics, quantum computing, data center powering issues, optical M&A and, of course, AI. Key moments in this episode 0:00    Opening 0:24    Introduction of our guest 0:30    CIR backgroundLawrence Gasman, president of CIR Research, provides an introduction about the evolution of the research company. 3:36    OFC 2026 Gasman shares his thoughts about the optical industry’s premier trade show.” 6:39    Co-packaged optics potentialGasman sounds off on the role and commercial potential of co-packaged optics for data centers and other environments. 10:05 Community data center battles How optical innovations can alleviate power issues and the political issues surrounding data centers.   16:28 The M&A FactorSuccessful M&A is not about technology, but rather effective management skills.   18:38 Quantum technology Addressing the connection between quantum computers and quantum networks.24:03 Final thoughts/closingGasman shares his final thoughts on where the optical industry is headed.   About our guestLawrence Gasman is President of CIR, the technology forecasting and market analysis firm he founded in 1978. For more than four decades, CIR has provided authoritative guidance and market forecasts covering enterprise computing, telecommunications, optical components, and—more recently—quantum technology. In 2025, CIR expanded its coverage of emerging technologies by acquiring the publications division of Inside Quantum Technology, further strengthening its position as a trusted source of market intelligence in advanced technologies. CIR’s research is known for going beyond industry hype to explain how new technologies create real business opportunities. Its reports analyze how innovations generate new revenue streams, simplify complex processes, and deliver measurable value to organizations. CIR studies also include detailed profiles of leading suppliers, analysis of key legislation and public policy developments, and coverage of important investment and funding trends shaping the technology landscape. Lawrence Gasman has been widely quoted in leading industry publications and has written numerous articles and four books on technology markets and technology policy. He is a frequent speaker at major industry events, including the Optical Fiber Communication Conference (OFC) and conferences organized by Inside Quantum Technology. He has also helped organize IQT conference programs and has presented in webinars hosted by Lightwaveonline and other industry organizations. In addition to his work as an analyst and author, Gasman has testified before the U.S. Congress and has advised the White House on technology and industry policy issues. Gasman holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the University of Manchester and advanced degrees from the London School of Economics and Political Science and the London Business School. He lives near Richmond, Virginia, with his wife Cynthia, a university professor. He travels widely and has delivered talks and consulting engagements across North America, Europe, and Asia. About the Podcast In the Lightwave Broadband Pulse podcast, we address key issues affecting the optical and broadband industries. Join us every week for insights from industry leaders on these topics. Visit our website at www.lightwave.com/podcasts and click on our podcast site at www.broadbandpulse.podbean.com/.
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  Phononic on balancing power, cooling demands to meet insatiable AI demands 28.04.2026 16min

  In this new Broadband Pulse podcast, we talked with Matt Langman, SVP and general manager of infrastructure solutions at Phononic.  About the PodcastIn the Lightwave Broadband Pulse podcast, we address key issues affecting the optical and broadband industries. Join us every week for insights from industry leaders on these topics. Visit our website at www.lightwave.com/podcasts and click on our podcast site at www.broadbandpulse.podbean.com/.
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  Axyom.Core gives wireless operators a new 5G core upgrade path 21.04.2026 21min

  Wireless network operators are in an ongoing evolution. Traditional wireless operators are expanding their 5G footprints while exploring new converged wireline/wireless bundles. They are also facing new competition from cable companies that are getting very involved in building out wireless network services to complement broadband. At the same time, Tier 1 wireless operators like Verizon are finding other avenues to enhance their reach by offering private wireless networks to a host of manufacturing companies, airports, ports and healthcare providers. Verizon Business, for example, won a contract to build multiple private 5G networks at Thames Freeport, one of Britain's busiest shipping and logistics centers. But the wireless industry overall faces a key challenge with Microsoft’s decision to wind down the Affirmed Networks application portfolio, which it initially acquired in 2020. This has placed new urgency on both large and regional carriers that relied on these platforms for 4G and 5G service delivery.  In this latest Broadband Pulse podcast, we talked to Jim Collier, Vice President of Sales at Axyom.Core about how it can help wireless operators upgrade their networks in a way that will create even stronger wireless competitors. Key moments in this episode 0.00    Opening 0:03    Introduction of our guest 0:33    Axyom.Core’s focusJim Collier provides an overview of Axyom.Core’s approach to helping wireless operators develop a 5G core. 2:49    Addressing Microsoft’s telco transitionsHow Axycom.Core can help wireless operators affected by Microsoft's offloading of telco applications, including Affirmed Networks, to focus on telco cloud. 7:40    Wireless core network transitionHow the company can help 5G wireless operators manage multiple network elements and keep their networks up and running. 9:29    Consolidating 4G and 5G networks The company can support hardware or cloud platforms as a 3GPP-compliant private network. 11:52 Market opportunities Wireless operators, not just MVNOs, are benefiting from network disaggregation. 15:40 Private wireless network opportunities Axycom.Core is working with systems integrators to provide software technology for network slicing and analytics. 19:34 Final thoughts/ClosingJim Collier shares his final thoughts on the evolution of the next-gen wireless network opportunity with Broadband Pulse. About our guestJim Collier is a senior technology executive serving as the Vice President of Sales at Axyom.Core, a company specializing in 5G core and radio solutions, is based in Morristown, NJ. As VP of sales, Collier focuses on strategic sales and business development, particularly regarding 5G technology, according to Axyom.Core. As a seasoned professional with expertise in driving revenue, building service provider relationships, and managing sales operations in the telecommunications industry, he held management positions at Casa Systems and has been involved in industry transitions at Affirmed Networks.  About the Podcast In the Lightwave Broadband Pulse podcast, we address key issues affecting the optical and broadband industries. Join us every week for insights from industry leaders on these topics. Visit our website at www.lightwave.com/podcasts and click on our podcast site at www.broadbandpulse.podbean.com/.
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  PwC on how the new telecom M&A wave reflects an industry inflection point 13.04.2026 15min

  Whether the focus is on enhancing a network foothold in additional markets, expanding an existing product line, or refocusing on serving a market segment such as fiber-based broadband, vendors and service providers actively pursued new M&A deals to meet these goals.   PwC noted in its Media and telecommunications: US Deals 2026 outlook that in the second half of 2025, M&A activity “saw a marked uptick” that was “driven by more favorable financing conditions, strategic portfolio realignments, and a rejuvenated investor appetite for premium intellectual property.” In 2025, AT&T, Charter, and Verizon announced three large deals. AT&T reached a deal to acquire Lumen’s consumer fiber assets, while Verizon acquired Frontier, and Charter is working to complete its merger with Cox Communications. By acquiring Lumen’s mass-market fiber business for $5.75 billion, covering about 1 million existing and 7 million planned locations, AT&T puts itself on a path to reach  to reach 60M fiber locations by 2030. Likewise, Verizon’s acquisition of Frontier enables it to scale its fiber reach and create new converged service capabilities. Finally, Charter’s pending deal with Cox will create a larger provider with 69.5 million locations passed (57.2 million for Charter and 12.3 million for Cox). In this new Broadband Pulse podcast, we talked to Daniel Hays, principal, Consulting Solutions at PwC about the telecom M&A landscape. About the Podcast In the Lightwave Broadband Pulse podcast, we address key issues affecting the optical and broadband industries. 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/.
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  Semtech on solving the optical industry’s capacity problem 07.04.2026 21min

  In this podcast, we spoke with Amit Thakar, vice president of signal integrity product marketing at Semtech, about the shift from DSP-based to linear optical architectures and other issues. About the Podcast In the Lightwave Broadband Pulse podcast, we address key issues affecting the optical and broadband industries. 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/.
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  LightRiver on serving multi-generation, multi-layer networks 02.04.2026 13min

  Since it was founded in 1998, LightRiver has made a name for itself in its ability to consult, commission, automate, and optimize multi-vendor, multi-generational and software-controlled networks. One of the company’s recent highlights is its Prism software product. Prism simplifies the complexities of multi-vendor, multi-generation networks, empowering stakeholders to streamline operations and make informed decisions for future success. LightRiver won a 2026 Lightwave Innovation Review award for its Prism product, a customizable, user-friendly application for optimizing multi-vendor, multi-generation fiber optic networks. One of Lightwave's Innovation Reviews judges said the platform could be beneficial in fiber-starved scenarios.” In this latest Broadband Pulse podcast, we talked to two industry veterans about how to help service providers be proactive in managing their diverse networks:  · Jim Brinksma, senior vice president of software solutions at white Light River · Marcelo McAndrew, VP of Software Product Management at LightRiver Key moments in this episode 0.00    Opening 0:03    Introduction of the guests 0:57    PacketLight’s multi-layer network approachHow PacketLight’s Prism software platform focuses on multi-vendor, multi-generation, and multi-layer networks. 1:42    Collecting network dataPrism can make the data it collects actionable, helping businesses save money, drive revenue, and reduce time to market. 2:47    Prism’s spectrum optimization featureLightRiver’s spectrum optimization helps service providers better utilize their resources today and in the future. 4:39    Prism’s spectrum capacity search This feature allows providers to visualize the optical spectrum and optimize it to maximize performance in an existing network. 5:36    Managing M&A How Prism can pull information from different APIs across network platforms and aggregate them into a single platform. 9:19    The quantum computing opportunity LightRiver sees 2026 as the year when the quantum opportunity starts to ramp. 11:18 Final Thoughts/ClosingJim Brinksma and Marcelo McAndrew share final thoughts and expectations for the OFC 2026 trade show with the Broadband Pulse. Meet our guests Jim Brinksma, senior vice president of software solutions at white Light RiverJim Brinksma has over 20 years of software experience spanning the Department of Defense (DoD), SaaS start-ups and operators, financial services, and telecommunications. In this role, he is responsible for driving the global expansion of LightRiver’s software automation and productivity solutions portfolio. Jim’s previous roles include Chief Technology Officer (CTO) for Megaport, co-founder and CTO of InnovoEdge (acquired by Megaport), VP of Strategy and Business Development at Ciena BluePlanet, VP of Sales Engineering and Customer Operations at Ciena, VP of Network Products and Strategy at Goldman Sachs, and seven years of service in the United States Navy. Jim’s doctorate is from the University of Maryland. He also completed the Strategy and Innovation Program at MIT’s Sloan School of Management, the Non-Profit Board Leadership Program at Harvard Business School, and is a National Association of Corporate Directors’ Board Leadership Fellow. And  Marcelo McAndrew, VP of Software Product Management at LightRiverMarcelo has eight years of leading software teams to develop the next generation of products and services, spanning cybersecurity, blockchain, CDN, mobile & web applications, SaaS platforms, esports, multi-cloud, edge computing and more. Currently the VP of Product Management for Software Solutions at LightRiver, he is responsible for driving innovation, delivering next-generation products & services, developing strategic relationships with vendors, partners, research & development organizations, and achieving financial results. About the Podcast In the Lightwave Broadband Pulse podcast, we address key issues affecting the optical and broadband industries