In this new Broadband Pulse podcast, we talked to Ryan Young, CEO of Kore-Tek, an optical systems integrator, about how it is shifting its focus to serving service providers directly.

Here’s a timeline of what we addressed during the podcast:

Host introduces guests 0:03

Kore-Tek’s 2025 priorities 0:32

How Kore-Tek is engaging directly with service providers 4:00

Middle mile opportunity 6:35

IP over DWDM 8:50

Benefits of conducting network assessments 11:53

Addressing the labor crisis 15:55

Final Thoughts/closing 19:30

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.

Bandwidth IG recently changed its name to BIG Fiber. The dark provider stated that the name change reflects its growing momentum in providing dark fibrer solutions to meet the demands of AI and cloud computing.

Since officially launching in 2019, BIG Fiber has rapidly expanded its presence in key data center hubs, including the San Francisco Bay Area and the Greater Atlanta area. The company later entered the Greater Portland market. Further, BIG Fiber has also grown existing markets by significantly expanding in the San Francisco Bay Area and launching a project in Greater Atlanta earlier this year that will more than double its network

Lightwave recently caught up with Patton Lochridge, Chief Commercial Officer for BIG Fiber.

During the podcast, we addressed the following topics:

• Rebranding as BIG Fiber
• The dark fiber opportunity for data centers
• How the dark fiber market is shaping up in 2025
• Key data center markets
• New network expansions
• Dark fiber differentiation

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.

George Hughes, who recently took on the role of head of value consulting at IQGeo, is no stranger to implementing IT systems in large companies.

Before coming to IQGeo from 3-GIS, he spent three decades at Verizon. During his tenure at Verizon, he led teams that focused on systems development and project management across telco’s wireline and wireless business units. More recently, he held roles driving Verizon’s ongoing development of AI architecture and strategy.

During an interview with Hughes at the Fiber Connect 2025 show in Nashville, Broadband Pulse spoke with Hughes about his new role and company developments.

Here’s a timeline of the interview:

Opening | 0.00

Host introduction of guests | 0:24

Transition from Verizon to IQGeo | 0:57

Defining value consulting focus| 2:26

IQGeo’s autonomous network management | 3:00

Utility pole attachment reforms influence on broadband deployment | 7:14

Impressions of FiberConnect 2025 | 8:25

Final thoughts/closing | 9:45

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 issue of Building Broadband, we’re tracking new broadband deployments from several regional and national broadband players, including:

• Comcast begins building out broadband in new Indiana communities
• Elberton, Georgia, takes up the 25G fiber opportunity
• Fidium begins fiber expansion in Van Buren, Maine
• GoNetspeed connects Wells and Ogunquit, Maine, to its fiber network
• IdeaTek has joined the State of Kansas to build the Freestate Middle Mile Network
• Intrepid Fiber Networks begins open access network build in Frederick, Colorado
• Spectrum expands broadband to rural Jefferson County, Wisconsin
• TDS breaks ground on Monroe County, Tennessee, fiber project

About the Podcast In Lightwave's 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 broadbandpulse.podbean.com/.

As more service providers look to expand their fiber reach into new markets, leveraging existing utility pole infrastructure is key. To do that, service providers must navigate the process of making new attachments, such as fiber optic lines, which require utility poles.

Because this process involves ensuring the pole is structurally sound, has adequate space for the new attachments, and meets safety standards, it often requires existing attachments to be moved or the pole itself to be modified, making it a daunting process for providers.

However, companies like Collaborative Strategy are looking to simplify this process.

In this new Broadband Pulse Podcast, conducted during the recent Fiber Connect tradeshow in Nashville, we spoke with Johannes Maassen, founder and president of Collaborative Synergy.

Collaborative Synergy is a telecom and utility infrastructure field engineering firm known for precision fieldwork, complex permitting solutions, and make-ready engineering.

During the podcast, we addressed the following issues:

• Fiber Connect 2025 show observations
• Collaborative Synergy’s make-ready approach
• Helping providers and communities
• Regional differences
• Automating the make-ready processes
• The role of pole loading software—O-Calc and SPIDACalc to IKE PoleForeman
• One Touch Make Ready’s (OTMR) emergence
• Final thoughts

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 broadbandpulse.podbean.com/.

In this podcast, we talked to two Ethernet Alliance leaders during this year’s OFC 2025 show:

• David Rodgers, Ethernet Alliance Events & Conferences Committee Chair, and Technical Business Development Manager for EXFO
• Peter Jones, Distinguished Engineer@Cisco, Chair@Ethernet Alliance

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 broadbandpulse.podbean.com/.

In Lightwave’s day three daily podcast for Fiber Connect 2025, we're breaking down the key announcements, presentations, and conversations at the Nashville show.

Some of the highlights of the day included:

• Frontier Communications’ Scott Mispagel Receives 2025 Connect the Unconnected Award
• FBA’s state broadband summit
• T-Mobile brings its Fiber Home Internet service
• Fiber Broadband Association previewed its ThoughtWaves Documentary
• Lightera’s new InvisiLight Home Fiber Kit

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 broadbandpulse.podbean.com/.

In Lightwave’s day two podcast for Fiber Connect 2025, we're breaking down the key announcements, presentations, and conversations at the Nashville show.

Some of the highlights of the day included:

• Economic Impact Underscores Importance of NTIA BEAD Program
• Nokia's co-existence solution for 10G, 25G, and 50G PON
• The marriage of fiber and AI
• Enhancing middle mile networks
• Ting emphasizes community-centric approach to delivering broadband

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 broadbandpulse.podbean.com/.