Broadband Pulse

Endeavor Business Media
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In the Lightwave Broadband Pulse podcast, we will address the key issues affecting the optical and broadband industry segments. Join us every week for insights on these topics from industry leaders.

  1. 21H AGO

    OVBI’s Trudeau on how upstream investments benefit fiber and DOCSIS broadband providers

    Upstream traffic on DOCSIS and fiber-based broadband networks continues to rise. The OpenVault Broadband Insights (OVBI) fourth quarter report revealed that investments in higher-speed upstream network plant can pay dividends for fiber and DOCSIS broadband providers. One of the key findings in OVBI’s fourth quarter report was that fiber broadband users consumed more upstream bandwidth than those on a DOCSIS network. As a first-ever point-in-time comparison of fiber vs. DOCSIS subscribers in a selected broadband system, OVBI reports that subscribers on a fiber network with symmetrical 677 Mbps speeds consumed 93.0 GB of upstream bandwidth. Fiber usage was 66% higher than the 56.0 GB used by subscribers on the same system’s DOCSIS networks, which were provisioned at an average upstream speed of 17.3 Mbps. The report noted that the “fiber comparison suggests that latent upstream demand already exists on DOCSIS networks and is likely to be activated as performance barriers are removed – resulting in rapid scaling of upstream consumption that further shifts.” Overall, OVBI found that upstream usage continued to outpace all other metrics in 2025. The year-end average of 55.86 across fiber and DOCSIS platforms represented a 21.7% year-over-year increase over the 45.9 record in 2024 and a 16.4% increase over 3Q25’s 47.98 GB. In this podcast, The Broadband Pulse caught up with OpenVault CEO and founder Mark Trudeau about how broadband providers are seeing new upstream traffic growth. Key moments in this episode 0.00    Opening 0:03    Introduction of the guest 0:30    State of the broadband market Trudeau notes how it emphasizes solutions that help broadband providers operate networks optimally. 1:32    OVBI’s Q4 report findings How upstream bandwidth is outpacing downstream growth. 3:10    Upstream usage drivers A host of factors, including content creation, gaming, teleworking, and AI, are driving a rise in upstream traffic. 4:15    Fiber and DOCSIS   While fiber can offer symmetrical services immediately, cable needs to upgrade the upstream DOCSIS path to overcome capacity constraints. 6:0      DOCSIS upstream weapons Cable operators are leveraging split architectures, expanding spectrum and profile management to enhance upstream on their DOCSIS networks. 9:00    Cable’s fiber drive Cable operators, particularly large ones, are deploying last-mile fiber on a case-by-case basis. 10:20 Network stress OVBI examines how steady percentage growth figures can mask progressively larger traffic volumes that place increased stress on provider networks. 11:34 Broadband usage patterns How OVBI measures monthly average usage, average downstream usage, and medium usage. 14:23 Final Thoughts/Closing Mark Trudeau provides the Broadband Pulse with his final thoughts about OVBI’s latest broadband report. Meet our guest Mark Trudeau, founder and CEO of OpenVault As a self-proclaimed data geek, Mark is passionate about leveraging data to develop technologies that improve the world. Specifically, he has been instrumental in providing broadband operators with market data to anticipate residential and business broadband trends as well as tools that help service providers optimize network performance, increase revenue, and improve subscriber satisfaction. Growth has been a part of OpenVault’s story. In just the last two years, Trudeau has grown the company through the pandemic, including launching OVBI, an industry-renowned quarterly data report; securing strategic investment from key customers; acquiring a world-class research and development team; and being named twice among the industry’s Top 100 Power Players by Cablefax.  Before founding OpenVault, Trudeau led numerous technology companies through tremendous growth, achieving success for customers and investors. Trudeau served as CEO of Ventraq, a private-equity-backed provider of software-based analytics solutions to the global telecom industry. He also helped to launch and build the wireless business at Omnipoint, the first GSM wireless provider in the New York metropolitan area. He grew up in upstate New York and attended Union College, where he was a multi-sport collegiate athlete, who supports the Red Sox and Dallas Cowboys. He lives in Jersey City, New Jersey, with his wife, Lauren. Together, they raised two children. 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 or broadbandpulse.podbean.com/ to stay on top of the latest episodes.

    17 min

  2. MAR 2

    Blue Stream Fiber's Turiano on driving its AI strategy and innovation roadmap

    Blue Stream Fiber, which traces its roots as a traditional cable operator once known as Advanced Cable Communications, has in recent years established itself as a key broadband player in Florida’s market, serving 385,000 residents and 500 communities. In 2025, the service provider began expanding into the Houston market, marketing its broadband services to HOAs, condominium associations (COAs), developers, and builders. The company says Houston’s quick growth was a main catalyst for Blue Stream Fiber’s investments in the Houston area, which has one of the fastest-growing multi-family markets.   As the company continues to scale operations and expand its presence across Florida and Texas, it recently announced a series of executive leadership promotions, which it said reflect Blue Stream Fiber’s focus on operational excellence, customer experience, and disciplined growth, reinforcing a strong leadership bench as the company enters its next phase of expansion. In this episode, we talked with Josh Turiano at Blue Stream Fiber. Turiano was recently promoted to Chief Innovation and AI Officer, recognizing his role in driving Blue Stream Fiber's AI strategy and innovation roadmap. Key Moments in This Episode 0.00 Opening 0:03 Introduction of the guest 0:32 Update on Blue Stream Fiber Turiano discusses Blue Stream Fiber’s transition from a cable operator to a fiber provider. 2:05 Blue Stream Fiber’s fiber expansion strategy How the service provider works with communities to install fiber or upgrade existing HFC plant. 2:59 AI strategy Turiano talks about his new role and Blue Stream Fiber’s AI roadmap. 6:13 Customer responsiveness How AI is enabling service providers to address customer issues proactively. 7:16 AI’s influence on business customers The provider can leverage similar metrics to stay ahead of business issues. 7:35 Network expansion Blue Stream Fiber is leveraging AI as part of its network expansion processes. 9:59 A local focus How the service provider places value on its veteran employees’ knowledge. 11:58 Workforce development How the fiber installation trade is becoming more accessible, and how AI will create new career options. 14:05 Final thoughts/closing Meet our guest: Josh Turiano is the Chief Innovation and AI Officer at Blue Stream Fiber, where he drives Blue Stream Fiber’s AI strategy and innovation roadmap. His work on the company’s award-winning Metis AI platform has earned multiple industry honors, including Cablefax’s AI Team of the Year. Turiano has also played a central role in shaping the company’s network and technology foundation and previously held leadership roles at Atlantic Broadband. 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 or broadbandpulse.podbean.com/ to stay on top of the latest episodes.

    17 min

  3. FEB 23

    ATIS on how open-access accelerates fiber broadband build-out scale

    ATIS is addressing the challenge of open-access fiber networks with its recent debut of the Open Access Network Forum (OANF), a group focused on leveraging real-world deployments and helping the market scale through common APIs and implementation guidance. Led by industry experts from AT&T and COS Systems, the forum promotes scalable, practical solutions for open-access fiber deployment. OANF serves as a collaborative forum for ISPs, open-access infrastructure providers, and technology partners to align on the principles, architectures, and operating models needed to scale open-access fiber in North America. In this latest Broadband Pulse podcast, we talked to three members of ATIS about the OANF initiative: Susan Miller, CEO of ATIS Scott Baker, the chair of ATIS' OANF and Corporate ServiceNow Platform Architecture at AT&T Technology Services Sajan Parikh, Vice Chair of ATIS' OANF and the CTO of COS Systems 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 or broadbandpulse.podbean.com/ to stay on top of the latest episodes.

    18 min

  4. FEB 16

    Broadcom facilitates the self-driving campus Wi-Fi network environment

    It’s clear that the campus Wi-Fi environment is evolving toward AI-driven operations, mandatory Wi-Fi 6E/7 upgrades, and high-density coverage to support the growth of bring-your-own-device (BYOD) and IoT-enabled environments. Industry watchers note that the rapid adoption of Wi-Fi 6E and 7 is crucial to handle increased capacity, lower latency, and higher speeds required by video conferencing and high-density environments. Looking ahead, Dell’Oro noted that Wi-Fi 7 adoption and the introduction of Wi-Fi 8 APs will continue to fuel demand for multi-gig ports. In response to these trends, Broadcom recently released its Wi-Fi 8 access point (AP) and switch solution, purpose-built with a unified architecture for AI-ready enterprise networks. Building on its Wi-Fi 8 radios launched in October 2025, the new enterprise-grade Wi-Fi 8 AP platform is powered by a new accelerated processing unit (APU) chip, the BCM49438, designed to optimize wireless networking and AI acceleration at the enterprise edge. Also, Broadcom unveiled an enterprise-grade switch platform powered by a new Ethernet switch, the Trident X3+ BCM56390, with Broadcom’s multigigabit PHY and PoE power sourcing equipment (PSE) chips. The company says these platforms form a unified architecture that maximizes the performance, efficiency and security for the Wi-Fi 8 wireless network in the enterprise. In this latest Broadband Pulse podcast, we talked to two key members of Broadcom’s Wi-Fi team making efforts to advance enterprise Wi-Fi: Mike Powell, director of product Management, wireless broadband communications at Broadcom And Ashok Raman, principal product line manager for Broadcom's core switching group Here's a timeline of the interview's key moments: Opening | 0:00 Host introduction of guests | 0:03 Wi-Fi campus evolution | 0:49 Powell and Rahman discuss how hybrid work environments and new security threats are changing the enterprise Wi-Fi landscape. Wi-Fi 8’s emergence | 3:34 The Wi-Fi 8 standard includes built-in capabilities to track, react to, and monitor latency. Broadcom's new enterprise-grade Wi-Fi AP platform | 5:27 The new platform integrates enterprise AI and AI core processors. Self-driving enterprise Wi-Fi networks | 6:45 Powell explores how Broadcom’s platform can help enterprise Wi-Fi platforms self-diagnose problems. A unified architecture | 8:47 Rahman discusses why it was important to deploy the access point (AP) and the switch platforms together.   Vertical segment targets |12:15 Broadcom’s platforms could be a strong fit for data-intensive environments, including the public sector, manufacturing, and healthcare. Campus Wi-Fi telemetry capabilities | 14:58 How the platform could provide visibility across large enterprise campus environments. IEEE 1588 precision time protocol’s role | 15:34 How the 1588 protocol for time stamping, latency and jitter requirements has been adapted for Wi-Fi environments.    Final thoughts/closing | 19:46 Powell and Rahman provide the Broadband Pulse with their final thoughts about the state of the campus Wi-Fi market. About our guests Mike Powell, director of product Management, wireless broadband communications at Broadcom As Director of Marketing and Product Management within Broadcom’s wireless broadband communications unit, he sets the strategic goals, organizational vision, and roadmap for software and silicon platforms with a solid focus on customer relationships and business growth. Powell has contributed to the development of Wi-Fi 8, which is positioned as a foundation for secure, intelligent enterprise AI edge networks. He has been involved in developing Broadcom’s NitroQAM modulation technology and has worked closely with industry standards regarding Wi-Fi Wave 2 certification. Powell joined Broadcom through Broadcom’s acquisition of LVL7 Systems in early 2006. Earlier, Powell served as Large Enterprise Direct Account Manager at IBM. And Ashok Raman, principal product line manager for Broadcom's core switching group Ashok Raman has over 25 years of experience in the semiconductor industry, spanning roles from chip design to product management. In his current role, he has product management responsibility for multiple generations of industry-leading switches for the enterprise campus and datacenter. Previously, he held engineering roles at Intel and a variety of startups. He holds a bachelor’s in electrical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, an MSEE from Virginia Tech, and an Exec MBA from UC Berkeley.   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 broadbandpulse.podbean.com/.

    23 min

  5. FEB 9

    Marvell's Chugh on creating a co-packaged optics (CPO) ecosystem

    Marvell has put itself squarely in the AI race by refocusing its efforts on developing data center products and solutions. One of those key areas is co-packaged optics (CPO). Co-Packaged Optics (CPO) integrates optical components (lasers, photodetectors) directly with electrical processing chips (ASICs) in the same package, overcoming limitations of traditional pluggable modules by drastically shortening signal paths. Having divested other assets, including its automotive business, Marvell is positioning itself in the data center industry. The company made two key acquisitions in 2025 to bolster its data center capabilities: Celestial AI and XConn Technologies. Celestial AI’s Photonic Fabric technology platform enables optical I/O for package-, system-, and rack-level connectivity in data center infrastructure. Marvell’s acquisition of XConn broadens its data center switching portfolio with PCIe and CXL products, supporting next-generation AI and cloud infrastructure. Earlier in the year, it debuted a custom AI accelerator (XPU) architecture with integrated co-packaged optics (CPO) technology.  In this new podcast, we talked to Rishi Chugh, Vice President and General Manager, Data Center Switch Business Unit, with Marvell. Here's a timeline of the interview's key moments: Opening | 0:00 Host introduction of guests | 0:03 Marvell's push into the data center market | 0:35 Chugh addresses how Marvell has deep roots in the switching and connectivity side of the industry. The co-packaged optics CPO opportunity | 2:22 How CPO has become a natural progression for Marvell. CPO’s influence on power | 5:24 Addressing how CPO can achieve greater efficiency. Data center scale-up | 6:47 The role of scale-up systems in the development of CPO and other technologies. CPO skill sets | 8:33 CPO’s success will require a range of skill sets, power delivery, cooling, cable management, connectors, and optics working in concert. Complementing CPO | 10:40 How scale-up technologies and CPO will work in tandem with switching technologies and Network Interface Cards (NICs) in scale-up scenarios.   Final thoughts/closing | 13:04 Rishi Chugh shares his final thoughts about how Marvell is collaborating with equipment manufacturers, interconnect companies and fiber manufacturers to ensure that there’s an infrastructure for delivering a successful CPO-based system. About our guest Rishi Chugh currently serves as Vice President and General Manager of the Data Center Switch Business Unit at Marvell. Before joining Marvell, he served as Vice President of Product Marketing at Cadence Design Systems and Senior Director of Product Marketing at Cavium, Inc., with a focus on ARM Server CPUs. His career also includes significant roles at Broadcom, Altera, and LSI Logic Corporation, where Rishi contributed to product strategy, market analysis, and product lifecycle management in the networking and semiconductor industries. He holds an MBA in Marketing from Santa Clara University, an MS in Electrical Engineering with a focus on VLSI Design from San Jose State University, and an undergraduate degree in Electronics from Thadomal Shahani Engineering College. In this new podcast, we talked to Rishi Chugh, VP and General Manager of Data Sense Data Center Switch Business Unit with Marvell.  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 broadbandpulse.podbean.com/.

    17 min

  6. FEB 2

    Ripple Fiber’s Wilson on disrupting the broadband market with a super local approach

    Ripple Fiber sees an opportunity to address America’s underinvestment in fiber broadband infrastructure. The company, founded by broadband entrepreneur Greg Wilson, views itself as a disruptor in the U.S. fiber broadband market. In this latest episode, we talked with Greg Wilson, founder and CEO of Ripple Fiber, a Charlotte-based independent fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) provider founded in 2021. Greg leads the company's expansion, which aims to build 1.5 million new passings across 15 states over the next five years, following a 2025 merger with fellow fiber broadband provider Hyperfiber. Here's a timeline of the interview's key moments: Opening | 0:00 Host introduction of guests | 0:03 Ripple Fiber's emergence | 0:39 Wilson notes that underinvestment in the nation’s fiber networks has left the door open for disruptors like Ripple to deploy new broadband infrastructure. The Ripple Fiber brand | 2:15 With a focus on optimism, the Ripple Fiber brand centers on how communities can create opportunities through fiber. A local feel | 3:42 Unlike traditional cable operators and telcos, Ripple focuses on establishing a strong local presence in each market it serves.  Working with communities | 5:14 How Ripple Fiber will engage with community leaders to understand their priorities. Broadband competition | 6:59 Ripple Fiber is looking to be honest with its customers with straightforward pricing, no hidden costs and no bandwidth restrictions. Cable’s response | 8:52 In the markets Ripple enters, the provider sees local cable operators upgrading their DOCSIS platforms and implementing enhanced retention strategies but not building out fiber-based broadband. Ripple Fiber’s expansion strategy | 9:54 The company has created an advanced data set and algorithm to identify underserved and unserved broadband markets. Broadband provider consolidation |12:04 Wilson predicts that 2026 will be a busy year for mergers and acquisitions in the fiber broadband market. Fiber broadband speeds |12:51 Wilson notes that its fiber network supports 10 Gbps and that it will release a new 5 Gbps product soon. Business services |14:22 While Ripple Fiber has focused on residential customers, the service provider plans to launch a business-grade service soon. Wholesale services | 16:06 Today, Ripple Fiber’s focus is on providing fiber broadband to homes and businesses, but Wilson said it has the network capability to address data centers, enterprises and wireless backhaul opportunities as they arise. Convergence | 17:15 Ripple plans to keep its product set simple with a continual focus on providing high-speed fiber-based broadband services. Fiber shortages |17:38 While there have been reports of fiber shortages, Ripple Fiber maintains that, because it has already planned with its supplier, it does not foresee any issues. Final thoughts | 18:44 Greg Wilson shares his final thoughts about Ripple Fiber’s disruptive approach to the fiber broadband market.   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/.

    21 min

  7. JAN 26

    Mission Telecom addresses E-Rate cuts with new unlimited wireless services

    When the FCC cut E-Rate funding for mobile hotspots & school bus Wi-Fi in September 2025, it threatened internet access for millions of students – hitting low-income and rural students hardest and worsening the digital divide. Nearly 20K schools & libraries were counting on more than $27.5 million to ensure children and families stay connected, but now they’ve been left out to dry.  But Mission Telecom is serving up a solution to protect affordable Wi-Fi access with a new offer to cover the loss of the revoked E-rate subsidies. The service provider is offering unlimited 4G/5G service at any applicant’s post-discount share of cost on their 471 through June 30, 2026. The new offer builds on Mission Telecom’s Mission-Connect, launched in July, which helped schools and libraries stay connected amidst E-rate uncertainty. Mission-Connect plan delivers affordable, unlimited wireless broadband to schools and libraries with pricing up to 65% below market rates and no contracts. In this new Broadband Pulse podcast, we talked with Mark Colwell, director of broadband operations at Mission Telecom, about how its new offer will make schools and library budgets whole after the E-Rate cuts. Here's a timeline of the interview's key moments: Opening | 0:00 Host introduction of guests |0:03 Mission Telecom’s background | 0:20 How Mission Telecom began its life providing educational TV using MMDS spectrum, and later leased spectrum to the broadband wireless operator Clearwire, now T-Mobile. FCC’s E-Rate eligibility| 2:04 Mission Telecom is providing an alternative service to schools and libraries for Wi-Fi on buses and wireless hotspots, which was cut from the E-Rate program. Mission’s Wi-Fi program | 3:56 Mission’s broadband program now has over 120 partners (schools and libraries). Schools and libraries benefiting from Mission’s program| 5:15 Littleton Public Schools (Colorado), Baltimore Public Library, York County Library (Charlotte, NC) and Boston Public Library are all trialing or using Mission’s wireless services. Mission Telecom’s Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition (SHLB) partnership | 6:20 Advocating for libraries as a key piece in solving the digital divide. Rural communities | 8:02 Mission is helping rural communities through its partnership with T-Mobile, whose low-band spectrum and 5G coverage is a good fit for smaller communities.   Computers 4 People partnership | 9:33 How Mission Telecom works with various non-profit organizations that refurbish devices. Looking towards 2026 and final thoughts | 10:49 Colwell shares how Mission Telecom is gaining traction in the school and library space and how communities are seeking affordability and a way to support their communities. 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's degree from the Interdisciplinary Telecommunications Program at the University of Colorado-Boulder, graduating at the top of his class. 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/.

    14 min

  8. JAN 19

    Astound Broadband's Sonne on BEAD, broadband partnerships and penetrating MDUs

    In this new Broadband Pulse podcast, we talked to Jared Sonne, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Astound West Region. During the session, Sonne addressed how Astound Broadband is approaching new opportunities with the government's BEAD program, community and commercial broadband partnerships and its ongoing penetration into the multi-dwelling unit (MDU) market.  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/.

    22 min
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About

In the Lightwave Broadband Pulse podcast, we will address the key issues affecting the optical and broadband industry segments. Join us every week for insights on these topics from industry leaders.

Information

  • Creator
    Endeavor Business Media
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    97
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2024 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Broadband Pulse