Fiber Focus

Sumitomo Electric Lightwave
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Fiber Focus is the podcast from Sumitomo Electric Lightwave that explores the technology, tools, and techniques behind modern fiber optic networks. From product innovations to practical insights for data center and on-prem environments, each episode helps industry professionals stay connected to what matters most.

  1. 9 ФЕВР.

    Giving Back to the Industry

    Sean Kelly, RCDD, general manager and technical director at Light Brigade, visited Sumitomo Electric Lightwave’s headquarters in Raleigh, North Carolina for this episode of Fiber Focus. Early in his nearly 30 years in the industry, Sean helped develop some of the innovative connector products that shape today’s networks. Now his heart is set on evolving and improving the industry through its workforce. These efforts are particularly crucial at this moment, when network demand is skyrocketing and there is only one new technician entering the field for every five that cycle out into management roles or retirement.  Light Brigade, in partnership with industry-leading organizations, offers certified fiber optic education and hands-on skills training with focus areas that include installation, testing, troubleshooting, engineering, and design. Tune in to this episode to learn more.  Fiber Focus is a Sumitomo Electric Lightwave podcast. Subscribe, share this episode, and follow Sumitomo Electric Lightwave on LinkedIn and X.    Episode Links Light Brigade Certified Fiber Optic Training: https://www.lightbrigade.com/ Sean on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/skelly328/ Meredyth on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/meredythneilly   Connect with Sumitomo Electric Lightwave Website: https://sumitomoelectriclightwave.com/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sumitomoelectriclightwave

    15 мин.

  2. 01.12.2025

    Trusted Suppliers Help Customers Navigate Extreme Demand

    When the clock is ticking and lead times grow longer, solid manufacturer/customer relationships are invaluable. In his more than 35 years of telecom experience, senior product manager Greg Pierce has seen it all. He reflects in this episode of Fiber Focus on the state of the industry, especially how massive, AI-fueled demand is straining global manufacturing capacity for fiber optic cabling and connectivity products. This scenario is a familiar one for Greg, who offers some advice for customers navigating supply uncertainty. He underscores the importance of working closely with trusted suppliers, proactively if possible, and having design flexibility. Solid communication, collaboration, and deep product portfolios enable a creative mix of in-stock and custom products to uniquely meet any given network’s requirements and project timetable. Tune in to this conversation to learn more. Fiber Focus is a Sumitomo Electric Lightwave podcast. Subscribe, share this episode, and follow Sumitomo Electric Lightwave on LinkedIn and X. Episode LinksContact Us: https://sumitomoelectriclightwave.com/contact-us/Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-pierce-4b977b10/Meredyth on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/meredythneilly Connect with Sumitomo Electric LightwaveWebsite: https://sumitomoelectriclightwave.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@sumitomoelectriclightwave

    11 мин.

  3. 17.11.2025

    Challenging Times Demand Creative Cable Solutions

    Previously on Fiber Focus, we discussed how artificial intelligence and machine learning are rapidly consuming the industry’s supply of high-performance, high-density network products. Loren Rapp dives deeper in this episode. As Sumitomo Electric Lightwave’s product line manager for fiber optic cable, Loren has day-in and day-out supply chain experience. Listen in for her insights on the creative workarounds that customers can consider when demand is skyrocketing for particular products. For example, pliable ribbon cable, aka intermittent bonded ribbon (IBR) cable, is a precision-manufactured product optimized for the AI factory projects that are racing to ramp up around the world. What is a customer to do when the IBR product specified on their BOM has a lead time that could result in costly delays? With a creative, collaborative approach, customers and manufacturers can keep projects moving forward together. Tune in to this conversation to learn more.Fiber Focus is a Sumitomo Electric Lightwave podcast. Subscribe, share this episode, and follow Sumitomo Electric Lightwave on LinkedIn and X. Episode LinksRegional Sales Managers: https://sumitomoelectriclightwave.com/regional-managers/Q102-M12+ Fusion Splicer: https://sumitomoelectriclightwave.com/product/q102-m12-plus/Splicing 200µm to 250µm Fibers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_8zdyjCxkQLoren on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/loren-vitter-rapp-a268a61a/Meredyth on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/meredythneilly Connect with Sumitomo Electric LightwaveWebsite: https://sumitomoelectriclightwave.com/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sumitomoelectriclightwave

    11 мин.

  4. 03.11.2025

    Creative Supply Chain in a Booming Market

    A July 2025 Synergy Research Group report projected that hyperscale capacity will increase threefold through the next six years. Josh Seawell, our director of product management, read about the report in Cabling Installation & Maintenance magazine and hopped on this episode of Fiber Focus to discuss it. While hyperscalers are expected to represent the lion’s share of oncoming demand for fiber optic cabling and connectivity products, colocation providers and private network operators are participating in the AI boom with their own significant infrastructure investments. This demand can certainly strain the supply chain at times, but Josh encourages customers to be aware rather than concerned. He details several examples of the creative approaches that SEL has taken with customers to troubleshoot extended lead times so they could get their networks up and running (and generating revenue) faster. “Creative” is the operative word. Tune in to this conversation to learn more. Fiber Focus is a Sumitomo Electric Lightwave podcast. Subscribe, share this episode, and follow Sumitomo Electric Lightwave on LinkedIn and X. Episode LinksReport Foresees Hyperscalers Dominating Worldwide Data Center Capacity: www.cablinginstall.com/data-center/press-release/55301410/report-foresees-hyperscalers-dominating-worldwide-data-center-capacity-by-2030Regional Sales Managers: https://sumitomoelectriclightwave.com/regional-managers/Josh on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/joshua-seawell-09770979/Meredyth on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/meredythneilly Connect with Sumitomo Electric LightwaveWebsite: https://sumitomoelectriclightwave.comYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@sumitomoelectriclightwave

    13 мин.

  5. 20.10.2025

    Let’s Talk About Money Cutting Costs Not Quality

    Yuko Agano returns to Fiber Focus for this episode discussing how air-blown fiber (ABF) technologies can help address rising project costs. With labor making up 60-80 percent of the price tag for a typical network build, streamlining the number of installers and reducing their time on-site can yield significant savings. As Sumitomo Electric Lightwave’s product manager for FutureFLEX® Air-Blown Fiber® Solutions, Yuko has seen time and again the labor savings that network operators can realize with ABF on their bills of materials. Instead of the five or more people needed to pull conventional cable over many hours or even days, FutureFLEX Solutions can be blown through an existing pathway by two installers in as little as 30 minutes. Tune in to this conversation to learn more, and join us at ACI-NI in October and BICSI Fall 2025 or Winter 2026 to see a demonstration of FutureFLEX Solutions. Fiber Focus is a Sumitomo Electric Lightwave podcast. Subscribe, share this episode, and follow Sumitomo Electric Lightwave on LinkedIn and X. Episode LinksSumitomo Electric Lightwave Tradeshows:https://sumitomoelectriclightwave.com/tradeshow-schedule/ FutureFLEX® Air-Blown Fiber®:https://sumitomoelectriclightwave.com/product-category/futureflex-air-blown-fiber-solutions/ ACI-NI Registration:https://airportscouncil.org/conference/2025-annual-conference-and-exhibition/#Registration BICSI Events:www.bicsi.org/conferences-and-events/bicsi-events/conference-and-exhibitions Yuko on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yuko-agano-504927106/Meredyth on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/meredythneilly Connect with Sumitomo Electric LightwaveWebsite: https://sumitomoelectriclightwave.com/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sumitomoelectriclightwave

    6 мин.

  6. 06.10.2025

    Why Fiber Optics is the Best Career You’ve Never Heard Of

    “This will be the field I retire. I love it. I’d never heard of it before.” After serving in the U.S. Navy, Andrew Degidio embarked on a new career journey in telecom. He got his start as a field service engineer without ever laying eyes on a fusion splicing machine, and now he is Sumitomo Electric Lightwave’s senior technical manager focusing on fusion splicer development and support. In this episode of Fiber Focus, Andrew shares his perspective on how well the military prepares people for stable, well-paying industry roles. Beyond the training, troubleshooting, and hands-on experience that Andrew gained in the Navy, his demonstrated willingness to learn and rise to challenges primed him for industry success. Tune in to this conversation to learn more. Fiber Focus is a Sumitomo Electric Lightwave podcast. Subscribe, share this episode, and follow Sumitomo Electric Lightwave on LinkedIn and X. Episode LinksBe Part of a Global Company: https://sumitomoelectric.com/careersFusion Splice Training and Certification: https://fiber-aws.pearson.com/fusion-splicing-micro-registerAndrew on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-degidio-094bb896/Meredyth on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/meredythneilly Connect with Sumitomo Electric LightwaveWebsite: https://sumitomoelectriclightwave.com/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sumitomoelectriclightwave

    12 мин.

  7. 22.09.2025

    A Future in Fiber

    Meet Lauren Deloatch. She was the marketing director for a golf club when she was recruited by Sumitomo Electric Lightwave nearly 10 years ago. Since then, Lauren’s contributions to the telecom industry have included the free, two-day Fusion Splicing Certificate Course that she developed in collaboration with AWS and Pearson. Join us for an engaging conversation about Lauren’s career-pivoting experience, telecom’s widespread growth, and a rapidly accelerating demand for new industry workers. She encourages people of all backgrounds and education levels to consider getting their start (and earning a livable wage) as a fusion splicing technician. Hands-on training and certification are easily accessible first steps. Upward mobility opportunities are plentiful. Soft skills, attention to detail, reliability, and a willingness to learn and adapt are especially valuable traits during this transformative era in telecom. Tune in to this conversation to learn more. Fiber Focus is a Sumitomo Electric Lightwave podcast. Subscribe, share this episode, and follow Sumitomo Electric Lightwave on LinkedIn and X. Helpful LinksFusion Splice Training and Certification: https://fiber-aws.pearson.com/fusion-splicing-micro-registerBe Part of a Global Company: https://sumitomoelectric.com/careersFiber Broadband Association (FBA) Education: https://fiberbroadband.org/education-and-certification/fba-optic-path/Fiber Optic Association (FOA) Approved Training: https://www.thefoa.org/foa_aprv.htmLauren on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ldeloatch/Meredyth on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/meredythneilly Connect with Sumitomo Electric LightwaveWebsite: https://sumitomoelectriclightwave.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@sumitomoelectriclightwaveave - YouTube

    11 мин.

  8. 08.09.2025

    Next-Generation Data Center Network Design Automation

    Fiber Focus welcomes Dwayne Holst to this episode for a preview of the next breakthrough in data center network design. A data center optical communications researcher with Sumitomo Electric Lightwave, Dwayne is currently working on “digital twinning,” creating network simulations that enable data center operators to view and optimize a virtual version of their complete physical networks before ordering a single part. The roadmap for this capability is full of promise; next-generation data center network design automation will be able to generate hyperaccurate bills of material, output construction work orders for network builds, send testing instructions for human verification, and analyze network performance for learning and improvement. Not since the commercialization of electronic data automation (EDA) in the 1980s has there been such a game changer in interconnect automation. Tune in to this conversation to learn more. Fiber Focus is a Sumitomo Electric Lightwave podcast. Subscribe, share this episode, and follow Sumitomo Electric Lightwave on LinkedIn and X. Helpful LinksHistory of Computer-Aided Design Tools: www.computerhistory.org/siliconengine/computer-aided-design-tools-developed-for-ics/Dwayne on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/dwayneholstMeredyth on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/meredythneilly Connect with Sumitomo Electric LightwaveWebsite: https://sumitomoelectriclightwave.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@sumitomoelectriclightwaveave - YouTube

    11 мин.
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Fiber Focus is the podcast from Sumitomo Electric Lightwave that explores the technology, tools, and techniques behind modern fiber optic networks. From product innovations to practical insights for data center and on-prem environments, each episode helps industry professionals stay connected to what matters most.

Информация

  • Автор
    Sumitomo Electric Lightwave
  • Годы выхода
    2025 - 2026
  • Выпуски
    17
  • Ограничения
    Без ненормативной лексики
  • Авторские права
    © 2026 Sumitomo Electric Lightwave