Fiber Focus

Sumitomo Electric Lightwave

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. 1d ago

    What Happens Between the Factory and the Job Site

    In data center builds where there is essentially no room for error, packaging is what protects your investment against the realities of shipping and handling as products move from the manufacturer’s facility to the field.    Josh Seawell, director of product management for Sumitomo Electric Lightwave, appears on this episode of Fiber Focus to explain why careful attention to packaging and shipping specifications can save significant time and money.    He breaks down the conversation that every data center operator, designer, contractor, and vendor should be having up front, and he shares practical insights on collaboration, verification, and why bringing all stakeholders together early can keep a project on schedule and within budget.   Tune in to this conversation to learn more, and if you are planning to attend ISE Expo next week in Nashville, Tennessee, visit us in Booth 1207.    Fiber Focus is a Sumitomo Electric Lightwave podcast. Subscribe, share this episode, and follow along on LinkedIn and X.   Episode Links Plan First, Build Faster: https://blog.sumitomoelectriclightwave.com/plan-first-build-faster ISE Expo: https://www.iseexpo.com/2026/home Josh on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshua-seawell-09770979 Meredyth on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/meredythneilly   Connect with Sumitomo Electric Lightwave Website: https://sumitomoelectriclightwave.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@sumitomoelectriclightwave

  2. Jul 20

    Passing the Torch

    Greg Pierce has spent more than 35 years in the telecom industry – long enough to have watched it transform from plain old telephone service to the AI era. As a senior product manager at Sumitomo Electric Lightwave, Greg is one of a generation of industry veterans who will eventually be passing the torch. He spends this episode making a personal, enthusiastic case for why a career in telecom is full of possibilities. The field is vast, constantly evolving, and has room for technical and non-technical thinkers alike. And the time to get in is now. Tune in to the 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 Links  Be Part of a Global Company: https://sumitomoelectric.com/careers Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-pierce-4b977b10 Meredyth on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/meredythneilly Connect with Sumitomo Electric Lightwave Website: https://sumitomoelectriclightwave.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@sumitomoelectriclightwave

  3. Jul 6

    The Promise of Multi-Core

    Multi-core fiber has been proving its value in subsea applications for years. Multiple cores packed into a single fiber multiply bandwidth without multiplying space. Now this technology is making its way into next-generation data centers, and the possibilities are extraordinary. Loren Rapp, product line manager for fiber optic cable at Sumitomo Electric Lightwave, breaks down how multi-core fiber works, where it shows the most exciting potential, and what needs to fall into place before it becomes a mainstream reality. 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 Links Contact Us: https://sumitomoelectriclightwave.com/contact-us/ Loren on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/loren-vitter-rapp-a268a61a/ Meredyth on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/meredythneilly Connect with Sumitomo Electric Lightwave Website: https://sumitomoelectriclightwave.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@sumitomoelectriclightwave

  4. Jun 23

    Built to Last and Built to Change

    In this episode of Fiber Focus, Yuko Agano discusses what actually drives the life cycle of a fiber network. From material degradation to evolving design standards to the role of routine maintenance, Yuko draws on her experience as product manager for FutureFLEX® Air-Blown Fiber® solutions, making a compelling case for why the pathway can matter as much as the fiber inside it. The longer your fiber infrastructure stays relevant, the greater the return on investment. 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 Links FutureFLEX® Air-Blown Fiber®: https://sumitomoelectriclightwave.com/product-category/futureflex-air-blown-fiber-solutions/ Yuko on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yuko-agano-504927106 Meredyth on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/meredythneilly Connect with Sumitomo Electric Lightwave Website: https://sumitomoelectriclightwave.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@sumitomoelectriclightwave

  5. Jun 11

    The Heat is On: What Network Operators Need to Know About Liquid Cooling

    Not every data center needs liquid cooling – yet. But as rack densities climb into the territory that AI and high-performance computing demand, the conversation is changing fast.   Josh Seawell, Sumitomo Electric Lightwave's director of product management, returns to Fiber Focus to cut through the noise on one of the hottest topics in the industry. He shares the key threshold where liquid cooling needs to enter the decision-making process, why the hybrid model is where many facilities are headed, and what operators who haven't made the leap yet can start doing today to prepare. 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 Links Data Center Solutions: https://sumitomoelectriclightwave.com/market-application/data-center-network-solutions/ Josh on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshua-seawell-09770979 Meredyth on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/meredythneilly   Connect with Sumitomo Electric Lightwave Website: https://sumitomoelectriclightwave.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@sumitomoelectriclightwave

  6. May 18

    Small Towns, Big Builds

    When Lauren Deloatch hits the road, she isn't just visiting customers – she’s walking into communities where massive data center projects are reshaping daily life. As a program manager of outreach with Sumitomo Electric Lightwave, Lauren is spending time in towns where land, power, and water make AI factories possible. Some residents are energized by the prospect of thousands of construction jobs and hundreds of permanent positions taking root in their communities; others are understandably wary of the change. Lauren has a knack for helping people connect the dots between these infrastructure builds and the everyday moments they already depend on — the thermostat adjusted before getting out of bed, the navigation app guiding the morning commute, the banking and healthcare systems quietly running in the background. Data centers, she explains, enable it all. 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 Links Connect with Us: https://sumitomoelectriclightwave.com/contact-us/ Lauren on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ldeloatch/ Meredyth on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/meredythneilly Connect with Sumitomo Electric Lightwave Website: https://sumitomoelectriclightwave.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@sumitomoelectriclightwave

  7. May 4

    Rethinking the Connectors of Tomorrow

    We are back with Greg Pierce in the studio! As senior product manager specializing in hyperscale data center and enterprise network hardware products, Greg is up close every day with fiber optic connector innovations. He summarizes the current state of connectivity evolution, exploring both the upsides and challenges related to next-generation connector types. This conversation covers topics including MMC, SNMT, and EBO connectors; optical circuit switches; and emerging high-bandwidth, low-latency fiber technologies. 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 AI-Ready Connectors Blog: https://blog.sumitomoelectriclightwave.com/ai-ready-connectors-for-facilities-of-any-size Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-pierce-4b977b10/ Meredyth on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/meredythneilly   Connect with Sumitomo Electric Lightwave Website: https://sumitomoelectriclightwave.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@sumitomoelectriclightwave

  8. Apr 20

    How to Turn Struggle into Success

    Fiber optic cable is not one thing. It is a precision-engineered and manufactured whole that’s greater than the sum of its parts. The high-quality optical fibers, coating, jacketing, strength members – all integral parts and materials – together form the backbone of the digital age.  In this episode of Fiber Focus, Loren Rapp contributes her insight on this complex supply chain as product line manager for Sumitomo Electric Lightwave’s fiber optic cables.  She explains how AI- and broadband-driven demand for optical products impacts manufacturers and suppliers alike, then reminds us that the industry has always been about innovation and resilience. Now more than ever, companies that can plan, pivot, and build relationships with multiple vendors are less likely to struggle and far more likely to succeed. 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 Links Connect with Us: https://sumitomoelectriclightwave.com/contact-us/ Loren on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/loren-vitter-rapp-a268a61a/ Meredyth on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/meredythneilly

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

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.

Information

  • Creator
    Sumitomo Electric Lightwave
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    28
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Sumitomo Electric Lightwave