If you ask Ezee Fiber’s CEO Matt Marino about his leadership style, he likens it to the nature of a football team: “I'm a big believer that the residential fiber business is the ultimate team sport.”

As a 15-plus cable industry veteran, Marino brings plenty of customer service and network knowledge to the table. Before coming to Ezee Fiber in 2023, he held various positions at some of the top cable providers, including Altice USA, Charter Communications, Time Warner Cable, and Insight Communications.

During this podcast we talked to Marino about Ezee Fiber’s customer centric approach and how it is enhancing its network through a series of targeted builds and acquisitions of other regional fiber providers that fit its growth model.

Key Moments in This Episode Opening

0:45 CEO role strategy Marino shares his philosophy that the residential fiber business is the ultimate team sport. 3:28 Ezee Fiber’s 2025 priorities How Ezee Fiber is executing on a multi-state build and customer growth plan. 5:16 Fiber acquisition strategy Ezee Fiber’s recent Tachus Fiber deal was a match in terms of fiber and approach. 7:18 Conterra Purchase How Conterra was a network backbone purchase. 8:30 Future M&A plans Ezee Fiber will utilize a combination of M&A and organic growth strategies to achieve its goal of becoming one of the largest independent fiber providers. 10:07 Ezee’s market expansion strategy

Outside of its Texas home base, Ezee is expanding into Washington State and New Mexico. 12:29 State of competition Ezee Fiber mainly competes against cable operators. 13:49 Business services plans The service provider creates packages for small to medium-sized businesses and enterprises. 15:11 Final thoughts Matt Marino shares how Ezee is continuing to advance its fiber broadband vision in Houston, New Mexico and Washington. 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.

A new TeleGeography report reveals that $3 billion worth of investment in submarine cable repair ships will be required to sustain current service levels and reduce repair delays for the undersea cables that carry global internet traffic. While there’s a surge in submarine cable infrastructure investment, maintenance and repair capabilities have lagged.

In “The Future of Submarine Cable Maintenance,” a joint report by TeleGeography and Infra-Analytics, the research firms forecast a 48% net increase in total cable kilometers to be deployed in the world's oceans by 2040, driven by rising bandwidth demands and the need for network redundancy and resilience. However, by the same year, approximately two-thirds of cable maintenance ships will have reached the end of their service life, with about half of the global cable ship fleet also approaching this milestone.

During this episode of the Broadband Pulse, we caught up with Alan Mauldin, Research Director at TeleGeography, one of the of the authors of the new submarine cable report. Mauldin said the the “study illuminates the increasingly urgent need for investment in the global connectivity critical infrastructure—both submarine cables and maintenance vessels.”

Meet our guest Alan Mauldin is a Research Director at TeleGeography. He manages the company’s infrastructure research group, focusing primarily on submarine cables, terrestrial networks, international Internet infrastructure, and bandwidth demand modeling. He also advises clients on due diligence analysis, feasibility studies, and business plan development for projects worldwide. Alan speaks frequently about the global network industry at a wide range of conferences, including PTC, Submarine Networks World, and SubOptic. Alan began his career as an analyst at The Trade Partnership in 1998.

Key Moments in This Episode Opening 0:05 Introduction

0:24 State of the submarine cable market How hyperscalers and traditional providers are investing in new cables

2:19 New submarine cable repair ships A new TeleGeography report estimates $3B in submarine cable repair ships will be required. 3:56 Advocacy for new repair ships While there’s a desire to invest in repair ships, capital expenditure (Capex) costs are challenging. 5:44 Cost issues The expense of building new vessels.

7:13 Cable decommissioning Cables deployed during the telecom boom of the 1990s and early 2000s are now at or beyond the 25-year mark. 9:09 Regional market needs By 2035, replacement vessels will be required across most regions, including Europe, Asia, Africa, Oceania and the Middle East

10:50 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 www.broadbandpulse.podbean.com.

1Finity, which houses Fujitsu’s optical and wireless operations, recently began operating under its new name and brand identity. As Fujitsu announced in April, 1Finity consolidates Fujitsu’s global network-related organizations under one entity, enabling what the company said will be greater autonomy and flexibility.

1Finity, which will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of Fujitsu, will continue to deliver a complete portfolio of optical and wireless hardware, software and services.

We recently caught up with François Moore, Optical Architect and Advisor for 1Finity, to discuss new optical and wireless opportunities and how the new brand is resonating with customers.

Key Moments in This Episode Opening 0:05 Introduction Broadband Pulse host Sean Buckley introduces Francois Moore, Optical Architect & Advisor for 1Finity.

Fujitsu’s launch of the 1Finity brand 0:29 Launching the 1Finity brand, which consolidates Fujitsu's global network of related organizations under one entity.

A simplified look 2:17 How 1Finity simplifies customer interactions. Customer response to 1Finity 2:49 How the new brand is resonating with customers.

The optical networking market 4:11 How 1Finity is evolving in response to changes in the optical networking market. Data center interconnection 5:48 How big of a market does 1Finity see for data center interconnection (DCI)?

1Finity’s role in wireless 9:23 Fixed wireless in rural markets 13:02 1Finity is supplying radios to enable WISPs to provide wireless Internet access.

Rural market dynamics 13:50 Applying 1Finity’s solutions to rural providers' needs.

The Middle mile opportunity 15:13 1Finity is providing traditional optical gear, like its metro regional product offering.

800G opportunities 17:20 1Finity’s recent trial with Orange and its work to develop 800GZR+ coherent pluggables.

Final thoughts/closing 21:31 Broadband Pulse host Sean Buckley asks Francois Moore, Optical Architect & Advisor for 1Finity, to provide 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 www.broadbandpulse.podbean.com.

Harmonic is well known in the cable industry as a key supplier of DOCSIS equipment. However, as the cable and telecom industry continues to expand its fiber reach, Harmonic has been taking a more active role in developing fiber-based broadband products.

With many of its cable operator customers being in a transition phase, Harmonic is offering products that enable a DOCSIS-to-PON migration. One example of this move is the SeaStar Optical Node, which allows broadband connectivity for lower-density multi-dwelling units (MDUs). The node converts existing in-building coax cabling into a high-speed broadband conduit.

We recently caught up with Hy Huynh, vice president of fiber products at Harmonic, to talk about the evolving fiber broadband landscape.

Key Moments in This Episode Opening 0:05 Introduction Broadband Pulse host Sean Buckley introduces Hy Huynh, vice president of fiber products at Harmonic. 0:37 Fiber broadband How Harmonic is positioning itself within the fiber broadband space.

4:00 Open Optical Network Terminals (ONTs) Harmonic is integrating its platforms with third-party ONTs and expanding use cases. 7:40 Cable's FTTH migration How Harmonic can help cable MSOs gracefully migrate from HFC to all fiber. 12:19 Harmonic’s SeaStar Optical Node Harmonic's SeaStar allows service providers to provide fiber-like broadband speeds in lower-density multi-dwelling units (MDUs). 16:49 PON technology coexistence Service providers can advance to 25G and above while accommodating 1 and 10G PON. 19:12 Final thoughts Hy Huynh shares final thoughts about fiber broadband trends 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.

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

• Brightspeed connects 8,000 homes and businesses in Western Ohio
• Conterra Networks furthers XGS-PON path with Ciena's Open PON platform
• Fidium expands fiber to Gouldsboro, Winter Harbor, and Wiscasset
• Gateway Fiber is expanding its network into Cottage Grove, Minnesota
• Intrepid Fiber Networks raises $425 million to accelerate fiber broadband expansion
• SBA Communications to enable 10G fiber broadband for Wyld Oaks development
• STELLAR Broadband brings 10G fiber internet to Farmington and Farmington Hills

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 the latest episode of the Broadband Pulse podcast, we talked to Ted Schremp, president and CEO of IQ Fiber.

Ted was an early pioneer in developing services like telephony for the cable industry during his time at Charter Communications. He’s now carrying on that innovative spirit to drive fiber broadband growth at IQ Fiber.

In May, IQ Fiber launched Businesses in Jacksonville, Gainesville, Florida, and Savannah, Georgia, that can take advantage of the competitive carrier’s fiber-based services. Let’s start by talking about how that has gone so far.

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.

In this latest Broadband Pulse podcast, we talked to Paul Garnett, the founder and CEO of the Vernonburg group.

Vernonburg recently issued a new white paper showing that broadband funding achieves more than twice the impact when invested in adoption-focused programs rather than network overbuilds in already-served areas.

The new report, Avoiding the Overbuild Trap: Adoption, Not Overbuilding, Drives Connectivity and Digital Opportunity, challenges the practice of using public funds to subsidize new broadband networks in areas where high-speed service is already available. The three authors of the report—Paul Garnett, Breese McIlvaine, and Alexander Jeffery—urged policymakers to develop and implement comprehensive digital opportunity programs that address what they argue are the real drivers of the digital divide.

Leveraging Vernonburg Group’s Digital Opportunity Map and other sources, the report discusses publicly available data on broadband availability and adoption -- with specific community examples -- and details principles that should guide broadband funding programs.

Here’s a timeline of the interview:

Opening | 0.00

Host introduces the guest | 0:06

Vernonburg’s new broadband white paper | 0:39

Public vs. privately funded broadband networks | 4:10

Public/Private (P3s) broadband partnerships | 6:07

Technology choice | 7:48

Driving broadband adoption | 11:07

The role of digital navigators | 14:48

Final thoughts | 16:37

Outro | 19:00 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 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.