The Five Nine

AI dominates headlines but fiber still has a huge role to play in the future. We chatted with Fiber Broadband Association’s VP of Public Policy Marissa Mitrovitch and BNP Paribas’ Sam McHugh about BEAD, broadband, workforce issues and the next wave of infrastructure. #fiber #broadband #AI #infrastructure #telecom #workforceSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Turns out Nvidia isn't just a chip company, it's morphing into a systems company. On the heels of Nvidia GTC in San Jose, we sat down with three of our favorite analysts - Jack Gold, Anshel Sag and Leonard Lee - to translate Nvidia's tech talk into tangible takeaways. Here's what you need to know about the company's latest chip and AI announcements. #AI #AgenticAI #Nvidia #OpenClaw #Cisco #cybersecuritySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Fierce Network team spent a week in Spain meeting with top wireless execs to get the down low on where the industry is headed in 2026. Now that we're back stateside, we sat down to dish on our top takeaways from the show. And spoiler alert, we heard about a lot more than just AI. #MWCBarcelona #wireless #AI #satellite #6G #wirelesssensingSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How much gas is left in 5G? And where will the road to 6G head? Where does quantum fiction meet fact? And will we actually hear anything new about ai? Fierce’s team of experts talks about what's coming at MWC Barcelona. #MWC #MWCBarcelona #wireless #6G #quantum #AI #artificialintelligence #satellite See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A major vendor shifting focus, a spectrum tug of war and the unavoidable rise of AI have people wondering: what’s next for private wireless. So, let’s find out. #privatewireless #5G #AI #industrial #Celona #NokiaWatch this episode on YouTube! https://youtu.be/rX0hRgzHN-ESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Five Nine explores how and why AI agents and quantum computing could break modern network security, what role telecom network operators have in stopping the threats, and why everyone needs to start thinking about these problems NOW. Special guests include Palo Alto’s SVP for Network Security Rich Campagna, F5 VP of AI and engineering guru Jimmy White and Fierce Network Research’s Mitch Wagner. #AI #agenticAI #telecom #security #cybersecurity #quantumSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this conversation, AT&T Executive Vice President and General Manager of Mass Markets, Jenifer Robertson, discusses how the company is reshaping connectivity through a customer-first strategy across wireless and fiber. Robertson outlines AT&T’s approach to serving more than 100 million customers daily, highlighting how customer experience, network reliability, and simplified pricing are driving decision-making at scale. The discussion explores key initiatives including multi-gig fiber expansion, simplified pricing with no contracts, and the launch of the AT&T Guarantee—an industry-first commitment covering network reliability, customer service, and price value. Robertson also explains how convergence between fiber and wireless enables innovations such as automatic internet backup, AI-driven Wi-Fi personalization, and connected home services. From frontline leadership to enterprise-scale transformation, Robertson shares insights on managing large teams, driving cultural change, and taking bold, public commitments to improve customer trust. The conversation offers a clear view into AT&T’s roadmap for connectivity, convergence, and customer experience as the company looks ahead to 2026.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re flipping the script this week and talking not to the people building AI infrastructure but to one of the people trying to help implement it in the wilds of retail. Forum3 Co-CEO and former Starbucks Chief Digital Officer Adam Brotman talks why GenAI is different, how on-device AI could change the game entirely, and whether he thinks there is actually a bubble. #AI #artificialintelligence #retail #Apple #Google #SiriSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

AI is massively shaking up the multi-cloud landscape. And we’re here to talk about how. As cloud adoption kicked into gear a few years back, it wasn’t enough to have just one cloud. Suddenly enterprises had deployments scattered here, there and everywhere. That, of course, made for a management nightmare. And just as vendors and enterprises started to get their arms around the problem, AI entered the scene. Suffice to say things are – once again – very messy. #AI #cloud #multicloud#CloudBolt #AgenticAISee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What does the future hold for Verizon with a new CEO at the helm? Does the $42.5 billion BEAD program have staying power? Can telcos fend off a space-based market invasion? A new year brings a fresh start, but there are some trends that are bound to carry over from 2025. We gathered the whole Fierce Network crew to get their top takes on what's in store for the year to come in the wireless, wireline, AI and cloud realms. #AI #cloud #wireless #fiberSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

AI isn’t just transforming how we live, work and play, it’s also overhauling the cloud and data center market. It’s not just about the big three anymore – we’re entering the era of the alternative hyperscaler. Vultr’s CMO Kevin Cochrane and Futuriom founder and chief analyst Scott Raynovich talk what's coming down the pipe in 2026. #AI #cloud #GPU #neocloud #altscalerSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nvidia made headlines in October when it announced plans to invest $1 billion in telecom vendor Nokia to develop AI-RAN solutions that use its GPUs. But do GPUs even make sense for AI-RAN? We sat down with Orange's Atoosa Hatefi and Dell'Oro Group's Stefan Pongratz to dig into the different flavors of AI-RAN, what would compel telecom operators to spring for GPUs and what the overall market forecast looks like. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

AWS walked into Las Vegas with a full house of cards. The cloud titan absolutely unloaded with a series of announcements spanning silicon, software and networking at its annual re:Invent conference. And the key takeaway? It’s not playing catchup on AI anymore…it’s leading the pack.   Fierce Network's Diana Goovaerts and Elizabeth Coyne sat down with Moor Insights and Strategy's Jason Andersen and Tekonyx Founder Sid Nag to dive into AWS' big announcements around AI factories, APIs, Interconnect and more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

First, there was machine learning. Then, generative AI. Now, we’re in the midst of the agentic AI revolution. But agentic AI is a waypoint rather than an endpoint. So, what’s next? The answer is physical AI.  But what is physical AI, in practical terms? What is it good for, how mature is the technology, what kinds of networks will it need and how can we all prepare for what’s coming? Nvidia and Nokia have answers. #AI #PhysicalAI #networks #Nvidia #Nokia See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Could SpaceX take over Dish Network's role as the nation's fourth largest wireless carrier? And how much do we really know about six G? Today we're tackling two of the hottest topics in the wireless world. Plus, you’ll get a sneak peek at what’s coming with our Broadband Nation Expo next week.  #SpaceX #DishNetwork #6G #AI #wireless #broadbandSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Telcos are DROWNING in debt. No, not financial debt, though they do have some of that. We’re talking about crippling amounts of technical and data debt, which could keep telcos on the sidelines of the AI revolution.   We’ll be looking at just how bad the situation is, what telcos need to do to make it right, whether they can move fast enough to ride the AI wave and what they stand to gain if they do.  #technicaldebt #datadebt #AI #telecom See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You may have seen one streak across the night sky. And there could be one hovering a few hundred miles above you right now. No, I’m talking about UFOs but satellites and more specifically, the thousands of Starlink satellites that have taken over our skies and changed the broadband landscape forever.   Ookla’s Sue Marek and Joe Madden from Mobile Experts dig into how Starlink has helped thrust satellite technology into the middle of the broadband conversation and what that means for the future of connectivity. #Starlink #Spacex #broadband #internet #satellite See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Description: You’ve probably heard about quantum technology in news headlines, but what is it and what does it really mean for telcos? Fierce’s Masha Abarinova sits down with quantum networking leaders Noel Goddard, CEO of Qunnect, and Frank de Jong, Quantum Safe Network Lead at Orange Business, to delve into how operators are putting the technology to work. #quantum #qubits #connectivity #TechTalks #Networks See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fierce takes a look at the companies behind the neocloud movement – crypto mining specialists who have found a new home in the cloud market thanks to AI. Guests include Hut 8 CEO Asher Genoot and AvirdThink Founder Roy Chua. #crypto #GPU #cloudcomputing #Hut8 #AISee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We kick off the new season of The Five Nine with a debate around the question on everyone’s mind: is AI a threat or an opportunity for telecom companies? We’re keeping things all in the family today, with Fierce Network Research’s Mitch Wagner and Linda Hardesty offering fresh perspectives from each side. #AI #networks #connectivity See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this sponsored episode of The Five Nine, Fierce Networks contributor Daniel Frankel sits down with Hemanth Sampath, VP of Engineering at Qualcomm, to explore how 6G will unlock new user-experiences and operator services. Sampath outlines a shift from app-based smartphone content consumption to AI-agent driven, natural interactions – extending to AR glasses & wearables. This evolution will drive a surge in overall traffic, especially uplink, that 6G is designed to support. He also explains how AI-native protocols, collaborative communications and distributed compute will improve user experiences. For operators, the rise of edge AI and network digital twins presents opportunities to reduce operational costs and generate new new revenue streams through sensing and inferencing services. Finally, Sampath shares how Qualcomm is leading the way with XR cellular trials, on-device AI innovations, and cutting-edge 6G research. Tune in to discover how AI and 6G will reshape connectivity in the decade ahead.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wi-Fi 8 is here—and it's not about speed, but reliability. MediaTek’s James Chen explains how AI and smarter design are reshaping connectivity. Listen now.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Speaking live from the 3GPP plenary meeting in Prague, Juan Montojo, Vice President of Technical Standards at Qualcomm Technologies, shares where mobile networks are headed as 6G development begins. Improving coverage, energy and spectral efficiency, and user experience are at the center of these early-stage efforts - all while reducing the cost to deliver data.  A defining feature of 6G will be the integration of AI. Unlike 5G, where AI was layered on after launch, 6G will build AI directly into the system. Montojo reflects on the 4G to 5G migration, highlighting lessons that will help 6G rollouts be more seamless, particularly the push for standalone deployment.  From Giga-MIMO and integrated sensing to next-gen satellite connectivity and improved localization, new technologies are already in early development stages. 3GPP standards will continue through the decade, with 6G specifications expected by 2029 and commercial deployments in the early 2030s. With foundational work happening now, Montojo emphasizes that this next generation will offer meaningful improvements for both users and operators.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week we’re taking a look at the big bottleneck that could bring the AI revolution to a screeching halt: power. AI requires a lot of high power chips deployed in a LOT of data centers. But while hyperscalers have plans to build up new data centers to support AI demand, they’ve run into power shortages in key areas. They’re particularly feeling the crunch in the U.S. So, we sat down with a pair of guests to figure out how we got into this mess, whether new nuclear plants could be the answer to hyperscalers’ prayers and what needs to be done to get us to where we need to be. We chatted with Mark Nelson, founder and managing director at consulting firm Radiant Energy Group, and Aalo Atomics CEO Matt Loszak to get some answers.  To learn more about the topics in this episode:  Will new nuclear arrive in the US in time to save data centers? A big battle over data center power bills is looming Here’s what hyperscalers, OpenAI say they need to build an AI empire Energy companies are struggling to keep up with data centers’ monster appetite Here’s why Trump’s energy policy matters for cloud providers See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, we sat down to unpack one of the biggest emerging concepts in the broadband space – the open access network.  Open access, like any broadband network, is no cakewalk and comes with its own share of challenges. But it also presents underrated opportunities for the industry, particularly in the United States where the model is less often used.   Utopia Fiber and Gigapower are two of just a handful of open access players in the U.S.   Utopia reaches nearly two dozen cities in Utah and has also been involved in projects in Idaho, Montana and California. Gigapower, meanwhile, is a joint venture between AT&T and investment company BlackRock which is initially aiming to achieve 1.5 million passings in 8 markets.   So, we sat down with Utopia CEO Roger Timmerman and Gigapower CRO Jeff Seidenfaden to chat about what makes open access unique, how each has made things work, and what pages other operators can take from their playbook.   To learn more about the topics in this episode:   Gigapower CEO says open access network is ‘picking up speed’ as JV expands to NM CEO Exclusive: Utopia Fiber chief thinks AT&T isn't really doing open access  UTOPIA continues to weave web of ISPs SiFi, Sumo Fiber: Open access networks aren’t a piece of cake See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Guest host Liz Coyne wrangled an exec from Nokia Bell Labs to talk about the company’s recent mission to the moon. The mission came as Nokia Bell Labs celebrated its 100th anniversary but the landing didn’t go quite as expected.   Nokia’s Thierry Klein, President of Bell Labs Solutions Research at Nokia, tells Liz all about why the company is aiming for the moon in the first place, what it learned from the mission and what’s next. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, we delve back into the intersection of AI and networking, and more specifically what enterprises need to know and prepare for as AI moves to the edge. Just how distributed will AI really be? How will enterprises decide what workloads go where? And what should they be thinking about and planning for to make the AI-driven future a reality? We sat down with GTT SVP of Product Engineering to sift through these thorny questions and provide some guidance on how to handle the AI wave to come. To learn more about the topics in this episode: What happens to AI factories when AI moves to the edge? Telcos have the perfect edge cloud infrastructure for AI up their sleeve Op-Ed: Telco optimism springs at MWC with the hopes of AI at the edgeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Fierce Network crew made it back safe and sound, for the most part, from Mobile World Congress 2025 in Barcelona. But the show, which is essentially the official start to the year in telecom, gave us a lot to think about. We spent the week digesting what all the announcements from the show mean for the industry and now we're looking forward to what the rest of 2025 has in store for operators. Here’s what we have our eyes on. To learn more about the topics in this episode: Nokia’s not getting hung up on missed lunar phone call FNTV: Orange isn't giving up on APIs MWC 2025 coverage hub See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The hotels are booked, the bags are packed and at the end of this week, the flights will be boarded. But what will we find when we get there? That’s the question we’re going to tackle today and the answers just might surprise you. With me are Fierce Network’s editor-in-chief Liz Coyne, executive editor Monica Alleven, Senior Reporter Dan Jones and our Research guru Mitch Wagner. This podcast is written and hosted by Diana Goovaerts. It is edited by Diana Goovaerts and Matt Rickman. Liz Coyne is our executive producer. To learn more about the topics in this episode: MWC 2025: Will it be hot or not? What to expect when you’re expecting… to attend MWC25 Catch all the MWC news as it rolls in right here See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, we delve into the nitty gritty of one of the biggest turnaround stories in telecom in recent years: that of Frontier Communications.   Frontier recently made headlines when Verizon agreed to pay $20 billion in cash to acquire the company as part of a bid to drastically expand its fiber footprint. That deal is now expected to close in Q1 of 2026. But while it’s flying high now, Frontier’s fortunes weren’t nearly as positive just a few short years ago.   Back in April 2020, the company actually filed for bankruptcy. And while it emerged from bankruptcy a year later, CEO Nick Jeffrey had his work cut out for him righting the ship.   We’ve all seen Frontier’s upbeat PR in recent years as its pivot to fiber revived the company’s revenue. But we wanted the details on just how big a lift the transformation was. We sat down with Jeffrey to hear more about the state of the company when he first joined, how the company navigated through transformation initiatives that fell flat and whether leadership really always knew they’d be successful.  This podcast is written and hosted by Diana Goovaerts. It is edited by Diana Goovaerts and Matt Rickman. Liz Coyne is our executive producer.  To learn more about the topics in this episode:  Here’s how Frontier used AI to revive its ailing B2B business  https://www.fierce-network.com/broadband/heres-how-frontier-used-ai-revive-its-ailing-b2b-business   Verizon's $20B Frontier buy is all about 'convergence, baby' https://www.fierce-network.com/broadband/verizon-rumored-buy-frontier-its-convergence-game   Frontier wants to become the ‘un-cable’ ISP https://www.fierce-network.com/broadband/frontier-wants-become-un-cable-isp   Frontier plans 495,000 new fiber passings in 2021  https://www.fierce-network.com/operators/frontier-plans-495-000-new-fiber-passings-2021   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, we explore the rise of sovereign clouds across the globe.  You’ve probably heard of GDPR by now, or at least data privacy. And while sovereignty is sort of in a similar sphere, it’s more about data direction than privacy.   We sat down with Vultr’s Kevin Cochrane to examine what sovereignty means, how it’s accomplished and the impact AI could have on the landscape.  This podcast is written and hosted by Diana Goovaerts. It is edited by Diana Goovaerts and Matt Rickman. Liz Coyne is our executive producer.  To learn more about the topics in this episode:  ‘There’s no escaping’ digital sovereignty, Google Cloud exec says https://www.fierce-network.com/cloud/theres-no-escaping-rise-digital-sovereignty-google-cloud-exec-says   How Trump 2.0 could transform American cloud, AI, broadband and more https://www.fierce-network.com/cloud/how-trump-20-could-transform-american-cloud-ai-broadband-and-more   Nations declare independence with 'sovereign clouds' https://www.fierce-network.com/cloud/how-sovereign-clouds-help-build-great-nations   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, we sat down to pull back the curtain on the idea factory chugging along behind the scenes at one of the largest hyperscalers: Google Cloud.  CTO Will Grannis heads up Google Cloud’s Office of the CTO, or OCTO, which is comprised of senior Google technology experts and former enterprise CTOs. Together, this team sifts through the company’s big ideas to figure out what will work and what won’t.   And while the world hears about it when Google Cloud knocks it out of the park with an idea, there are many, many others that never make it to prime time. Failure, Grannis told us, plays a big role in Google Cloud’s Office of the CTO.  Together, we walk through the lifecycle of an idea at OCTO, how to home in on the good ideas and why failing often and fast is actually a good thing.  This podcast is written and hosted by Diana Goovaerts. It is edited by Diana Goovaerts and Matt Rickman. Liz Coyne is our executive producer.  To learn more about the topics in this episode:  Google Cloud could overtake Microsoft’s No. 2 cloud position this year  https://www.fierce-network.com/cloud/google-cloud-overtake-microsofts-no-2-cloud-position-year   Exclusive: Google Cloud CTO talks tech, failures and what the future holds https://www.fierce-network.com/multi-cloud/exclusive-google-cloud-cto-talks-tech-failures-and-what-future-holds  Google Cloud brains say AI, sustainable finance, energy and privacy are trends to watch https://www.fierce-network.com/public/google-cloud-cto-office-brains-watch-these-6-cloud-trends   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, we’re taking a look at what the future holds for operators when it comes to the mobile core.   The march to the cloud has been a steady but rather slow journey for operators. And nowhere is this more true than for mobile core services. But that could soon change, thanks to a recent deal Alianza struck to acquire Metaswitch from Microsoft.   Here’s what Alianza’s CEO Brian Beutler had to say about the state of the market today and what’s on the horizon.  This podcast is written and hosted by Diana Goovaerts. It is edited by Diana Goovaerts and Matt Rickman. Liz Coyne is our executive producer.  To learn more about the topics in this episode:  Exclusive: Alianza buys Metaswitch from Microsoft in deal years in the making https://www.fierce-network.com/cloud/exclusive-alianza-buys-metaswitch-microsoft-deal-years-making   Exclusive Op-Ed: Alianza resurrects Metaswitch from Microsoft grave https://www.fierce-network.com/cloud/exclusive-op-ed-alianza-resurrects-metaswitch-microsoft-grave   Beyond VoIP: Alianza, AWS partner to push legacy telco ‘crap’ to the cloud https://www.fierce-network.com/apps-services/alianza-aws-partner-push-legacy-telco-crap-cloud  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of The Five Nine Podcast, host James Careless dives into the future of 5G technology with special guests Matthew Almand, Chief Technology Officer at Texas A&M University System, and Thierry Chau, Vice President of Market Development at CommScope. Texas A&M University System is gearing up for a full-scale 5G transformation across its flagship and regional campuses, and Matthew shares the challenges of supporting both urban and rural environments, plus high-demand venues like Kyle Field Stadium. Thierry provides insights on CommScope’s role in delivering robust, adaptable connectivity solutions to meet Texas A&M University System’s unique needs—from enhancing fan experiences on game day to enabling connectivity in academic and administrative buildings. They also explore how ongoing tech upgrades, evolving carrier partnerships, and strategic planning are shaping future-ready digital campuses. With the tech needs of students, faculty, and sports fans in mind, this episode offers a look at the broader 5G landscape, and the specific steps taken to bring seamless connectivity to one of the largest university systems in the U.S.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, we’re taking a look at what the recent U.S. election means for telecom and tech policy in the years ahead. Donald Trump just won a second term in the White House, but this go around could be very different from the first thanks in part to the entrance of new key characters - like Elon Musk and Robert Kennedy – into the equation. To sift through the implications of another Trump term on telecom and tech policy at the FCC, FTC and beyond, we spoke with Blair Levin, who is a non-resident senior fellow at The Brookings Institution and an analyst with New Street Research. We also spoke with veteran tech and telecom analyst Jack Gold. They told Fierce that another Trump term could mean big changes for BEAD, AI and even cloud computing costs. Here’s what they had to say about the issues they’re watching. To learn more about the topics in this episode: What the Trump win means for the FCC and telecom policy https://www.fierce-network.com/broadband/what-trump-win-means-fcc-and-telecom-policy What the Trump win could mean for the BEAD program https://www.fierce-network.com/broadband/what-trump-win-could-mean-bead-program What the Trump win could mean for wireless and spectrum https://www.fierce-network.com/wireless/trump-and-wireless-first-glance What the Trump win means for cloud policy https://www.fierce-network.com/cloud/what-trump-win-means-cloud-policy See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, we’re venturing into the thorny territory that is cloud security. In a newly issued security report, Google Cloud noted that new tools are lowering barriers to entry for malicious actors, and will make it easier for them to launch attacks in the year ahead. The report also noted that something as seemingly small as a compromised identity can have an outsized impact on an enterprise given the widespread use of integrated hybrid on-prem and cloud environments. But what are enterprises even responsible for when it comes to cloud security? In the multi-cloud universe, is achieving zero trust access even possible? And is AI about to upend everything entirely? We went in search of answers to these questions and ended up on the horn with Andrew Gault, CEO of virtual networking company ZeroTier. We talked through what’s most important when it comes to enterprise cloud security, the ways in which the security landscape is changing and how AI could change the game entirely. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, we’re returning to the intersection of AI and network transport. We recently spoke with Lumen Technologies CEO Kate Johnson about how AI is impacting the network, demanding ever-larger pipes for data transport and training. That’s, of course, a boon for a company like Lumen, which has now signed partnership deals with cloud companies and AI pioneers Amazon, Microsoft, Meta and Google. And yet, AI itself is rapidly evolving. Within the next few years, analysts have predicted AI will shift from being mostly training workloads to being mostly inferencing use cases So, we posed a new version of the question to Zayo chief product officer Bill Long: what happens when AI moves to the edge? We spoke with Long about what demand looks like now from various players in the market, how the landscape might shift with the rise of inference, and his prediction that a fresh wave of bandwidth demand could catch the industry off guard. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, we're getting a behind the scenes look at the private networks that power our ports and industrial campuses and keep us connected both underground, in the subway, and inside stadiums. As consumers, we're used to being connected to sprawling cellular networks from the likes of AT& T and Verizon in the U. S., BT, and Deutsche Telekom in Europe. SK Telecom, Telstra, Vodafone, you know, all those big operators. But private networks are a bit different. How? Well, though they use the same cellular equipment, they're generally smaller than commercial cellular networks. They also provide dedicated bandwidth and can be deployed by companies and venues to ensure that the data that flows over them is more secure than it might be on public networks. Many companies are now moving away from traditional distributed antenna systems and towards private networks, whether those be 4G or 5G. To make sense of it all and explain why the rising tide of private network deployments matters, we linked up with Boldyn Networks. Here's what Justin Berger, Group Chief Strategy Officer, told us. To learn more about the topics in this episode: Boldyn’s CTO Marc Rohleder is on a mission to take tech to new frontiershttps://www.fierce-network.com/private-wireless/boldyns-new-cto-marc-rohleder-mission-take-tech-new-frontiers Boldyn gains 50 private networks with Edzcom acquisitionhttps://www.fierce-network.com/private-wireless/boldyn-gains-50-private-networks-edzcom-acquisition Private Wireless Networks https://www.fierce-network.com/keyword/private-wireless-networks See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, we’re turning our attention to automation, and, more specifically, why exactly it hasn’t taken over yet. Fully autonomous networks are something of a holy grail for telcos and data center operators alike. And yet, progress has been slow at best. As AT&T CTO Jeremy Legg said in June of this year, “We’re a ways away from autonomous networks. But there are points within networks that are being made autonomous.” But why this piecemeal approach? Well, it has a little to do with the way networks are architected. But the biggest problem – at least according to Nokia exec Mike Bushong – is that vendors are trying to solve for the wrong problem. We sat down with Bushong to get the scoop on where automation efforts went wrong, where things stand today, and what can be done to get the industry on the right track. To learn more about the topics in this episode: Nokia thinks there's a better way to do data center automation https://www.fierce-network.com/cloud/nokia-thinks-theres-better-way-do-data-center-automation Vendors are automating the network one tool at a time https://www.fierce-network.com/cloud/vendors-are-automating-network-one-tool-time Autonomous networks are CSPs 'North Star' but getting there is a challenge https://www.fierce-network.com/wireless/telco-ctos-vendors-horizontals-are-verticals-are-out See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week we’re going back down the AI rabbit hole, but we’re venturing down a new tunnel to talk about something called data curation. Though AI is still a developing technology, it’s well enough known at this point that models are only as good as the data they’re trained on. But for enterprises looking to fine tune publicly available models, it can be a challenge to make sure they’re making the right data available. Why? Well, the vast majority of enterprise data is what is known as unstructured data. That includes any data that’s not numeric – photos, videos, emails, PDFs, you name it. Enter data curation – which is basically just the process of sorting through all this data to decide what is relevant to train the model and what’s not. Today this is mostly a tedious, manual process. But is it even worth the hassle? We spoke to Vincent Chen, Director of Product and Founding Engineer at Snorkel AI to get the lowdown on how data curation works, why it matters and whether it’s worth the hassle. To learn more about the topics in this episode: Snorkel AI dives into hot market of data curation https://www.fierce-network.com/cloud/snorkel-ai-dives-hot-market-data-curation Data storage gets spicy with help from AI https://www.fierce-network.com/ai/data-storage-gets-spicy-help-ai GenAI could illuminate decades worth of dark data https://www.fierce-network.com/cloud/unstructured-data-pandoras-box-genai-its-key See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, we’re diving into the wonderful world of artificial intelligence, taking an in-depth look at how to balance risks inherent in the technology with the high expectations generated by a now years-long hype cycle. And we couldn’t have a better guest to explore the topic with. Christopher Savoie is the co-inventor of something called the adaptive agent oriented software architecture. And what the heck is that? Well, it’s the AI-based natural language interface technology used to develop Apple’s Siri. Long story short, Savoie has been working in this space since the late ‘90s. He is now founder and CEO of Boston-based Zapata Computing, a quantum-AI software company, which was spun out of Harvard in 2017 to tackle generative AI for industrial applications. So, what’s his take on what’s hype and what could someday be realty? Let’s find out. To learn more about the topics in this episode: GenAI sinks into the 'trough of disillusionment' https://www.fierce-network.com/cloud/generative-ai-hype-dying Nvidia highlights 4 AI trends making waves in telco right now https://www.fierce-network.com/modernization/nvidia-exec-sees-these-4-ai-trends-sweeping-telco-industry https://www.fierce-network.com/keyword/artificial-intelligence-ai See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Description: This week, we’re putting data centers under the microscope – but not from the perspective you might think. As a B2B news outlet, we normally cover data centers from an insider viewpoint. But with AI helping drive a massive data center expansion effort, we wondered: “how do communities feel about all these big buildings coming to town?” So, we reached out to two local officials to tell us what they’ve heard from residents as data centers have proliferated in their areas. For this episode we spoke with local officials in two emerging data center hubs: Sloan Spalding, mayor of New Albany, Ohio, and Victor Angry, a Supervisor for Prince William County in Virginia. With their help, we looked into the pros and cons of new data center builds, what kinds of community concerns tend to arise, and tips on how officials other municipalities can think about these businesses coming to town. To learn more about the topics in this episode: What makes a data center hub and where might the next be? https://www.fierce-network.com/data-center/what-makes-data-center-hub-and-where-might-next-be AWS tries to rally local gov’t behind data center expansion https://www.fierce-network.com/data-center/aws-tries-rally-local-govt-behind-data-center-expansion These 2 markets are the data center capitals of the world https://www.fierce-network.com/cloud/these-two-markets-are-data-center-capitals-world See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, we sat down with Lumen Technologies CEO Kate Johnson to delve into how AI is changing not just the network, but the culture inside telecom companies. Just a few years ago, you’d have been forgiven for viewing Lumen as something of a company on the outs. Though company executives talked for years about transforming from a traditional telecom to a technology company, Lumen’s strategy was – to put it kindly – an enigma to analysts and investors alike. And the promised turnaround failed to materialize as the company battled declines in its legacy business segments. When Johnson, a former Microsoft executive, took the helm in late 2022, things quickly felt different. Not only did she lean into hard changes – like cutting the dividend and reallocating capital from less successful initiatives to strengthen its core fiber backbone – but Johnson also articulated a new vision for the company – not just to investors but also employees. Soon after, the AI wave broke, setting the stage for Lumen to conveniently pitch itself as THE network needed to support the tech. A big Microsoft partnership and $5 billion worth of AI networking contracts later and voila. The tide has turned. As telcos the world over grapple with AI, we set out to learn more about what went into developing Johnson’s strategy for the company, how AI is shaping its plans, and how Lumen is hoping to defend its position against fast followers to its playbook. To learn more about the topics in this episode: Exclusive: New CEO Kate Johnson talks what it’ll take to turn Lumen aroundhttps://www.fierce-network.com/telecom/exclusive-new-ceo-kate-johnson-talks-what-itll-take-turn-lumen-around Lumen’s CTO wants to weave a fresh fabric for the cloud’s futurehttps://www.fierce-network.com/cloud/exclusive-lumens-new-cto-wants-weave-fresh-fabric-clouds-future Lumen’s got its eye on the AI gold rushhttps://www.fierce-network.com/broadband/lumens-got-its-eye-ai-gold-rush AI could breathe new life into Lumenhttps://www.fierce-network.com/broadband/lumens-saving-grace-may-be-long-haul-fiber-demand-driven-ai Network is new scarce resource and that’s good news for Lumenhttps://www.fierce-network.com/cloud/microsoft-taps-lumens-fiber-network-help-it-meet-ai-demand See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While Wi-Fi has become a common expectation of any modern building, it is interesting to see that individuals and businesses alike are increasingly relying on mobile data indoors, where an estimated 70-80% of mobile traffic originates. This is the topic of discussion in this latest episode of The Five Nine Podcast as we’re joined by CommScope experts Upendra Pingle, Senior VP of Intelligent Cellular Networks, and Kevin Swank, Product Marketing Strategist of Intelligent Cellular Networks. Sitting down to discuss the trends, challenges, and opportunities of in-building wireless, Pingle kicks things off by emphasizing that connectivity is becoming the "fourth utility," essential for supporting applications like voice, video, and emerging tech. Building on this, Swank highlights some of the key use cases of in-building wireless today, such as cellular bandwidth in stadiums and supporting robotic manufacturing processes. Further, the duo also dive into the challenges of indoor signal penetration at higher frequencies. Listen to the full episode to explore how in-building cellular tech is shaping industries like entertainment, healthcare, and education.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week Fierce Network’s Linda Hardesty delves into the topic of fiber optic sensing. When we think of fiber, we often just think of those little cables that connect us to the internet. But it turns out that fiber optic cables can be used for more…much more. Fiber optic sensing is basically the idea that fiber optic cables can sense vibrations in their vicinity and that can have several interesting uses. Linda spoke with Dr. Paul Dickinson, who’s the Chairman of the Board for the Fiber Optic Sensing Association, a Washington DC-based non-profit. Together, Linda and Paul walked through what FOS is, how it works and how it’s being implemented in a trial being done by the Texas 811 call center. To learn more about the topics in this episode: Fiber optic cables can do more than just broadband https://www.fierce-network.com/broadband/fiber-optic-cables-can-do-more-just-broadband Comcast slashes time to find fiber cuts from 2 hours to 2 minutes https://www.fierce-network.com/tech/comcast-finds-fiber-cuts-faster-upcycled-optical-analyzers See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.