Building a “No Regrets” Fiber Network

As broadband needs continue to increase, service providers want to build a “No Regrets” fiber network capable of operating for decades and easily upgradable as user needs increase and technology evolves. Users are shifting from under 200 Mbps offerings to gigabit services, while new applications are raising the bar for bandwidth in the future. “How do we ensure that we will have no regrets in building this next-generation network that’s going to be not just for us, but for our children, their children, and their children?” said David Eckard, Vice President of the Broadband Partners at Nokia. “This is our electrification moment.” Eckard noted that gigabit networks make up 26% of all broadband subscription plans, with double the growth across 2023, while peak bandwidth usage grew at 20% in 2022. In comparison, take rates on plans of 200 Mbps or less have declined by over 50% during the same period. Building access networks—such as those coming into service over the next 5 years with National Telecommunications and Information Administration's (NTIA) Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) funding—is as much planning for tomorrow’s needs as well. As more video services go over-the-top (OTT), network standards are showing some strain at peak usage.