Network management

Network management refers to the activities, methods, procedures, and tools that pertain to the operation, administration, maintenance, and provisioning of networked systems.

What Providers Should Know About 25G PON

Dell’Oro Group recently raised its forecast for the next generation of passive optical network (PON) technology, known as 25G PON, and expects its revenues to triple between year-end 2023 and year-end 2025. As Stefaan Vanhastel, head of marketing and innovation for fixed networks for Nokia, explained most service providers are looking at 25G PON as an opportunity to generate additional revenue from business customers. Some businesses will prefer 25G PON because they are used to 10 Gbps symmetrical service and, with 13% overhead, XGS-PON doesn’t support full 10 Gbps speeds. The cost of 25G P

Comcast set to turn up cellular offload in Philadelphia

Comcast is getting ready to activate Philadelphia (PA) as a trial market for cellular offload (i.e. using complementary network technologies for delivering data originally targeted for cellular networks).

Cox leases co-op fiber to connect rural Oklahoma

Fairfax (OK) will be the first town to be connected to the internet by Cox Communications on a fiber network leased from a local power provider. Indian Electric Cooperative (IEC) CEO Todd Schroeder said service should be available by the end of 2023. In addition to multi-gigabit, symmetrical broadband, Cox will offer its Contour TV product, as well as mobile phone service through Cox Mobile.

Ubiquity Launches More Open Access Networks, Claims First Scaled Fiber Deployment

Ubiquity has launched open access networks in Carlsbad (CA) and Mesa (AZ). The company said the Mesa deployment is the nation’s first scaled fiber deployment, in which service provider tenants will use both lit and dark fiber to service business and residential customers. At the same time, the company announced new fiber “footprints” in Omaha (NE) and Council Bluffs (IA).

123NET wins $65 Million Project with Allegan County for County-wide Broadband Internet

123NET and Allegan County (MI) have been awarded a $65 million project to construct an open-access, carrier-neutral fiber network. This county-wide broadband project will begin construction in mid-August 2023. The Allegan County Board of Commissioners and 123NET established a public-private partnership earlier in 2023 and applied for the Realizing Opportunity with Broadband Infrastructure Networks (ROBIN) grant together.

5G small cell deployments will likely get a boost

Some experts anticipate that US mobile operators will spend more on their small cell deployments in the coming months and use the technology to fill in coverage gaps and boost capacity in their 5G networks. Joe Madden, founder and lead analyst at Mobile Experts predicts that now that operators have deployed much of their 5G macro network, they will turn their attention to small cells and use the technology to fill in coverage gaps, solve capacity issues and provide in-building coverage. Although small cell deployments didn’t get a lot of attention in 2022, industry trade group CTIA reported

Experts tout digital twins for dual wins in harsh fiber environments

Experts at Fiber Connect convened to address the need for new approaches to fiber deployments in challenging environments.

Nokia goes big, BEAD friendly with network-in-a-box 2.0

Nokia is broadening its horizons with a new version of its network-in-a-box solution, adding new components into the mix and making its kit scalable to meet the needs of medium-sized operators in addition to small ones.

SiFi's $35 million FiberCity Project to build open-access network in California

SiFi Networks will go live with the first neighborhood in its Placentia FiberCity Project where homes and businesses will gain access to the company’s all-fiber open access network. The project, which will cost around $35 million, is privately funded by SiFi Networks and will eventually provide access to some 20,000 locations in Placentia, California.

Different perspectives on open access networks

At Mountain Connect, a panel discussed some of the pros and cons of open access networks. These networks are deployed by one company and then leased to multiple internet service providers, which can then offer broadband service to end customers. Jack Waters, CEO of Intrepid Fiber Networks, said open access networks give consumers a choice of providers. “The idea of choice is incredibly powerful,” he said. “It’s not something you ever got in telecom.” He also said that building open access networks can make things less disruptive for communities.