Highlights from Fiber Connect 2023 & Mountain Connect Conferences

We recently attended two key fiber infrastructure conferences – Fiber Connect and Mountain Connect – where the agenda not surprisingly focused on bridging the Digital Divide. Considering the recent BEAD awards, there was certain buzz in the air among the fiber providers, ISPs, construction companies, and other vendors that were in attendance. (Here’s how much each state will receive)

In case you didn’t get a chance to attend, here’s a concise list of the key highlights from these events:

Unprecedented Expansion

The United States has entered the largest investment cycle in fiber broadband that the industry has ever experienced.

Passed vs. Connected

More homes will be passed in the next five years than have been passed to-date. However, it is estimated 45% of those currently passed (e.g., within fiber’s reach) are not connected. The Digital Divide “scorecard” will require both metrics to improve.

Economics Reality Check

Although FTTx is the ideal scenario, the financial model to laying fiber often becomes unfeasible close to the edge of town. In fact, once it gets to a coverage density of fewer than 65 homes within a mile, it is no longer profitable to build fiber infrastructure.

Frenemies?

Fiber providers and wireless providers will work hand in glove to bridge the Digital Divide. Specifically, wireless providers can cost-effectively reach the premises orphaned from the internet by the fiber providers while leveraging the fiber network for backhaul. Wireless is a connectivity multiplier!

Not Just Any Wireless

Because Private Wireless Networks are based on cellular spectrum, they deliver performance, reliability, and security (the key attributes of fiber networks!) to more efficiently and effectively bridge Digital Divide that WiFi.