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Upstream traffic on DOCSIS and fiber-based broadband networks continues to rise. The OpenVault Broadband Insights (OVBI) fourth quarter report revealed that investments in higher-speed upstream network plant can pay dividends for fiber and DOCSIS broadband providers. One of the key findings in OVBI’s fourth quarter report was that fiber broadband users consumed more upstream bandwidth than those on a DOCSIS network. As a first-ever point-in-time comparison of fiber vs. DOCSIS subscribers in a selected broadband system, OVBI reports that subscribers on a fiber network with symmetrical 677 Mbps speeds consumed 93.0 GB of upstream bandwidth.
Fiber usage was 66% higher than the 56.0 GB used by subscribers on the same system’s DOCSIS networks, which were provisioned at an average upstream speed of 17.3 Mbps. The report noted that the “fiber comparison suggests that latent upstream demand already exists on DOCSIS networks and is likely to be activated as performance barriers are removed – resulting in rapid scaling of upstream consumption that further shifts.” Overall, OVBI found that upstream usage continued to outpace all other metrics in 2025. The year-end average of 55.86 across fiber and DOCSIS platforms represented a 21.7% year-over-year increase over the 45.9 record in 2024 and a 16.4% increase over 3Q25’s 47.98 GB.
In this podcast, The Broadband Pulse caught up with OpenVault CEO and founder Mark Trudeau about how broadband providers are seeing new upstream traffic growth.
Key moments in this episode
0.00 Opening
0:03 Introduction of the guest
0:30 State of the broadband market
1:32 OVBI’s Q4 report findings
3:10 Upstream usage drivers
4:15 Fiber and DOCSIS
6:0 DOCSIS upstream weapons
9:00 Cable’s fiber drive
10:20 Network stress
11:34 Broadband usage patterns
14:23 Final Thoughts/Closing
Meet our guest
Mark Trudeau, founder and CEO of OpenVault
Before founding OpenVault, Trudeau led numerous technology companies through tremendous growth, achieving success for customers and investors. Trudeau served as CEO of Ventraq, a private-equity-backed provider of software-based analytics solutions to the global telecom industry. He also helped to launch and build the wireless business at Omnipoint, the first GSM wireless provider in the New York metropolitan area. He grew up in upstate New York and attended Union College, where he was a multi-sport collegiate athlete, who supports the Red Sox and Dallas Cowboys. He lives in Jersey City, New Jersey, with his wife, Lauren. Together, they raised two children.
About the Podcast
Blue Stream Fiber, which traces its roots as a traditional cable operator once known as Advanced Cable Communications, has in recent years established itself as a key broadband player in Florida’s market, serving 385,000 residents and 500 communities.
In 2025, the service provider began expanding into the Houston market, marketing its broadband services to HOAs, condominium associations (COAs), developers, and builders. The company says Houston’s quick growth was a main catalyst for Blue Stream Fiber’s investments in the Houston area, which has one of the fastest-growing multi-family markets.
As the company continues to scale operations and expand its presence across Florida and Texas, it recently announced a series of executive leadership promotions, which it said reflect Blue Stream Fiber’s focus on operational excellence, customer experience, and disciplined growth, reinforcing a strong leadership bench as the company enters its next phase of expansion.
In this episode, we talked with Josh Turiano at Blue Stream Fiber. Turiano was recently promoted to Chief Innovation and AI Officer, recognizing his role in driving Blue Stream Fiber's AI strategy and innovation roadmap.
Key Moments in This Episode
0.00 Opening
0:03 Introduction of the guest
0:32 Update on Blue Stream Fiber
2:05 Blue Stream Fiber’s fiber expansion strategy
2:59 AI strategy
6:13 Customer responsiveness
7:16 AI’s influence on business customers
7:35 Network expansion
9:59 A local focus
11:58 Workforce development
14:05 Final thoughts/closing
Meet our guest:
About the Podcast
ATIS is addressing the challenge of open-access fiber networks with its recent debut of the Open Access Network Forum (OANF), a group focused on leveraging real-world deployments and helping the market scale through common APIs and implementation guidance.
Led by industry experts from AT&T and COS Systems, the forum promotes scalable, practical solutions for open-access fiber deployment. OANF serves as a collaborative forum for ISPs, open-access infrastructure providers, and technology partners to align on the principles, architectures, and operating models needed to scale open-access fiber in North America.
In this latest Broadband Pulse podcast, we talked to three members of ATIS about the OANF initiative:
About the Podcast
It’s clear that the campus Wi-Fi environment is evolving toward AI-driven operations, mandatory Wi-Fi 6E/7 upgrades, and high-density coverage to support the growth of bring-your-own-device (BYOD) and IoT-enabled environments. Industry watchers note that the rapid adoption of Wi-Fi 6E and 7 is crucial to handle increased capacity, lower latency, and higher speeds required by video conferencing and high-density environments. Looking ahead, Dell’Oro noted that Wi-Fi 7 adoption and the introduction of Wi-Fi 8 APs will continue to fuel demand for multi-gig ports.
In response to these trends, Broadcom recently released its Wi-Fi 8 access point (AP) and switch solution, purpose-built with a unified architecture for AI-ready enterprise networks. Building on its Wi-Fi 8 radios launched in October 2025, the new enterprise-grade Wi-Fi 8 AP platform is powered by a new accelerated processing unit (APU) chip, the BCM49438, designed to optimize wireless networking and AI acceleration at the enterprise edge. Also, Broadcom unveiled an enterprise-grade switch platform powered by a new Ethernet switch, the Trident X3+ BCM56390, with Broadcom’s multigigabit PHY and PoE power sourcing equipment (PSE) chips. The company says these platforms form a unified architecture that maximizes the performance, efficiency and security for the Wi-Fi 8 wireless network in the enterprise.
In this latest Broadband Pulse podcast, we talked to two key members of Broadcom’s Wi-Fi team making efforts to advance enterprise Wi-Fi:
Mike Powell, director of product Management, wireless broadband communications at Broadcom
And
Ashok Raman, principal product line manager for Broadcom's core switching group
Here's a timeline of the interview's key moments:
Opening | 0:00
Host introduction of guests | 0:03
Wi-Fi campus evolution | 0:49
Wi-Fi 8’s emergence | 3:34
Broadcom's new enterprise-grade Wi-Fi AP platform | 5:27
Self-driving enterprise Wi-Fi networks | 6:45
A unified architecture | 8:47
Vertical segment targets |12:15
Campus Wi-Fi telemetry capabilities | 14:58
IEEE 1588 precision time protocol’s role | 15:34
Final thoughts/closing | 19:46
About our guests
Mike Powell, director of product Management, wireless broadband communications at Broadcom
And
Ashok Raman, principal product line manager for Broadcom's core switching group
About the Podcast
Marvell has put itself squarely in the AI race by refocusing its efforts on developing data center products and solutions. One of those key areas is co-packaged optics (CPO). Co-Packaged Optics (CPO) integrates optical components (lasers, photodetectors) directly with electrical processing chips (ASICs) in the same package, overcoming limitations of traditional pluggable modules by drastically shortening signal paths.
Having divested other assets, including its automotive business, Marvell is positioning itself in the data center industry. The company made two key acquisitions in 2025 to bolster its data center capabilities: Celestial AI and XConn Technologies. Celestial AI’s Photonic Fabric technology platform enables optical I/O for package-, system-, and rack-level connectivity in data center infrastructure. Marvell’s acquisition of XConn broadens its data center switching portfolio with PCIe and CXL products, supporting next-generation AI and cloud infrastructure. Earlier in the year, it debuted a custom AI accelerator (XPU) architecture with integrated co-packaged optics (CPO) technology.
In this new podcast, we talked to Rishi Chugh, Vice President and General Manager, Data Center Switch Business Unit, with Marvell.
Here's a timeline of the interview's key moments:
Opening | 0:00
Host introduction of guests | 0:03
Marvell's push into the data center market | 0:35
The co-packaged optics CPO opportunity | 2:22
CPO’s influence on power | 5:24
Data center scale-up | 6:47
CPO skill sets | 8:33
Complementing CPO | 10:40
Final thoughts/closing | 13:04
About our guest
In this new podcast, we talked to Rishi Chugh, VP and General Manager of Data Sense Data Center Switch Business Unit with Marvell.
About the Podcast
Ripple Fiber sees an opportunity to address America’s underinvestment in fiber broadband infrastructure. The company, founded by broadband entrepreneur Greg Wilson, views itself as a disruptor in the U.S. fiber broadband market.
In this latest episode, we talked with Greg Wilson, founder and CEO of Ripple Fiber, a Charlotte-based independent fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) provider founded in 2021.
Greg leads the company's expansion, which aims to build 1.5 million new passings across 15 states over the next five years, following a 2025 merger with fellow fiber broadband provider Hyperfiber.
Here's a timeline of the interview's key moments:
Opening | 0:00
Host introduction of guests | 0:03
Ripple Fiber's emergence | 0:39
The Ripple Fiber brand | 2:15
A local feel | 3:42
Working with communities | 5:14
Broadband competition | 6:59
Cable’s response | 8:52
Ripple Fiber’s expansion strategy | 9:54
Broadband provider consolidation |12:04
Fiber broadband speeds |12:51
Business services |14:22
Wholesale services | 16:06
Convergence | 17:15
Fiber shortages |17:38
Final thoughts | 18:44
About the Podcast
When the FCC cut E-Rate funding for mobile hotspots & school bus Wi-Fi in September 2025, it threatened internet access for millions of students – hitting low-income and rural students hardest and worsening the digital divide. Nearly 20K schools & libraries were counting on more than $27.5 million to ensure children and families stay connected, but now they’ve been left out to dry.
But Mission Telecom is serving up a solution to protect affordable Wi-Fi access with a new offer to cover the loss of the revoked E-rate subsidies. The service provider is offering unlimited 4G/5G service at any applicant’s post-discount share of cost on their 471 through June 30, 2026. The new offer builds on Mission Telecom’s Mission-Connect, launched in July, which helped schools and libraries stay connected amidst E-rate uncertainty. Mission-Connect plan delivers affordable, unlimited wireless broadband to schools and libraries with pricing up to 65% below market rates and no contracts.
In this new Broadband Pulse podcast, we talked with Mark Colwell, director of broadband operations at Mission Telecom, about how its new offer will make schools and library budgets whole after the E-Rate cuts.
Here's a timeline of the interview's key moments:
Opening | 0:00
Host introduction of guests |0:03
Mission Telecom’s background | 0:20
FCC’s E-Rate eligibility| 2:04
Mission’s Wi-Fi program | 3:56
Schools and libraries benefiting from Mission’s program| 5:15
Mission Telecom’s Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition (SHLB) partnership | 6:20
Rural communities | 8:02
Computers 4 People partnership | 9:33
Looking towards 2026 and final thoughts | 10:49
Meet our guest:
About the Podcast
In this new Broadband Pulse podcast, we talked to Jared Sonne, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Astound West Region.
During the session, Sonne addressed how Astound Broadband is approaching new opportunities with the government's BEAD program, community and commercial broadband partnerships and its ongoing penetration into the multi-dwelling unit (MDU) market.
About the Podcast
In this latest issue of Building Broadband, we’re tracking new broadband deployments from various providers.
Today, we’re breaking the summary into two parts—highlighting builds for the weeks ending January 16 and January 9.
For the week of January 16, we’re tracking deployments from Comcast, Dobson Fiber, Glo Fiber, Spectrum, STELLAR Broadband and Ziply Fiber.
Then, for the week of January 8, we tracked deployments from Burlington Telecom, Comcast, Fybe, GoNetspeed, Ripple Fiber and Spectrum.
About the Podcast
Unlike previous generations of Wi-Fi that focused on speed, the upcoming Wi-Fi 8 standard (IEEE 802.11bn) focuses on enabling Ultra High Reliability (UHR), consistency, and lower latency in real-world, interference-prone environments.
Broadcom is taking on the Wi-Fi 8 opportunity full force. As AI reshapes how data moves, Broadcom is taking on Wi-Fi 8 with its recently launched BCM4918 Accelerated Processing Unit (APU) and two new dual-band Wi-Fi 8 devices, the BCM6714 and BCM6719.
In this episode, we talked to two key members of Broadcom’s Wi-Fi group about how it is addressing the emerging Wi-Fi 8 opportunity:
Chris Szymanski, director of product marketing for the Wireless Broadband Communications for Broadcom
And
Here's a timeline of the interview's key moments:
Opening | 0:00
Host introduction of guests | 0:03
Broadcom’s CES perspective | 0:44
Broadcom’s Wi-Fi 8 ecosystem | 2:12
The AI factor | 3:53
Enterprise Wi-Fi trends | 7:10
Broadcom’s multi-band Wi-Fi support | 11:18
Addressing vertical markets | 12:19
Addressing cost-sensitive Wi-Fi markets | 14:29
Final thoughts and closing |16:37
About our guests
Chris Szymanski, director of product marketing for the Wireless Broadband Communications for Broadcom
And
Kevin Narimatsu, associate director of product marketing for Wireless Broadband Communications at Broadcom
About the Podcast
From the publisher's feed