In this episode of The Broadband Bunch, host Brad Hine welcomes Fayyaz Patwa, VP of Sales Engineering for Nokia, to discuss the latest innovations driving rural broadband expansion. With over 20 years of telecom experience, Fayyaz shares insights from his recent travels, highlighting how AI and next-generation fiber solutions are shaping the industry. The conversation covers Nokia’s work with regional providers, the importance of future-proof fiber deployments, and real-world success stories. They also explore the growing role of data centers in rural America, how fixed and wireless technologies are closing the digital divide, and what’s next on the roadmap for passive optical networks, including 25G, 50G, and 100G PON.