Fiber Focus

Fiber optic cable is not one thing. It is a precision-engineered and manufactured whole that’s greater than the sum of its parts. The high-quality optical fibers, coating, jacketing, strength members – all integral parts and materials – together form the backbone of the digital age. 

In this episode of Fiber Focus, Loren Rapp contributes her insight on this complex supply chain as product line manager for Sumitomo Electric Lightwave’s fiber optic cables. 

She explains how AI- and broadband-driven demand for optical products impacts manufacturers and suppliers alike, then reminds us that the industry has always been about innovation and resilience. Now more than ever, companies that can plan, pivot, and build relationships with multiple vendors are less likely to struggle and far more likely to succeed.

Tune in to this conversation to learn more.

Fiber Focus is a Sumitomo Electric Lightwave podcast. Subscribe, share this episode, and follow Sumitomo Electric Lightwave on LinkedIn and X. 

Episode Links

Connect with Us: https://sumitomoelectriclightwave.com/contact-us/

Loren on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/loren-vitter-rapp-a268a61a/

Meredyth on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/meredythneilly

Fiber Focus pulled James Deane away from his desk for this episode to discuss his work as senior product design engineer for Sumitomo Electric Lightwave’s fiber optic cables. 

Driven to make a positive impact on society through engineering, James considers every person who his work impacts, beginning with material mining and extending all the way through a cable’s lifecycle. Especially as it relates to customers in the AI Boom, he is focused on innovative ways to deliver the high-density bandwidth that network operators need on time with long-term reliability. His customer-centric approach aligns with the company’s, and it includes thoughtful packaging designs and time-saving deployment methods. Tune in to this episode to learn more. 

Fiber Focus is a Sumitomo Electric Lightwave podcast. Subscribe, share this episode, and follow Sumitomo Electric Lightwave on LinkedIn and X. 

Episode Links

Optical Fiber Cable Solutions: https://sumitomoelectriclightwave.com/product-category/optical-fiber-cable-solutions/

James on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-deane/

Meredyth on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/meredythneilly

This episode of Fiber Focus features Josh Seawell, our director of product management, who is enthusiastic about the ways AI is poised to change people’s lives at home and work. For network operators, that potential comes with extraordinary opportunity in the near term to both deliver and seize tremendous value. The path to those customer experiences (and revenue) is through strategic investments in their infrastructure, and the time is now. 

Legacy networks – any infrastructure built with mature technologies, whether greenfield or brownfield – make organizations less competitive and decrease their profits. Josh discusses some of the practical steps that operators can take to better meet the expectations of their customers starting today. Tune in to this conversation to learn more. 

Josh will be among the industry experts speaking at DCD>Connect from March 23-24 at the Marriott Marquis, Times Square in New York.

Fiber Focus is a Sumitomo Electric Lightwave podcast. Subscribe, share this episode, and follow Sumitomo Electric Lightwave on LinkedIn and X.

Episode Links

Redefining “Legacy Network” Blog: https://blog.sumitomoelectriclightwave.com/what-is-a-legacy-network-in-2026

DCD>Connect New York: https://www.datacenterdynamics.com/en/dcdconnect-live/new-york/2026/

Josh on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/joshua-seawell-09770979/

Meredyth on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/meredythneilly

Connect with Sumitomo Electric Lightwave

Website: https://sumitomoelectriclightwave.com
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sumitomoelectriclightwave 

At a time when hyperscale network infrastructure projects are consuming most of the available bandwidth – both literally and figuratively – product manager Yuko Agano is here to let everyone else in on some good news. 

Air-blown fiber technologies are consistently available to ship in two to three weeks! 

Sumitomo Electric Lightwave manufactures air-blown fiber bundles right here in Raleigh, North Carolina, and as a subsidiary of Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. (SEI), benefits from the collective purchasing power and supply chain relationships of 421 subsidiaries and affiliates in more than 40 countries around the world. This ready availability is one bright spot. Another is that air-blown fiber offers network operators some relief from having to compete with larger projects for skilled labor, since it requires fewer technicians and less time to install than conventional cable deployments. 

Tune in to this conversation to learn more. To see FutureFLEX® Air-Blown Fiber® for yourself, connect with us in Booth 1658 at OFC 2026, March 17-19 in Los Angeles, California. 

Fiber Focus is a Sumitomo Electric Lightwave podcast. Subscribe, share this episode, and follow Sumitomo Electric Lightwave on LinkedIn and X. 

Episode Links

FutureFLEX® Air-Blown Fiber®: 

https://sumitomoelectriclightwave.com/product-category/futureflex-air-blown-fiber-solutions/

About Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.: https://sumitomoelectric.com/company

Register for OFC 2026: https://www.ofcconference.org/registration?_gl=1*15rfs7i*_up*MQ..*_ga*NDIxNTg0ODA5LjE3NjU1NzA5MjA.*_ga_WCQ36P9K1M*czE3NjU1NzA5MjAkbzEkZzAkdDE3NjU1NzA5MjAkajYwJGwwJGgw

Yuko on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yuko-agano-504927106/

Meredyth on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/meredythneilly

Connect with Sumitomo Electric Lightwave

Website: https://sumitomoelectriclightwave.com/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sumitomoelectriclightwave 

Sean Kelly, RCDD, general manager and technical director at Light Brigade, visited Sumitomo Electric Lightwave’s headquarters in Raleigh, North Carolina for this episode of Fiber Focus. Early in his nearly 30 years in the industry, Sean helped develop some of the innovative connector products that shape today’s networks. Now his heart is set on evolving and improving the industry through its workforce. These efforts are particularly crucial at this moment, when network demand is skyrocketing and there is only one new technician entering the field for every five that cycle out into management roles or retirement. 

Light Brigade, in partnership with industry-leading organizations, offers certified fiber optic education and hands-on skills training with focus areas that include installation, testing, troubleshooting, engineering, and design. Tune in to this episode to learn more. 

Fiber Focus is a Sumitomo Electric Lightwave podcast. Subscribe, share this episode, and follow Sumitomo Electric Lightwave on LinkedIn and X. 

Episode Links

Light Brigade Certified Fiber Optic Training: https://www.lightbrigade.com/

Sean on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/skelly328/

Meredyth on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/meredythneilly

Connect with Sumitomo Electric Lightwave

Website: https://sumitomoelectriclightwave.com/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sumitomoelectriclightwave 

When the clock is ticking and lead times grow longer, solid manufacturer/customer relationships are invaluable.

In his more than 35 years of telecom experience, senior product manager Greg Pierce has seen it all. He reflects in this episode of Fiber Focus on the state of the industry, especially how massive, AI-fueled demand is straining global manufacturing capacity for fiber optic cabling and connectivity products. This scenario is a familiar one for Greg, who offers some advice for customers navigating supply uncertainty.

He underscores the importance of working closely with trusted suppliers, proactively if possible, and having design flexibility. Solid communication, collaboration, and deep product portfolios enable a creative mix of in-stock and custom products to uniquely meet any given network’s requirements and project timetable. Tune in to this conversation to learn more.

Fiber Focus is a Sumitomo Electric Lightwave podcast. Subscribe, share this episode, and follow Sumitomo Electric Lightwave on LinkedIn and X.

Episode Links
Contact Us: https://sumitomoelectriclightwave.com/contact-us/
Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-pierce-4b977b10/
Meredyth on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/meredythneilly

Connect with Sumitomo Electric Lightwave
Website: https://sumitomoelectriclightwave.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@sumitomoelectriclightwave

Previously on Fiber Focus, we discussed how artificial intelligence and machine learning are rapidly consuming the industry’s supply of high-performance, high-density network products. Loren Rapp dives deeper in this episode.

As Sumitomo Electric Lightwave’s product line manager for fiber optic cable, Loren has day-in and day-out supply chain experience. Listen in for her insights on the creative workarounds that customers can consider when demand is skyrocketing for particular products. For example, pliable ribbon cable, aka intermittent bonded ribbon (IBR) cable, is a precision-manufactured product optimized for the AI factory projects that are racing to ramp up around the world.

What is a customer to do when the IBR product specified on their BOM has a lead time that could result in costly delays? With a creative, collaborative approach, customers and manufacturers can keep projects moving forward together. Tune in to this conversation to learn more.
Fiber Focus is a Sumitomo Electric Lightwave podcast. Subscribe, share this episode, and follow Sumitomo Electric Lightwave on LinkedIn and X.

Episode Links
Regional Sales Managers: https://sumitomoelectriclightwave.com/regional-managers/
Q102-M12+ Fusion Splicer: https://sumitomoelectriclightwave.com/product/q102-m12-plus/
Splicing 200µm to 250µm Fibers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_8zdyjCxkQ
Loren on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/loren-vitter-rapp-a268a61a/
Meredyth on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/meredythneilly

Connect with Sumitomo Electric Lightwave
Website: https://sumitomoelectriclightwave.com/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sumitomoelectriclightwave

A July 2025 Synergy Research Group report projected that hyperscale capacity will increase threefold through the next six years. Josh Seawell, our director of product management, read about the report in Cabling Installation & Maintenance magazine and hopped on this episode of Fiber Focus to discuss it.

While hyperscalers are expected to represent the lion’s share of oncoming demand for fiber optic cabling and connectivity products, colocation providers and private network operators are participating in the AI boom with their own significant infrastructure investments. This demand can certainly strain the supply chain at times, but Josh encourages customers to be aware rather than concerned.

He details several examples of the creative approaches that SEL has taken with customers to troubleshoot extended lead times so they could get their networks up and running (and generating revenue) faster. “Creative” is the operative word. Tune in to this conversation to learn more.

Fiber Focus is a Sumitomo Electric Lightwave podcast. Subscribe, share this episode, and follow Sumitomo Electric Lightwave on LinkedIn and X.

Episode Links
Report Foresees Hyperscalers Dominating Worldwide Data Center Capacity: www.cablinginstall.com/data-center/press-release/55301410/report-foresees-hyperscalers-dominating-worldwide-data-center-capacity-by-2030
Regional Sales Managers: https://sumitomoelectriclightwave.com/regional-managers/
Josh on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/joshua-seawell-09770979/
Meredyth on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/meredythneilly

Connect with Sumitomo Electric Lightwave
Website: https://sumitomoelectriclightwave.com
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sumitomoelectriclightwave 

Yuko Agano returns to Fiber Focus for this episode discussing how air-blown fiber (ABF) technologies can help address rising project costs. With labor making up 60-80 percent of the price tag for a typical network build, streamlining the number of installers and reducing their time on-site can yield significant savings.

As Sumitomo Electric Lightwave’s product manager for FutureFLEX® Air-Blown Fiber® Solutions, Yuko has seen time and again the labor savings that network operators can realize with ABF on their bills of materials. Instead of the five or more people needed to pull conventional cable over many hours or even days, FutureFLEX Solutions can be blown through an existing pathway by two installers in as little as 30 minutes.

Tune in to this conversation to learn more, and join us at ACI-NI in October and BICSI Fall 2025 or Winter 2026 to see a demonstration of FutureFLEX Solutions.

Fiber Focus is a Sumitomo Electric Lightwave podcast. Subscribe, share this episode, and follow Sumitomo Electric Lightwave on LinkedIn and X.

Episode Links
Sumitomo Electric Lightwave Tradeshows:
https://sumitomoelectriclightwave.com/tradeshow-schedule/

FutureFLEX® Air-Blown Fiber®:
https://sumitomoelectriclightwave.com/product-category/futureflex-air-blown-fiber-solutions/

ACI-NI Registration:
https://airportscouncil.org/conference/2025-annual-conference-and-exhibition/#Registration

BICSI Events:
www.bicsi.org/conferences-and-events/bicsi-events/conference-and-exhibitions

Yuko on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yuko-agano-504927106/
Meredyth on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/meredythneilly

Connect with Sumitomo Electric Lightwave
Website: https://sumitomoelectriclightwave.com/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sumitomoelectriclightwave

“This will be the field I retire. I love it. I’d never heard of it before.”

After serving in the U.S. Navy, Andrew Degidio embarked on a new career journey in telecom. He got his start as a field service engineer without ever laying eyes on a fusion splicing machine, and now he is Sumitomo Electric Lightwave’s senior technical manager focusing on fusion splicer development and support.

In this episode of Fiber Focus, Andrew shares his perspective on how well the military prepares people for stable, well-paying industry roles. Beyond the training, troubleshooting, and hands-on experience that Andrew gained in the Navy, his demonstrated willingness to learn and rise to challenges primed him for industry success. Tune in to this conversation to learn more.

Fiber Focus is a Sumitomo Electric Lightwave podcast. Subscribe, share this episode, and follow Sumitomo Electric Lightwave on LinkedIn and X.

Episode Links
Be Part of a Global Company: https://sumitomoelectric.com/careers
Fusion Splice Training and Certification: https://fiber-aws.pearson.com/fusion-splicing-micro-register
Andrew on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-degidio-094bb896/
Meredyth on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/meredythneilly

Connect with Sumitomo Electric Lightwave
Website: https://sumitomoelectriclightwave.com/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sumitomoelectriclightwave