Verizon's Cory Davis joins the podcast to discuss how the service provider is addressing challenges first responders face, such as interdepartmental communication between public safety agencies and across different networks, and gives a preview of new tactical response tools such as "THOR." 

More on THOR later, but first, Davis, director of public safety operations for Verizon, provides insight into Verizon's Public Safety Communications Survey, and what the results reveal about how new devices and networking technologies can better assist first responders in the field.

In addition, Davis explains why the Verizon Response Team (VRT) launched THOR, the Tactical Humanitarian Operations Response, which is a prototype response vehicle with mobile 4G/5G connectivity and radios. THOR also includes a tethered drone for aerial views, a rear command center, a camera, a six-seat cabin and an exterior touchscreen display.

Sign up today for the Light Reading newsletter.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Light Reading Senior Editor Jeff Baumgartner joins the podcast to provide an update on Astound Broadband and Atlantic Broadband's rebranding efforts. Baumgartner explains why the cable companies are choosing a new moniker, what it means for customers and what to expect next.

Sign up today for the Light Reading newsletter.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Shirley Bloomfield, CEO of NTCA – The Rural Broadband Association, joins the podcast to discuss the challenges facing rural providers when it comes to network deployment and upkeep, and how federal funds from the Biden administration's infrastructure law can best be spent to close the digital divide in the most-underserved areas of the country.

Sign up today for the Light Reading newsletter.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pablo Tomasi, principal analyst of private networks for Omdia, joins the podcast to share key findings from his latest report, "2022 Trends to Watch: Private Networks and the Shadow of 5G." Tomasi explains that while the topic of 5G may give service providers a "marketing hook" when discussing private network options with enterprise customers, 4G LTE offers all the razzle dazzle enterprises need in the near term.

Sign up today for the Light Reading newsletter.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mike Frane, VP of product management for Windstream Enterprise, is back on the podcast to provide his forecast for enterprise trends in 2022 such as cybersecurity, SASE, zero trust access, SD-WAN and more. Frane also discusses how enterprise culture must adjust to the needs of the distributed workforce, and is hopeful that the industry will better understand the "acronym soup" around managed services for enterprises so operators' customers can better customize the networking and security services they need.

Sign up today for the Light Reading newsletter.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mike Dano, editorial director of 5G & mobile strategies for Light Reading, joins the podcast to discuss why AT&T and Verizon are delaying their deployment of 5G networks on the C-band spectrum, the broader industry implications of that delay and what to expect next.

Sign up today for the Light Reading newsletter.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On the podcast this week we present an interview recorded on December 28, just before we took a short New Year's Day break. Light Reading's Jeff Baumgartner and Phil Harvey talked to the Consumer Technology Association's Sayon Deb about the metaverse, the evolution of consumer electronics and where service provider networks fit in. 

As Deb was just about to pack his bags for CES 2022 in Las Vegas, we got his thoughts on why the metaverse is important for businesses and consumers and what kinds of experiences it could unlock now and in the next few years. 

Sign up today for the Light Reading newsletter.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Light Reading Senior Editor Jeff Baumgartner joins the podcast to explain the competitive challenges that virtual multichannel video programming distributors (vMVPDs) are facing as the market becomes more saturated. In addition, vMVPDs face some of the same challenges that their cable counterparts have grappled with for years: YouTubeTV recently warned subscribers that Disney-owned channels may go dark if the companies can't reach a pricing agreement.

Sign up today for the Light Reading newsletter.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Broadband and telehealth consultant Craig Settles joins the podcast to discuss the details of the $65 billion broadband bill, how monopolies have held the US back from closing its digital divide and why getting the rules around implementation right with this latest batch of funding is crucial to serving communities in need.

Sign up today for the Light Reading newsletter.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.