The Five Nine

This week, we sat down with Lumen Technologies CEO Kate Johnson to delve into how AI is changing not just the network, but the culture inside telecom companies.

Just a few years ago, you’d have been forgiven for viewing Lumen as something of a company on the outs. Though company executives talked for years about transforming from a traditional telecom to a technology company, Lumen’s strategy was – to put it kindly – an enigma to analysts and investors alike. And the promised turnaround failed to materialize as the company battled declines in its legacy business segments.

When Johnson, a former Microsoft executive, took the helm in late 2022, things quickly felt different. Not only did she lean into hard changes – like cutting the dividend and reallocating capital from less successful initiatives to strengthen its core fiber backbone – but Johnson also articulated a new vision for the company – not just to investors but also employees. Soon after, the AI wave broke, setting the stage for Lumen to conveniently pitch itself as THE network needed to support the tech. A big Microsoft partnership and $5 billion worth of AI networking contracts later and voila. The tide has turned.

As telcos the world over grapple with AI, we set out to learn more about what went into developing Johnson’s strategy for the company, how AI is shaping its plans, and how Lumen is hoping to defend its position against fast followers to its playbook.

To learn more about the topics in this episode:

• Exclusive: New CEO Kate Johnson talks what it’ll take to turn Lumen around
  https://www.fierce-network.com/telecom/exclusive-new-ceo-kate-johnson-talks-what-itll-take-turn-lumen-around
• Lumen’s CTO wants to weave a fresh fabric for the cloud’s future
  https://www.fierce-network.com/cloud/exclusive-lumens-new-cto-wants-weave-fresh-fabric-clouds-future
• Lumen’s got its eye on the AI gold rush
  https://www.fierce-network.com/broadband/lumens-got-its-eye-ai-gold-rush
• AI could breathe new life into Lumen
  https://www.fierce-network.com/broadband/lumens-saving-grace-may-be-long-haul-fiber-demand-driven-ai
• Network is new scarce resource and that’s good news for Lumen
  https://www.fierce-network.com/cloud/microsoft-taps-lumens-fiber-network-help-it-meet-ai-demand

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While Wi-Fi has become a common expectation of any modern building, it is interesting to see that individuals and businesses alike are increasingly relying on mobile data indoors, where an estimated 70-80% of mobile traffic originates.

This is the topic of discussion in this latest episode of The Five Nine Podcast as we’re joined by CommScope experts Upendra Pingle, Senior VP of Intelligent Cellular Networks, and Kevin Swank, Product Marketing Strategist of Intelligent Cellular Networks.

Sitting down to discuss the trends, challenges, and opportunities of in-building wireless, Pingle kicks things off by emphasizing that connectivity is becoming the "fourth utility," essential for supporting applications like voice, video, and emerging tech.

Building on this, Swank highlights some of the key use cases of in-building wireless today, such as cellular bandwidth in stadiums and supporting robotic manufacturing processes. Further, the duo also dive into the challenges of indoor signal penetration at higher frequencies.

Listen to the full episode to explore how in-building cellular tech is shaping industries like entertainment, healthcare, and education.

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This week Fierce Network’s Linda Hardesty delves into the topic of fiber optic sensing. 

When we think of fiber, we often just think of those little cables that connect us to the internet. But it turns out that fiber optic cables can be used for more…much more. 

Fiber optic sensing is basically the idea that fiber optic cables can sense vibrations in their vicinity and that can have several interesting uses. Linda spoke with Dr. Paul Dickinson, who’s the Chairman of the Board for the Fiber Optic Sensing Association, a Washington DC-based non-profit. 

Together, Linda and Paul walked through what FOS is, how it works and how it’s being implemented in a trial being done by the Texas 811 call center.  

To learn more about the topics in this episode: 

• Fiber optic cables can do more than just broadband https://www.fierce-network.com/broadband/fiber-optic-cables-can-do-more-just-broadband 

• Comcast slashes time to find fiber cuts from 2 hours to 2 minutes https://www.fierce-network.com/tech/comcast-finds-fiber-cuts-faster-upcycled-optical-analyzers 

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This week, we’re going to take an in-depth look at an interesting question: “What is broadband without affordability?”

The United States government is poised to spend more than $42 billion on broadband expansions across the country in a quest to bring internet connectivity to every citizen. But the recent collapse of the government’s Affordability Connectivity Program – which provided monthly subsidies to help eligible citizens pay for their broadband service – has raised a critical question. What use is broadband availability if the people who need it can’t afford the service?

In this episode, we’ll chat with GiGi Sohn, a former FCC nominee who is currently the Executive Director of the American Association for Public Broadband and Secretary for the Affordable Broadband Campaign.

We’ll also speak with Jake Varn, from the Pew Charitable Trusts’ Broadband Access Initiative team.

Together, we’ll try to wrap our arms around what broadband affordability really means, why it matters and what will happen to programs like BEAD in the U.S. if people can’t afford the services that are built to connect them.

Register for our upcoming Broadband Nation Expo here and use code DIANA200 for a special discount on your conference pass: https://www.broadbandnationexpo.com/usbroadbandsummitcom/register

To learn more about the topics in this episode:

• Affordable Connectivity Program is over – now what? https://www.fierce-network.com/broadband/affordable-connectivity-program-over-now-what
• Court upholds low-cost internet law in blow to ISPs https://www.fierce-network.com/broadband/court-upholds-low-cost-internet-law-blow-isps
• Top 3 takeaways from Fierce’s panel on broadband affordability https://www.fierce-network.com/broadband/top-3-takeaways-fierces-panel-broadband-affordability

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This week, we’re bringing you the story of a startup chasing an absolutely fascinating concept, one CEO Rodolfo Rossini told us he believes could revolutionize computing and make his company the next Nvidia.

It sounds crazy, but trust me, you want to hear more.

The startup is called Vaire Computing and its play is focused on something called reversible computing. Like any new tech it’s complicated, but what you need to know is that reversible computing chips have the potential to be vastly more energy efficient and generate significantly less heat – almost zero, in fact – than traditional silicon. That’s a big deal for the cloud and data center industries, which are struggling to cope with rising power and cooling demands in the face of a wave of AI traffic.

Together, we walk through what reversible computing is, what problems it is aiming to solve and what it will mean for current compute titans like Nvidia, Intel and AMD if Vaire’s bet pays off.

To learn more about the topics in this episode:

• Watch out Nvidia: AI startup bets big on reversible computing https://www.fierce-network.com/cloud/watch-out-nvidia-ai-startup-bets-big-reversible-computing
• Could GPU power levels break the data center ecosystem? https://www.fierce-network.com/cloud/could-gpu-power-levels-break-data-center-ecosystem
• Data center operators want to run chips at higher temps. Here’s why.  https://www.fierce-network.com/cloud/data-center-operators-want-chips-run-hotter-heres-why

Want to keep listening? You can find all our episodes of The Five Nine right here.

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Diana Goovaerts talks with MTA's Jessica Gilbert, director of marketing and communications for the Alaska operator. How is rural broadband infrastructure different from infrastructure builds in other areas? Gilbert talks about the challenges of serving Alaska's very rural communities as well as meeting the demands of an influx of new residents who expect fast, reliable broadband internet service.

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Low CAPEX in wireless infrastructure is predicted for 2024. But networks never sit still, as Jason Hill, managing director and global head of digital infrastructure at Houlihan Lokey, says in this week's podcast. And the need to evolve and upgrade will drive investments into 2025.

Host: Alejandro Pinero

Producers: Matt Rickman, Samantha Bookman

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“Without high-speed internet, you cannot be an American citizen.” Joe Costello, CEO of Kwikbit Internet, is clear: to live and survive in the modern United States, you need access to reliable, fast, and affordable internet. However, this is still a challenge in many remote, rural and deprived areas across the United States.

This week, we speak to Costello, whose company focuses on deploying high-speed internet exclusively to recreational vehicles and mobile homes in trailer parks, an area, according to Costello, which has largely been forgotten by incumbents and smaller ISPs alike. 

Read more at Fierce Wireless: https://www.fiercewireless.com/modernization/kwikbit-ceo-joe-costello-stresses-importance-affordable-fast-internet-all

Host: Alejandro Pinero

Producers: Matt Rickman, Samantha Bookman

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Stephen Rose, General Manager of Global Industries at IBM, and Alex Sinclair, CTO of the GSMA, join our podcast to discuss their new partnership aiming to grant telcos of all sizes access to the power of generative AI and accelerate its adoption across the telecommunications sector.

Host: Alejandro Pinero

Producers: Matt Rickman and Sam Bookman

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This year will be pivotal for states trying to connect their communities to high-speed broadband and build future-proof networks. Catch up with two experts deeply entrenched in helping develop, roll out and build broadband networks across the United States.

Jay Rolls, CTO of Broadband Success Partners, and David Strauss, a veteran of the cable and telecommunications industry, discuss what it will take to fully close the broadband gap in the United States.

Host: Alejandro Pinero

Producers: Matt Rickman, Samantha Bookman

Read the deeper article on our website: https://www.fiercewireless.com/modernization/podcast-broadband-success-partners-next-steps-closing-digital-divide

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