Limitless Opportunity Ahead

Exclusive highlights from the executive panel discussion at ISE EXPO 2024 with six telecom leaders.

At ISE EXPO this year, I once again had the honor of hosting our executive panel discussion. Six executive leaders in the telecom industry joined me for a live discussion that leveraged the collective wisdom of these individuals and got to the heart of what’s facing the industry as a whole right now.

ISE Magazine is pleased to provide insights to our readers from these executives pertaining to AI and machine learning in the telecom world, the BEAD program, where the industry is headed, and more. They also share some thoughts about leadership and productivity that they’ve learned over the course of their successful careers.

A panel such as this is a rare opportunity to hear from a group of telecom leaders gathered together to talk about what’s on their mind. I hope you find their words insightful, thought-provoking, and inspiring.

Topic: AI and the Network

ISE: The AI Network Intelligence market is forecasted to grow 40% by 2029. By 2035, it could improve construction profitability by 71%. Many providers use AI to tame network complexity, reduce OpEx, and enhance network performance management. What are you seeing in the market related to the impact of AI in network operations?

Kevin Morgan, Clearfield: When it comes to fiber networks, one of the biggest operator challenges to keep up with is cross connect assignments and inventory records within a fiber distribution hub (FDH) cabinet. We are encouraged to see AI applications being developed to help alleviate these issues.

Think of this as an improvement best practice. A technician arrives at a job site to connect fiber to a customer’s premises. Besides the drop cable, terminal, and entrance cable for the home, the technician needs to travel to a cross connect cabinet to activate the passive optical network (PON) splitter in centralized split configuration. With AI, the technician can open the cabinet, take a picture and let AI create an accurate inventory of the available fibers. That way, the service tech can gain confidence in successfully turning up a customer on time.

Paul Sulisz, Congruex: We have access to more and more data, and the relationships within those data sets are becoming more complex. The best way to tame that data overload and make meaningful decisions on our operations—and to optimize our operations in real-time or near real-time—is to use AI.

Randall René, Esri: The AI Network Intelligence market is experiencing a significant transformation, with forecasts indicating a 40% growth by 2029 and potential improvements in construction profitability by 71% by 2035. At Esri, we observe that many telecommunications providers are seeking, and increasingly, leveraging, AI to manage network complexity, maximize capital expenditures (CapEx), reduce operational expenditures (OpEx), and enhance network performance and management.

AI's ability to analyze vast amounts of data quickly and accurately is a game changer. For instance, AI-driven predictive maintenance can preemptively identify potential network failures, allowing for proactive measures rather than reactive responses. This not only reduces downtime but also lowers maintenance costs. Additionally, AI is instrumental in optimizing network traffic, ensuring efficient data flow and minimizing congestion, which is crucial as data consumption continues to surge.

Kevin Czaicki, Millennium: AI is reshaping the industry and changing how we build and manage networks. Construction of networks is increasing efficiency, and sustainability. In construction, real-time AI sensors and cameras enhance safety protocols and quality control, while predictive analytics streamline planning and resource management.

Autonomous construction equipment and collaborative AI tools will also optimize operations. In network management, think about any repetitive tasks. AI tackles complexity and boosts performance, ensuring resilience and efficient handling of growing demands.

Kirk Smith, UniTek: The noticeable impact AI appears to be having in the immediate timeframe regarding UniTek is twofold. The first being related to the procurement process, and the second involving the design, engineering, permitting, and utility-locating processes. Many providers are outsourcing RFP/bidding procedures to third party admins who are beginning to utilize AI/ML in the process of project-bidding/pricing negotiations. And while the impact of AI in the design, engineering, permitting, and utility locating space is limited today, I expect the technology to have a meaningful impact on these processes of network build-out within the next one to three years.

Going forward, I expect AI/ML applications to quickly begin to drive efficiencies throughout the project management process. This application is available in a limited form today, but I expect this will change drastically over the coming few years.

Charles Harlow, Vitruvi Software: The rapid acceleration of AI and its accessibility has been astonishing. In 2014, the world saw the advent of fringe developers devising AI-driven cameras being utilized for diabetic retinopathy. Today, in 2024, we’re seeing the same groundbreaking technology, and similar advances in lidar imagery—in sync with satellite, drones and mobile phones—being used to automate processes that have traditionally been labor intensive.

We see strong and pointed effort has been made on the preconstruction engineering tasks that have historically been accomplished with multiple team members, contractors, and service-oriented groups. One example being make ready validation. Traditionally a manual pole by pole, attachment by attachment endeavor. This, by comparison, can now be breezed through with the help of AI to accurately gather pole attachment heights, label photographs accordingly, convert imagery to GIS or CAD based data, identify safety concerns, and more. Subsequently, this same technology can be utilized for the completion of projects or tasks to ensure compliance with an organization or municipal’s standards.

Topic: BEAD Funding

ISE: Share your opinion on how the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) process is going and how state Broadband Development Offices (BDOs) will impact funding allocations.

Morgan, Clearfield: The process is taking way too long. We are approaching 1,000 days since Congress appropriated funding for BEAD and we are still a long way from that money hitting the street for shovel ready projects to the areas that need broadband the most. It seems everyone is waiting for final NTIA-approved maps that define project areas. Until the project area locations are approved by the state and the NTIA, the Subgrantee Selection Process clock does not start. The states cannot confirm deals with any specific carrier until they have plans in place to cover 100% of BEAD homes.

In our discussions with state BDOs, we know they are very active in preparing the necessary paperwork required by the NTIA. There are a lot of back-and-forth negotiations with the NTIA especially when it comes to serving the most challenging locations. Given these constraints, BDOs may be tempted to hit the EASY button in order to meet deadlines rather than develop the most comprehensive coverage plans.

Sulisz, Congruex: I think it’s going as expected.

What we are undertaking is complex, and it's critical that private industry continue to partner with the government at all levels to ensure we get the most out of this opportunity. There is clearly a significant private money injection into broadband buildouts around the country currently, and the race to plant flags continues to accelerate. So, where relevant, how we incorporate BEAD into the existing rollouts and plans must evolve to ensure the timing enables our builds.

René, Esri: I believe the BEAD program represents a pivotal moment for the telecommunications industry. The process is gradually unfolding, and we're witnessing a collaborative effort between state BDOs and service providers to ensure equitable funding allocation. These state BDOs play a critical role in assessing local needs and challenges, thus ensuring that funds are directed to areas that will benefit the most from enhanced connectivity.

Esri's location intelligence tools are proving invaluable in this setting. By providing detailed, granular data on broadband coverage and underserved areas, our solutions help state BDOs make informed decisions about where to allocate resources. This ensures that investments are targeted effectively, allowing regions to bridge the digital divide while fostering economic growth in previously underserved communities.

Czaicki, Millennium: As expected, it is the government. It will be better to discuss this when there are more updates from the states.

Smith, UniTek: BEAD is moving ahead at a much slower than originally anticipated rate due to, what I see as the typical communication issues between industry and government regulatory and funding organizations. My view is that BEAD isn’t likely to have a major impact on our piece of the broadband industry until mid-2025 or later.

BDOs within each state could serve to help organize efforts from state to state as well as speed up the process within their given states if they’re able to find efficient ways to proactively prepare individual awards and disburse funds in a timely manner so the carriers can begin the process of choosing the appropriate partners and building the networks.

Harlow, Vitruvi Software: BEAD has been a main talking point for many months now. It appears the industry is gearing up for a long wait before actual funding occurs. Sentiment with most, not all states, is that we’re well into the five-year BEAD process and still haven’t seen a broad swatch of awards or allocations of funds. The five-year action plans were meant for just that, five years. Without an extension period added to the BEAD programs in general, there is a lack of clarity as to what happens to the funds beyond that point. One other topic that often comes up would be permitting.

Permitting will be the largest throttling factor to the BEAD project in general. We’ve seen post-pandemic permitting offices are having issues with large volumes of work. A great example being an operator forecasting 200,000’ in a market and only being allowed 35-50,000’ per week due to permits not being approved on time. This affects an operators take rate, time to construct, the number of crews in market, so on and so forth.

The state’s BDOs have been the tip of the spear to spread BEAD communication to the rural areas and organizations who will be directly impacted by BEAD. This communication will be key to help build the relationships needed to help with permitting woes our industry is currently facing.

Topic: Crystal Ball for the ICT/Telecom Landscape

ISE: What’s next for our industry?

Morgan, Clearfield: Smart Cities fit neatly into my crystal ball. As we evolve with data and the emergence of things like Web 3 technologies such as blockchain, artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning (ML), we can now start to think of these as new “tools” for smart cities. All these tools are going to help us interact with the built environments for a safer, more secure setting of better-inspired spaces. Fiber optic networks are the foundational necessity that enable these tools.

Beyond that, we at Clearfield are looking at edge computing which involves putting the components that make up a data center into a ruggedized environment closer to the end users that source the data. With this architecture in place, we can envision the Internet of Buildings where networked buildings, along with street furniture, digital signage, autonomous vehicles, drones, traffic signals, and EV charging stations are all networked over the fiber network. That is really where the aspiration starts to benefit society.

Sulisz, Congruex: I think that AI/ML will infiltrate more and more of our value chain, and our adoption of data-driven approaches, going paperless end to end, will be accelerated more broadly.

From how we accelerate through market assessments through design to handing over the keys to a built network and to operations, there are more and more applications for AI/ML that will streamline our processes and allow us to optimize in new ways.

René, Esri: Looking ahead, the ICT/telecom landscape is poised for several transformative trends. Firstly, the deployment of 5G networks will continue to accelerate, bringing unprecedented speed and connectivity. This will help enable the deployment of IoT devices, smart agriculture, smart cities, connectivity in homes, and enabling autonomous vehicles, all fundamentally changing how we live and work.

Secondly, sustainability will increase as a central focus. As network demands grow, so does the need for energy-efficient solutions. We see a significant push towards greener technologies and practices within the industry, driven by both regulatory pressures and corporate social responsibility.

Lastly, the convergence of AI, ML, and location intelligence will open new frontiers. These technologies will drive innovation in network management, customer experience, and service delivery, making networks smarter, more resilient, and more responsive to user needs.

Czaicki, Millennium: My crystal ball is clear on consolidation, it will accelerate, and technologies will converge for the telecom landscape.

Smith, UniTek: It is my belief that the next major driver of industry opportunities within this specific segment of the broadband market will be the continuing efforts in developing more robust data center infrastructures, and the required bandwidth connections that go along with them. For hyperscalers to deliver the services required by industry participants in pushing AI and ML deeper into their service offerings, there’ll be a corresponding increased demand for additional broadband infrastructure in support of those efforts.

The data center developers are, and will continue to be, challenged to find two necessary resources, the first being available resources to power the centers and the next is building the infrastructure required to deliver the large amounts of bandwidth requirements AI/ML applications are required to have to serve their intended purposes.

Harlow, Vitruvi Software: The explosion of PE backed - Municipal Open Access Networks. The race for hyperscalers.

Topic: Your Productivity Superpower

ISE: What is your superpower, and what do you wish it would be?

Morgan, Clearfield: Even though my role is Chief Marketing Officer at Clearfield, my education background is engineering. I graduated with a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering years ago. Engineers are trained to excel at problem solving. So, I would have to rank “problem solving” up there as my top superpower.

As I progressed through my career and worked my way up in management, I have tried to develop and enhance the skill of active listening. Active listening is my desired superpower. The superpower of problem solving and active listening combines the ability to understand complex issues deeply while empathetically hearing others’ perspectives.

This dual strength allows me to uncover solutions that are not only effective but also considerate of all stakeholders’ needs and concerns. Whether tackling personal challenges or navigating professional hurdles, this approach ensures thoughtful, well-rounded resolutions that foster understanding and collaboration.

Sulisz, Congruex: Plan and focus on a handful of tasks that are most important, regimented in blocking out time every day to plan out those items each morning, so by the time I’m on deck, I can decipher the priority of things coming at me.

I try to manage my calendar 2-3 weeks out and block out time to think and work deeply.

René, Esri: If I had to identify my productivity superpower, it would be the ability to leverage AI tools to synthesize vast amounts of information quickly and distill it into actionable insights. This skill is particularly valuable in a rapidly evolving field like telecommunications, where staying ahead of trends and making data-driven decisions is crucial.

However, if I could wish for an additional superpower at work, it would be the ability to instantly understand and predict market shifts with absolute accuracy. While we use sophisticated tools and analytics to forecast trends, the ability to foresee changes with complete certainty would be an invaluable asset, enabling us to navigate the future with even greater confidence and agility.

Czaicki, Millennium: My productive superpower: Empathy, lead without a title. I wish it would be: Keep it simple, stupid (K.I.S.S.).

Smith, UniTek: The ability to focus on one task at a time, while not losing track of other needs.

Flying. It would be nice to have the ability to be physically present where and when I need to be on a weekly basis without requiring an airplane to get there!

Harlow, Vitruvi Software: Making the complex – simple. A simpler way of making things simpler.

About Our Six Distinguished Leaders