ICT Visionaries 2019 — Part 2

Kim Shepherd, CEO, SkyLine / SkyBest: In a highly competitive industry, one of our biggest pain points is exonerating or defending the network, so to speak. We transport our customers’ data without prejudice, and help that data reach its intended destination. When that doesn’t occur, we, the network provider, are usually targeted as the party at fault. If speeds don’t meet expectations or an application fails, we are typically the first source customers turn to, looking for answers. Our technicians must clearly understand various protocols and services, pinpointing the issue’s details. If not, we must play detective to figure it out quickly; otherwise, we are viewed as unprepared. While we want to help resolve their issue, we also want them to understand we weren’t at fault. Oftentimes, many customers don’t fully understand the technology when we do try to explain. Our presence in helping them resolve it only adds to their perception that the problem was ours to begin with.

EDGE DATA CENTERS
TIA says: "As new technologies like Smart Factories, Smart Cities and self-driving vehicles emerge, the ICT industry will be required to provide networks that are much faster and carry larger capacities than what a traditional data center is capable of delivering." In order to keep up with this demand, new Edge Data Centers (EDCs) will need to be positioned much closer to consumers. (Source: https://www.tiaonline.org/)
What physical, software, and other investments, will be required across the access network to make this happen? What is your company doing in this area? Or, what is your position on this subject?

IOT-CENTRIC INITIATIVES
The Internet of Things (IoT) is expanding at an amazing rate. This will only accelerate as 5G availability increases. According to Ericsson’s November 2018 Mobility Report, by 2024 the number of connected devices is forecasted to exceed 22 billion. This year, it is expected that telecom service providers will go to the next IoT level by offering enterprises not only the ability to manage connected devices, but also managing and securing those devices’ entire life cycles. (Source: https://www.ericsson.com/assets/local/mobility-report/documents/2018/ericsson-mobility-report-november-2018.pdf)
How will service providers manage all of the complexity related to being IoT-centric?

FIBER TO EVERYWHERE
Most communications service providers aim to dramatically expand their fiber footprint and fiber equipment deeper in the network to support such things as: C-RAN, densification for wireless, 5G, wireline access, and more. To have fiber and fiber equipment deeper in the network is the answer for sure. The reality of making that happen today is STILL challenging for many reasons.
Share some of the challenges and solutions your company has embraced (or plans to embrace) to get fiber deeper.

Scot Bohaychyk,Manager, Product Marketing, Clearfield: This is analogous to the same "last mile challenge" we see every day with FTTH rollouts — except on steroids. The challenge is getting fiber closer to the end user. Substitute network element in place of home and the challenges are very similar. Space is a large consideration as well as minimizing disruptions to communities and businesses while deploying the required network elements. When looking at 10-20 (or more) nodes per route mile needed to service a coverage area, success gets measured by speed of deployment. With craft friendly products such as Clearfield’s FieldShield pre-connectorized pushable cable assemblies and microduct, service providers are able to meet the fiber deep demand and turn up their network services on time.

NorthState’s fiber expansion encompasses dense fiber penetration to aggressively embrace the future of C-RAN, 5G, and high-bandwidth services throughout our markets. Our robust growth and deployment of intelligent edge equipment is providing NorthState the ability to deliver low-latency/high-bandwidth services to wireless, enterprise, and residential customers.

Ben Goth, VP of Network Services, TDS Telecom: There’s no denying it, consumers and businesses want access to faster, more reliable, high-speed Internet and wireless services — at competitive prices. Driving fiber deeper is the answer, but doesn’t come without challenges.

In northern states, where the ground freezes and snow accumulates for multiple months, challenges relate to above ground enclosures and the requirements for buried construction to install customers while providing access to the network.

In deploying fiber deeper, another challenge is that residents don’t want to see access points or infrastructure in their yard. Clear communication, a quick restoration plan, and solid understanding of the available options are paramount to mitigating friction. A good relationship and frequent communication with the municipality is also critical.

A third challenge is the areas and rights-of-way where utilities have been in place for decades. Records might be outdated. Access to utility pole routes or underground facilities can be an intricate mix of equipment managed by power, gas, water, sewer, and other telecommunications providers. Wireline and wireless providers are trying to coexist in spaces that are already full or not easily accessible.

While not insurmountable, these challenges require planning, ongoing communication, and flexibility, to successfully deploy fiber deeper into the network to satisfy the customer’s appetite for faster, more reliable Internet service.

InvisiLight® Solution for Deploying Fiber

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Episode 10: Fiber Optic Closure Specs Explained…

Food for Thought from Our 2022 ICT Visionaries

AR/VR IN NETWORK OPERATIONS
AR, VR, and Virtual Assistant applications have the potential to help deliver training more effectively, enhance employee communications, improve operational readiness, simplify processes, and increase efficiency, that leads to better experiences for customers. Field Service Technicians that build, install and maintain advanced fiber networks capable of supporting 5G and other important emerging technologies can benefit from practical uses of AR, VR, and Virtual Assistants applications.
What is your organization doing in this area, or what plans does it have to embrace these new tools?

Ashley Travers, Director of Network Engineering & Operations, Verizon: Verizon is committed to providing the best customer service in the industry, and so we are committed to using the most advanced technologies including Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality to train the best employees in the industry. This program helps improve communication and enhance engagement by empowering front-line employees to create and publish their own AR/VR content by leveraging Verizon’s proprietary technology, products, and existing brand portfolio. The Verizon New York City field operations group was the first to launch these tools and content, which was eventually rolled out to over 4,600 Verizon technicians and construction employees in 40 work locations in the 5 boroughs.

NETWORK AS A SERVICE
The global Network as a Service Market is expected to grow from USD 4.3 billion in 2018 to USD 21.7 billion by 2023, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 38.3% during the forecast period. The key factors driving the Network as a Service Market include accelerated adoption of cloud services among enterprises, and an increase in the development of new data center infrastructures.
What do service providers need to do to tap this potential?

Source: The report Network as a Service Market by Type, Application (Sales & Marketing Management, Customer Experience Management, Competitive Intelligence, & Risk Management), Organization Size, Industry Vertical, Deployment Model, & Region – Global Forecast to 2023. (https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/network-as-a-service-market-94208411.html)

WIRELESS AND WIRELINE REALITIES
5G is here. Unfortunately, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to deploy it cost-effectively to the masses. Think of the factors that come into play at both the national and local level: fiber availability, spectrum availability, local regulation, and more. With all of those variables, one thing is certain: 5G requires the wireline and wireless networks to work in concert. And though we may want to think they are unified, there’s still work to do to make that a reality.
On the ground and in the field, what are the top 3 variables for the evolution of the wireline networks?

Jeff Chapman,EVP, Operations, NorthState Communications: Wireline providers have to be nimble and adapt to 5G deployment requirements. As a wireline company, NorthState is heavily engaged with wireless providers and other carrier partners to address the demands of 5G. Here are the top 3 things all wireline providers should be focused on.

1. Wireline providers must streamline pole attachment processes and assist with the development uniformed regulations.
2. Build fiber with high strand counts that are required for 5G and other technologies.
3. Embrace One Touch Make Ready (OTMR); it’s better for everyone.

Quick response: The 5G evolution could occur quicker than many may imagine. Wireline companies with a willingness and ability to respond quickly to the needs of the wireless providers as they evolve to 5G will likely thrive and may see new opportunities arise.

Customer shift: The traditional end user for our services may disappear. With the bandwidth and portability 5G affords, many of our broadband customers may shift those connections to the 5G provider. Our primary customers may become the 5G providers, representing a radical shift in our culture and mindset.

Ashley Travers, Director of Network Engineering & Operations, Verizon:We have spent the last several years working towards our Intelligent Edge Network (IEN), which addresses this precise issue. With the advent of our IEN we have been able to unify transport and virtualize and unify many network core functions so that both our wireless and wireline networks are running on the same foundation and centralized support systems. This is a critical move as we look at the future of technology and how our customers want to utilize communications solutions. On the heels of these changes to our network, we have strategically realigned our organization with the launch of Verizon 2.0 to provide greater access for our customers to our overall portfolio of services.

SMALL CELL CHALLENGES
Initial small cell deployments were 300 to 400 in number per mobile network operator (MNO) but plans for deployment in the next couple of years now call for 5X to 10X that number per metro area, according to Kevin Smithen, partner on the executive team at Digital Bridge. "We have seen an inflection point in demand for small cells. We are on pace to get to north of half of a million nodes in the coming years," Smithen told eDigest, owned by AGL Media Group. "The only thing that is a restraint is a lack of metro fiber and the municipal pole attachment processes are not as seamless as they could be. Right now, demand is outstripping supply. That will sustain us for the next couple of years." (Source: https://www.aglmediagroup.com/small-cell-rollouts-to-grow-dramatically-in-2019/)
What are some additional challenges still confronting service providers in this area? What can be done to help?

NATURAL DISASTER READINESS
The nation saw multiple, unprecedented natural disasters in 2018, from the deadliest wildfire in California’s history to the worst hurricane to hit the East Coast since 1969. Dr. David Easterling, a physical scientist with NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information said, "We expect to see not necessarily more … but the ones that we do have are going to be more powerful. You’re going to have stronger winds and heavier rain. And on top of that, as sea levels continue to rise, then storm surge from those storms will also get worse."
Given these facts, what can the telecom industry do better to respond to these natural disasters?

Jeff Chapman,EVP, Operations, NorthState Communications: Disaster response is a direct reflection of preparedness. If a service provider is not prepared, the event will be felt throughout the company. While most telecom companies have disaster recovery plans, keeping them up-to-date and engaging in ongoing training is key to being ready for these events. As a robust, fiber-based company, NorthState has transitioned to constructing more underground facilities to reduce the impact of natural disasters. Aerial cables are exposed to Mother Nature’s wrath, while underground facilities generally remain untouched.

To learn more about our Visionaries, please visit https://isemag.com/special-sections/.

Look for additional insights in the October issue.

Thank You to our 2019 ICT Visionaries.