Brett Turner

Fiber operators love to talk about homes “passed.” But what does that really mean? I recently spoke with an operator who proudly claimed a stretch of riverbank homes had been passed with fiber. The catch? The fiber was on the opposite side of the river. No bridge. No access. Just a tantalising line of connectivity… out of reach. This isn’t just a one-off. It’s a reflection of a deeper issue: the gap between deployment metrics and actual usability. Operators are under pressure to show rollout progress, but in chasing numbers, they’re often building infrastructure that’s technically “there” but functionally useless. And now they face the real challenge - converting those “passed” homes into connected, paying customers. That’s going to take more than trenching cable. It’ll require better planning, more grounded definitions, and a focus on user experience, not just spreadsheets. We can do better. But first, we have to get real about what “passed” really means. #Fiber #Connectivity #Broadband #Telecom #Infrastructure #CustomerExperience

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From coast to coast (and under a river), Lumen Technologies is building infrastructure for the future.   Tune in for the last episode of our Big Build series, where we explore how our partnership with MasTec Communications Group is making this fiber expansion possible.   Watch the full video here: https://lnkd.in/g4-Viq7c 

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Two big stories out of the Lone Star State this week as Texas was given an extension by NTIA to submit their BEAD Final Proposal with the new due date being October 27, 2025. Texas has also made available up to $200M from the state's broadband fund for middle mile projects with applications due by November 20, 2025. https://lnkd.in/gh39csky

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How do you achieve flawless fiber networks? 1. Testing is the only way to verify the quality of your network. 2. Automated workflow management is vital to an efficient testing process. 3. There’s no one size fits all approach. The right test, assurance and monitoring solutions for your network are entirely dependent on your network topology, operational processes and business models. 4. Partner with VIAVI – versatility and adaptability are built into our portfolio, and we can scale with you as your business grows. Download the brochure now to learn more! #FiberOptics #NetworkTesting #OTDR #FiberInspection #FiberExperts #SmarterTesting

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Why the Right Patch Cable Can Make or Break Your Fiber Testing At Southern FiberLink Solutions, we test tens of thousands of fibers every week in hyperscale data centers — and we’ve learned that one of the smallest components can cause the biggest delays: the patch cable used during OLTS testing. Using reference-grade patch cables that meet strict loss standards (typically < -0.02 dB) is not optional — it’s essential. That little sticker in the patch cable that often gets offer looked can be the difference between profit and loss. Here’s why: ✅ A dirty or subpar patch cable can skew your loss baseline, leading to false failures, inaccurate results, and rework of fiber that was perfectly spliced. ✅ We’ve seen crews who should’ve completed OLTS testing on a 6,912ct cable in 3 days, spend 2-3 weeks troubleshooting because of poor patch cable choices. ✅ Those delays don’t just cost time — they break budgets. In many cases, they can financially crush subcontractors who are working under fixed-rate or milestone-based contracts. In one example, the cost of additional labor and standby time pushed a subcontractor into the red on a job that should have been profitable. All because someone skipped the detail of cleaning and validating their reference cables. Precision matters. Cleanliness matters. Reference-grade cables matter. #FiberSplicing #OLTS #PatchCables #CleanFiberMatters #Hyperscale #DataCenterInfrastructure #SouthernFiberLink #WhyFiberConnectivityMatters #SubcontractorSuccess #SpliceTestDeliver

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📈 U.S. Fiber Deployment Hits an All-Time High — Are We About to Overtake Cable? 📌 In 2025, U.S. fiber broadband providers passed 11.8 million new homes, pushing total FTTH passings to ~98.3 million — nearing the 100 million milestone and now covering over 60% of U.S. households. Average take rates climbed to ~46.5%, with even higher penetration where competitive fiber exists, signaling that fiber-to-fiber competition boosts adoption. 👉 This isn’t just a build number — it suggests fiber could surpass cable broadband as the dominant U.S. platform by ~2028, reshaping competitive strategy and prioritizing investment in both new builds and overbuilds. 🔗 Source: Fiber Broadband Association (FBA) annual deployment survey—a record-breaking year. https://lnkd.in/eVyE-gFW

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A lot of broadband providers can build a good network. Not nearly as many broadband providers can build a good business. ^This will be the difference in BSPs that last vs. BSPs that will plateau and go away or are sold out of necessity in the coming years. #broadband #fiber #sethtalks

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Most people don’t struggle with FTTH because they’re unserious. They struggle because no one ever taught them how it really works on site. After working across every stage of large-scale fiber deployment from planning and survey to home activation I’ve seen the same mistakes repeat themselves, costing teams time, money, and credibility. That’s why I’m opening a FTTH/GPON Beginner Training under Olubunmi Aluko Learning Institute (OALI). This is not just theory. It’s practical, execution-focused training built from real projects. What the training covers: • FTTH & GPON fundamentals (clear, usable understanding) • Site survey methods that prevent losses • Network design that contractors can actually follow • Deployment, testing, and troubleshooting • Customer activation & quality handover What you get: • 5 live virtual sessions • 3 eBooks sent immediately after deposit • Practical templates & checklists • 30-day post-training support • OALI Certification 📅 Mid-January 2026 cohort (17th January) 💰 ₦150,000 (Early bird: ₦120,000 – 12 limited seats) 👉 Reserve your seat and get your eBooks here: https://lnkd.in/eynsJf4B If you want to understand FTTH properly and deliver it confidently, this is for you. #FTTH #FiberOptics #Telecommunications #TelecomTraining #NetworkEngineering #ProfessionalDevelopment #TechnicalSkills #Infrastructure #OALI #LearningThatWorks

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🌐 Why Smart Fiber Fits the Real World? Smart Fiber isn’t about new crews, tools, or workflows. It works seamlessly within your existing manufacturing, installation, and pricing models. The only thing that changes? 💡 What you know, and when you know it Real insight. Real efficiency. Real impact. . . . #F360i #litelinx #smartfiber #fibertech #networkvisibility #telecominnovation #smartinfrastructure #digitalfiber

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Fiber is no longer just a better internet option—it’s a catalyst for economic transformation. According to the Fiber Broadband Association’s 2025 Q1 report, retiring copper and investing in fiber can drive significant economic gains, lower operational costs, and create high-wage jobs across construction, technology, and the supply chain. One standout stat: moving every home to gigabit fiber could add $326 billion to U.S. GDP due to gains in productivity and remote work efficiency. As demand for bandwidth explodes across AI, telehealth, agriculture, and smart cities, the report makes it clear—fiber is the foundation of America’s digital competitiveness. What economic or community benefit have you seen firsthand from fiber broadband deployment? Bobbie Jones Bill Shiver Joshua Lawing Roger Russell BCSS, CCAI, ITIL V3, RICXI Sean Richardson Brittany Collier Schubert Lauren Wilson Shawna Siebenlist David May Donald Jennings Jan Hazelwood #FiberBroadband #DigitalEquity #SmartInfrastructure #Connectivity #EconomicDevelopment #FutureOfWork https://lnkd.in/gxAJVsBD

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