“The best we can do is size up the chances, calculate the risks involved, estimate our ability to deal with them, and then make our plans with confidence.” - Henry Ford (1863 AD - 1947 AD) “The beginning of wisdom is the definition of terms,” said Socrates nearly 2,500 years ago. Let’s take the word insurance as an example. Many people purchase insurance policies that deliver a premium that protects against a possible loss in personal, property and business settings. However, a broader definition of insurance can include safeguarding against negative outcomes.  Insurance is often seen as ..read more

Public safety radio systems are the backbone of emergency communication. And like any other element of national critical infrastructure, operators of these networks face the challenge of maintaining tight timing accuracy against a backdrop of increasing cyberattacks. Welcome to the simulcast problem  Public safety radio uses a simulcast system. This involves multiple transmitters sending the same signal over the same frequency to ensure broad coverage over a large geographical area. The precise timing of these simultaneous transmissions is crucial to avoid issues like multi-path interfere ..read more

When giving presentations, I sometimes compare how we use electricity to how we use water. The latter is the more efficient system because we turn off the faucet once we’re done washing our hands. But the same can’t always be said for electricity. We all forget to switch off lights now and again, right? And most of us are guilty of leaving computers and other equipment running. Thankfully, we now live in a world where the importance of sustainable energy use is increasingly recognized. But it wasn’t always this way. A journey toward energy efficiency I became Adtran’s energy manager back in 20 ..read more

Electric co-op territories cover 56% of the nation’s landmass. Of the nearly 850 electric distribution cooperatives, about 230 have deployed broadband to date, with several others in various stages of feasibility and investigation. Still, there are at least 14 million electric cooperative members without high-speed internet, presenting a real opportunity for other co-ops to be leaders in broadband just like they have been with electricity.  There are challenges and barriers to entrance faced by other new entrants that electric co-ops simply do not face. Here are some key advantages that s ..read more

The UK was late to the full-fiber party. But when it did finally arrive it was able to do so while reaping the benefits of an emerging technology. In 2016, the ITU released a new fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) standard: 10 Gigabit symmetrical PON, more commonly known as XGS-PON. New entrant challenger operators saw an opportunity to capitalize on this new, higher-capacity solution as a means to differentiate their networks from other competitors. This occurred at a time when the evolving government policies and regulations coupled with declining returns from traditional safe haven investment vehicle ..read more

The growth of smart home devices shows no sign of slowing, with the average home now possessing over 22 devices. All these devices in homes and businesses require reliable, ultra-fast connectivity. In response, service providers have been rolling out faster multigigabit-capable networks to meet the growing bandwidth needs of the multi-user, multi-device home. With the latest evolution of Wi-Fi (Wi-Fi 7), service providers have the right tools to extend multigigabit connectivity into the home and transform the subscriber experience. Wi-Fi evolution  Let's take a step back to understand the ..read more

A new film popped up on Netflix this holiday season called Leave the World Behind. It’s the story of an idyllic family vacation that turns into a harrowing fight for survival. It sheds light on a critical yet often overlooked aspect of modern society: GPS vulnerabilities. While the movie was a mixed bag with an arguably less-than-satisfying ending, its underlying message resonates with growing concerns surrounding our global dependency on GPS technology. The plot follows a family who rent a house in Long Island for a spontaneous getaway. However, their peace is shattered by a series of bizarre ..read more

1) Improved inventory alignment The pandemic caused massive disruption to global supply chains. As a result, operators began stockpiling equipment. But with that period of uncertainty now mainly in the rearview, we expect companies to reduce the stock buffers they’ve built up.  This process has already begun and will accelerate as 2024 progresses. This will free up cash flow and refocus operator efforts on adding new subscribers to their ever-expanding networks. This is good news for customers, and it has the potential to reinvigorate the wider industry. 2) Prioritizing solution efficienc ..read more

It was a sunny Sunday afternoon, and Sprout Fiber Internet’s Mark Freeman was in his backyard cooking steaks and enjoying a gathering with family and friends. Just as he was about to begin serving up the food, he felt a familiar buzz in his pocket.  Recognizing the ID, he reluctantly accepted the call. The person on the other end of the line, a colleague, apologized for the disturbance, explaining that his attention was required. The company’s 100G fiber backbone had just gone down … before immediately coming back online again.  Momentary glitches do occur and many times an operator ..read more

The International Timing and Sync Forum (ITSF) in November is always a major event in the calendar for synchronization professionals. Held this year in Antwerp, Belgium, ITSF 2023 was particularly notable for its record-breaking attendance, with more than 360 delegates from over 34 countries, representing more than 170 companies, as well as for its exceptional organization and great choice of venue. As always, it brought together industry specialists to exchange insights and foster new connections. Our Oscilloquartz team was once again at the forefront, playing a key role in workshops, present ..read more