Ken Sandfeld

Fixing what isn’t broken: why the CRTC should rethink broadband labels | The Hill Times https://lnkd.in/gz48K4kU "Rather than enhancing transparency, a mandatory label risks becoming a costly distraction from the issues that matter most to consumers."

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The "Last Mile" in Texas isn't on the ground. It’s 550km up. The definition of "broadband infrastructure" is officially changing. According to Texas Standard, Starlink is now poised to become the largest provider of federally supported broadband in underserved parts of Texas under the BEAD program. But there is a catch: SpaceX is actively pushing back on the federal pricing and coverage requirements attached to that funding. The Friction Point: The Shift: Federal rules were recently updated to allow satellite providers to compete for BEAD funding, acknowledging that fiber simply cannot reach every ranch and rural community in Texas economically. The Sticking Point: Government programs are designed around "utility-style" regulations (fixed pricing, guaranteed 100% coverage). LEO networks operate on dynamic capacity and global pricing models. The Stakes: If Texas and SpaceX can find a middle ground, it establishes the precedent for how the rest of the $42 billion BEAD fund gets deployed across the US. My Take: Texas is the perfect testbed for this. We are watching the collision of "Old Telecom Policy" (which assumes cables) and "New Space Reality" (which assumes beams). The regulators want the stability of fiber; the market needs the ubiquity of satellite. The winner of this negotiation will dictate the speed of digital inclusion for the next decade. In my view, flexibility is the only way forward. You can't regulate a constellation the same way you regulate a copper wire. #DCSTELECOM #CreativeTechnologies #TexasStandard #Starlink #BEAD #Broadband #DigitalDivide #Infrastructure #TelecomPolicy

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Very interesting reading here from Matt Yardley and team. Rural connectivity projects succeed, in my experience, when three conditions are satisfied 1. Policy makers are politically and financially committed to the outcome 2. The project funds fibre roll out 3. The incumbent is not involved. The world is littered with projects that have failed but, when these three conditions are met, the policy gets delivered.

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If you are looking to become more familiar with your FTTx technology and architecture options, you should check out our new BY DESIGN blog series.

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This is really leapfrogging an already established industry, Impressive! Many may not be aware but Craig McCaw and Bill Gates did start the LEO vision in 1990's with a company called Teledesic https://lnkd.in/gcn_6mXF

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🎙️ ALYNMENT Podcast - Where Connectivity Leaders Talk ALYNMENT brings together industry leaders to share insights on the future of wireless networks, spectrum innovation, and real-world deployments. Recent episodes feature: 🔹 Masoud Olfat, President of OnGo Alliance – unpacking the growth of CBRS, spectrum sharing, and what’s next for wireless innovation. 🔹 Chintan Fafadia, Director of Client Success at Icomera – exploring how next-gen connectivity is transforming transportation for passengers & operators. This is your go-to resource for staying ahead of spectrum, edge, and private network trends. 🎧 Catch up on every episode here: https://lnkd.in/egzdV5Xw #ALYNMENTPodcast #Private5G #CBRS #PrivateLTE #WirelessInnovation #SpectrumSharing #EdgeComputing #DigitalTransformation #Connectivity #5G #IoT #FutureOfConnectivity

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Implementing rigorous fiscal oversight within the 21 billion dollar ACP Extension Act represents a pivotal opportunity to modernize the technical frameworks of American telecommunications. By transitioning toward an audited model, we can address the legacy bureaucratic hurdles that often stall infrastructure projects. This approach encourages the standardization of site acquisition and zoning protocols, ensuring that capital is deployed toward physical assets rather than being dissipated by administrative friction and municipal delays. The emphasis on accountability directly facilitates the streamlining of permitting and regulatory compliance. Current initiatives are targeting "shot clocks" that mandate review timelines of 60 to 90 days, significantly accelerating the deployment of fiber and small cell technology. Reducing procedural bottlenecks regarding NEPA and right of way access ensures that technical milestones are achieved with greater precision, which is essential for maintaining the momentum of national connectivity. Ultimately, a lean and transparent funding structure fosters a stable landscape for long term private investment and technical innovation. By resolving long standing obstacles in the infrastructure lifecycle, we build a resilient digital backbone capable of meeting future capacity demands. This focus on efficiency and fiscal sanity ensures that our national infrastructure build out remains sustainable and results oriented. #BroadbandInfrastructure #Telecommunications #RegulatoryReform #SiteAcquisition #FiscalAccountability

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Optimum Q4 Earnings: 𝗟𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝟰𝟵,𝟬𝟬𝟬 𝗽𝗮𝘆 𝗧𝗩 𝘀𝘂𝗯𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗤𝟰 (lost 252,000 for the year) to end 2025 with 1.63 million subs. Lost 62,000 broadband users, to end 2025 with 4.2 million broadband subs. Added 12,000 fiber broadband customers. Q4 2025 broadband ARPU of $76.71, up 2.8% YoY. Residential ARPU was $134.49, up 0.4% YoY. Total revenue of $2.18 billion in Q4 2025, down 2.3% yYoY and $8.6 billion in FY 2025, down 4.1% YoY. Earnings release: https://lnkd.in/ekckHNax - #cordcutting #altice #paytv #streamingmedia

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Excellent work by the engineering team at CableAML in developing a fully integrated standalone model featuring both a 5G Core and VoIP PBX. A similar system architecture has been successfully deployed in military applications, utilizing satellite connectivity for secure communications with headquarters.

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Let’s keep BEAD from building yesterday’s networks tomorrow... Congress defined Priority Broadband Projects with two prongs: 100/20 Mbps today, and the ability to easily scale for tomorrow. That second prong only applies to PBPs — and it’s what makes them “priority.” If states don’t enforce it in SUBGRANTEE AGREEMENTS, they risk legal challenges, clawbacks of provisional awards, and wasted taxpayer dollars. (Full explanation in the first comment ↓)

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The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has approached the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) for recommendations on pricing and auction modalities for several spectrum bands, including 800 MHz, 900 MHz, and 1800 MHz, among others. Spectrum Bands Under Review: The DoT seeks TRAI's input on reserve prices, band plans, block sizes, quantum of spectrum to be auctioned, and associated conditions for the following bands: 800 MHz 900 MHz 1800 MHz 2100 MHz 2300 MHz 2500 MHz 3300 MHz 26 GHz 600 MHz (specifically, the 612-652 MHz and 663-703 MHz ranges) The 600 MHz Band Consideration: The 600 MHz band, which saw no takers in the 2022 auction, is being reconsidered. The DoT noted that this band has not been identified at the regional or global level for International Mobile Telecommunication (IMT) in the ITU Radio Regulations. Therefore, fresh consultations with TRAI are deemed necessary before putting this band up for auction. Newly Identified Bands: TRAI has also been asked to examine the possibility of auctioning the newly identified 6,425-6,725 MHz and 7,025-7,125 MHz bands. Recommendations are sought on auction timing, band plans, reserve prices, and terms and conditions for these bands.

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Local termination allows inbound calls to remain within regional telecom networks. This often results in improved call quality and more stable connections, guaranteed CLI delivery compared to blackbox AZ termination. #SIPTrunking #VoIP #DIDs

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SpinLaunch is proud to announce the closing of $30M in new funding to accelerate the continued buildout of Meridian Space, our LEO broadband constellation.    This capital enables continued momentum on several fronts: advancing towards our first customer link in 2026, scaling commercial engagement, and advancing critical technologies. A major step in this journey was the successful full-scale test of our reconfigurable reflectarray antenna, a compact, energy-efficient solution that underpins our low-cost system architecture.   This is satcom reimagined - cost-efficient, easier to deploy, and designed around real customer needs. 🚀 🚀 🚀 🛰️ 🛰️ 🛰️ Jan Helbing David Wrenn Matthew Mejía https://lnkd.in/ekrHn3pY

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In multifamily, reliable Wi‑Fi has become a basic utility, right up there with electricity and hot water. That’s why bulk-managed, centrally orchestrated Wi‑Fi matters in MDUs. Proud of our contribution to the Wireless Broadband Alliance Inc. report on smart MDU connectivity: https://lnkd.in/ggWF7TsV 

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"In partnership with EarthLink, Wireless Partners, LLC has launched 'true high-speed #broadband' services in areas traditionally limited to legacy DSL networks by leveraging Tarana Wireless next-generation fixed wireless access (#ngFWA) technology." https://lnkd.in/gXkD7X6K

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