CONTENTS
2025: A YEAR OF NEW CHALLENGES Welcome to the spring edition of Optical Connections magazine. With our usual array of industry experts and top-class journalists, we’re looking at a wide range of topics in the run-up to OFC. Inevitably, AI is in the mix, with IQGeo’s David Cottingham underlining the importance of fibre network data quality, and Infinera’s Christian Uremovic highlighting the vital role of Optical Line Systems for improving data centre connectivity. Of course, data integrity and connectivity need to be available at even the remotest areas, and R&M’s Dieter Studer , examines the key stumbling blocks and best practices for providing rural FTTH in the UK and EU, and how they may also apply to the United States. Similarly, identifying best practices is vital given changing consumer demands are pushing telcos to find new ways to optimise their businesses. ZIRA Group’s Merima Žiko argues that delayering the BSS is the way to go. Another vital consideration is the cleanliness of the fibre, particularly in the case of blown fibre applications. MicroCare’s Liam Taylor says maintaining pristine connections is critical for optimal performance. All these developments and improvements count for naught however, if the fibre cable itself is damaged. Increasingly, it seems, submarine cables are sustaining damage for a number of reasons. Antony Savvas asks the optical industry what can be done to mitigate the threats to the world’s vital subsea infrastructure. Obituary We were sad to learn of the death in January of veteran technology journalist John Williamson , who has been a regular contributor to Optical Connections for the last 10 years, and who wrote the feature on Network Automation for this issue. John was a freelance telecoms, IT and military communications journalist. He also wrote for national and international media, and was a telecoms advisor to the World Bank. The team at Optical Connections send our deepest condolences to John’s family, friends and colleagues.
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Industry News
8 Auto Motives John Williamson 10 Integrated BSS Merima Žiko 14 EPIC CEO Interview Ivan-Lazar Bundalo 16 Implementing AI David Cottingham 18 FTTH Rollouts Dieter Studer 20 Cleaning Blown Fibre Liam Taylor 22 Subsea Cable Damage Antony Savvas 24 Optical Line Systems Christian Uremovic 26 FTTH Council Europe Preview
27 OFC Preview 30 Product News
Peter Dykes Contributing Editor
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ISSUE 40 | Q1 2025
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