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Survey Feedback and Prize Winner

Thanks to everyone who took the time to provide feedback. It certainly confirmed some things for me and provided additional unique insight to move forward.

Based on some analysis of the survey data, here are a couple of data points I wanted to share with the community:

1. 40% of readers took a direct business action in the last 60 days based on something they read in the newsletter (ranging from modifying marketing plans to initiating new business opportunities).

2. 86% of subscribers are "power readers," reporting that they read every single issue or most issues.

3. 79% of the audience identifies the Broadband/Telco section as their primary area of interest, followed closely by Space (55%) and Enabling AI (48%).

4. 40% of my readership comprises high-level decision-makers, specifically Consultants and CxO/Senior Executives.

5. 95% of respondents stated that the newsletter length is "About Right”. This was one of the areas I was most interested in — is the newsletter too long? Apparently, it’s not. I have reordered it a bit this week, based on some feedback, to move the SPACE information further forward.

And the Winner Is.. thanks to all who entered your name for the $50 Amazon Gift Card draw. The AI-chosen random draw winner is → ‘xx’@micfre.com, whoever you are.. Check your email for a note from me! (Many of you haven’t filled in any of the other subscriber info, so I have no clue who you are.)

One Final Note

This newsletter has always been a labour of love, but seeing how much it impacts your actual day-to-day work is incredibly motivating. Whether you're a CxO at a Tier-1 operator or a consultant building the next big thing, thank you for letting me into your inbox every week.

The survey is closed, but my "Reply" button still works. See a story I missed? Have a benchmark you're curious about? Let me know.

Stay sharp,
Jason

Broadband / Telco

Data centers will need 92M miles of new fiber - We’ve seen the writing on the wall for awhile that data centers need fiber and lots of it. Research from RVA LLC has now done the math and worked out that providers need to build about 92,000 new route miles in the next five years to support that demand.

My Take: That’s a lot of fiber. Read on…

Fiber vendors strategize for huge demand from AI in 2026 - Anis Khemakhem, chief commercial officer at Clearfield, said, “AI has pushed fiber demand to levels we’ve never seen to ensure the incredible speeds inside data centers and between campuses. The many, massive data center builds we’re seeing today are driving huge volumes of intra-bay, inter-bay and middle-mile fiber.” He noted that BEAD is also finally rolling out at the same time. “That dual demand elevates our fiber forecast, but it also makes the shortage more pronounced,” said Khemakhem.

My Take: Fiber makers are gearing up for a huge wave of demand in 2026, thanks to AI. New data centers need way more fiber, and not just more of it, but faster, smarter stuff like hollow core, to handle all the traffic between GPUs. Companies like Corning and CommScope are already scaling up, building new tech, and warning that shortages could hit if the supply chain doesn’t keep up. AI isn’t just pushing the limits of compute, (see AI data centers are eating the memory industry, and it could hurt your wallet below) it’s about to stretch the whole fiber network too.

How Wi-Fi 8 Delivers Smarter, More Reliable Connectivity for Next-Generation Devices - Wi-Fi 8 will offer better energy efficiency, reliability, responsiveness, roaming, security, and overall consistency across connected devices. Connected experiences will be smoother and more dependable for users across a wide range of applications.

My Take: ..and no specific increase in speed. We have enough of that already. Reliability. That’s what people want.

Broadband Industry Likes New Non-Deployment Bill - The SUCCESS for BEAD Act would allow more spending on infrastructure, but didn’t specify adoption or affordability efforts.

My Take: This would allow states to use leftover funds on things like wholesale fiber, workforce development, mobile infrastructure, and other broadband infrastructure needs, rather than letting them sit unused. They should seriously consider fiber sensing applications that serve multiple use cases for both fiber owners and municipal infrastructure owners. Why isn’t anyone listening to me? 🙄 Maybe they should download my paper, “Fiber Optic Sensing: New Applications and Revenue Opportunities for CSPs and Fiber Providers in North America” for more ideas.

Verizon Business intros FWA on a 5G network slice - By moving FWA business internet traffic onto a 5G slice, Verizon said that it can offer the performance consistency to provide service-level agreements (SLAs) and the enhanced uplink capacity for upload-heavy cloud and AI-driven workloads.

My Take: Network slicing + FWA = A service can deliver around 200 Mbps down and 45 Mbps up, no data caps, and performance guarantees, which makes it more enterprise‑grade than traditional FWA. It runs on Verizon’s standalone 5G core and Ultra Wideband spectrum, and is rolling out in select U.S. markets now. I guess network slicing is taking off in the US.

Ookla on the network trends shaping 2026 - RCR Wireless News spoke with Kerry Baker, who leads Ookla’s research and content efforts in North America, to learn more about how networks are expected to evolve in 2026 to support new applications, devices, and usage patterns — and how operators should respond.

My Take: Ookla says 2026 networks will need to handle more interactive, AI-powered apps that demand not just fast downloads, but faster uploads and much lower latency. As AI agents, real-time collaboration, and cloud-based tools grow, networks will have to rebalance to meet two-way data flow. But the impact of AI on total traffic is still unclear, as it may shift how we use networks more than just increase usage. Operators will need to upgrade smartly, focusing on responsiveness and symmetry, not just speed. So, basically no one cares about speed anymore, the focus in now on upstream, latency and reliability - or “experience”, as they say.

What CEOs talked about in Q4 2025: AI initiatives, AI bubble concerns, and the US government shutdown - In boardrooms in Q4 2025, discussions around economic concerns and trade policies continued to subside quarter over quarter (QoQ), giving way to AI as the top topic for the first time. The only economics-related topic to see a rise in mentions was inflation, which coincides with a continued rise in US consumer prices (up nearly 2.8% year-over-year as of September 2025). Discussions about interest rates remained at the same level as Q3 2025 (17%), coming as the US Federal Reserve cut interest rates 3 times in the latter half of 2025 (the latest being on December 10, 2025, after the Q4 2025 earnings calls in this article were collected).

My Take: In a nutshell, AI isn’t just hype anymore — it’s now a core business priority, but leaders are trying to balance ambition with caution as they plan for 2026. Balancing the opportunity, with the investments, wth the rhetoric around an AI bubble.. It’s like walking into a casino with $100 in your pockets, knowing you’re prepared to lose it, but hoping the slot machine comes up with all 7s, and then giving half of it to the tax man, unless you’re Canadian. No tax on lotter winnings (windfalls aren’t “income” and therefore are not taxable. Also, lottery winnings are considered the product of after-tax dollars since the government has generated revenue from the sale of each lottery ticket and is not subject to taxation.. now you know..)

Executive Priorities: Scaling AI Impact, Redefining Organizations, and Securing the Future - Gartner - This week, we’re spotlighting three urgent themes for executive leaders: the race to scale AI for real business impact, the imperative to redefine organizational structures and roles for agility and innovation, and the critical need to address cybersecurity and risk as AI technologies mature. From actionable strategies for measuring AI value to new approaches for managing supplier risk and combating industrial disinformation, these insights deliver the clarity and direction leaders need to navigate rapid change and seize competitive advantage.

My Take: Gartner’s basically saying that if you want AI to actually deliver results, it’s not just about using the tech, you’ve got to rethink how your teams are set up, how you track value, and how you handle risk. Every part of the business has to level up. The companies that move fast and build smart around AI are the ones that are going to win. Bla, bla.. Security and Money.. where do they fit in? Savings, productivity, revenue.. ete..

Fiber Optic Sensing

Cell phone tower southeast of Edmonton intentionally vandalised: RCMP - “Estimated damages at this time are in excess of $800,000 if not more, and that tower is thought to be out of commission, for many, many months while Telus repairs it,” Savinkoff said.

My Take: Not exactly a fiber sensing post, other than to say that this could have likely been prevented in full or in large part had the site been enabled with disributed fiber optic sensing to detect intrustion well in the distance — at least enough time to know something may be up. Certainly much less cost than the $800k to repair the tower, and whatever the cost of downtime is. People always look to insurance after the fact.

DarkPulse, Inc. Enters into Patent and Trademark License Agreement with UMBRA Technologies to Integrate Next-Generation Secure Networking with Advanced Fiber-Optic Sensing - The agreement grants DarkPulse a nonexclusive, royalty-bearing license under UMBRA’s extensive U.S. patent portfolio for applications involving the monitoring of critical infrastructure and key resources using DarkPulse’s proprietary Brillouin Optical Time Domain Analysis (BOTDA) distributed fiber-optic sensor deployments.

My Take: BOTDA is like putting a smart ruler and thermometer inside a fiber cable.. it can tell you exactly where something changed and by how much. It’s way more accurate than just “listening” like DAS does, and while it’s not as polished as Bragg fiber setups, it’s cheaper and works with regular cables. It’s a solid middle ground between everyday use and high-end precision. BOTDA has been around since the 90’s. So, the science isn’t new, but turning it into a practical, plug-and-play tool for real-world infrastructure is what companies are starting to do now. That’s where the innovation is.

What’s Happening In Space?

Data Centres

AI data centers are eating the memory industry, and it could hurt your wallet - It's not just PC buyers who are feeling the sting, either. Everything from cars to medical equipment could be impacted by the dearth of memory chips.

My Take: AI isn’t just changing software, it’s putting pressure on real-world stuff like memory chips, copper, silver, and fiber. Big tech companies are buying up so much of it to build massive AI data centers that there’s not enough left for regular things like laptops, phones, or internet upgrades. Prices are going up, and shortages are already hitting. The scary part? No one’s really watching this (well, I am), and we could be heading into a supply crunch that hits everyday people the hardest.

🇨🇦 TNE partners with Data District to support 1GW data center pipeline in Alberta, Canada - The companies will pursue a phased approach to development, with Phase 1 expected to include four data center projects with a combined capacity of 240MW, representing an estimated investment of around €780 million ($914m).

My Take: They’re also creating a data center-ready zone — a kind of energy + land + services platform that makes it easy for hyperscalers or AI companies to move in. Think of it like building not just homes, but an entire neighbourhood with roads, water, and power ready to go.

Feds pave the way for Big Tech to plug data centers right into power plants in scramble for energy - Federal regulators will allow tech companies to effectively plug massive data centers directly into power plants, issuing a long-awaited order Thursday, as the Trump administration urges it to help the U.S. lead the world in artificial intelligence and revive domestic manufacturing.

My Take: This is a risky move because it lets Big Tech skip the line and plug straight into power plants, while everyone else still has to wait for grid upgrades. If this keeps happening, regular places like schools and hospitals could fall to the back of the line. It creates a two-tier system, one for rich tech companies and one for the rest of us. Energy is supposed to be for the public, not just a private shortcut for AI giants. Ontario’s Bill 40 addresses this with more inspection on demand and those requesting it.

EPA Launches Resource Page to Support Development and Permitting for Data Center and AI Construction Projects - Consistent with President Trump’s executive order on July 23, the EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation has unveiled the Clean Air Act Resources for Data Centers webpage consolidating air permitting, regulatory, and modeling materials tailored to data centers and artificial intelligence (AI) facilities. The initiative is framed as part of broader efforts under Trump’s AI and infrastructure directives to modernize older Clean Air Act rules and to accelerate regulatory approvals for the construction of data centers and associated electric generation necessary for these facilities.

My Take: The EPA’s new resource page helps cut confusion and gives builders a better shot at meeting clean air standards without getting blocked. It’s also a sign that the government sees how fast AI infrastructure is scaling, and wants to help speed it up while keeping pollution in check. Now you just need to get past the NIMBY crowd.

Data Centre Infrastructure in the United States - I'm happy to let you know we just published a significant update to my original data center map. There are lots of companies and individuals out there creating and maintaining their own lists of data center locations--more every day it seems.

My Take: This guy makes some great stuff. How many cartographers do you know? Here’s a link to the full-sized map

Alphabet to buy data-centre firm Intersect in $4.75-billion deal - The acquisition ⁠adds to a string of Alphabet’s investments and partnerships in the ​energy space. Earlier this month, utility company NextEra expanded its partnership with Google Cloud to build new energy supplies for the company’s operations across the U.S.

My Take: A billion for you, and a billion for you.. Crazy.. Intersect designs, finances, and builds solar farms, battery storage systems, and power generation facilities across the U.S. They focus on grid-scale projects big enough to power cities or major industrial facilities. Makes sense. Perhaps this is the start of vertically integrated DC ownership and projects? Interesting move.

Enabling AI

Why There Are Suddenly So Many Self-Made Billionaires Under 30 - For all the hand-wringing about artificial intelligence killing off entry-level jobs, it’s creating something else at mind-blowing speed: billionaires barely old enough to rent a car. Industries and innovations that didn’t meaningfully exist a decade ago, including prediction markets and AI, now mint entrepreneurs with three-comma fortunes with astonishing speed. The last time Forbes counted anywhere close to this many young self-made billionaires was in 2022, when there were just seven self-made billionaires under age 30.

My Take: How depressing is this? This is one of those times when you look back and think “man, what I was born at the wrong time”. Yea, probably just jealous, but the author makes a great point about all the rhetoric about AI killing off jobs and putting people out of work. It’s paralyzing sometimes - there’s so much that can be done with the tools at everyone’s disposal. Trying to find that one problem to solve.. that’s the ticket.

I have a great integrated healthcare problem to solve that is Universal, and spans any type of healthcare provider. With all the vibe-coding tools available now, I could probably get an MVP up and running pretty quickly. I’ve even asked a few healthcare providers about it to validate the need. Zero hesitation on their part. What am I waiting for? Hmm..

We need a 60 under 60. 😁

Introducing Manus 1.6: Max Performance, Mobile Dev, and Design View - Completing a task is one thing. Completing it with intelligence, autonomy, and a high success rate is another. With Manus 1.6, we're closing that gap. We've updated the core agent architecture to handle more complex work with significantly less supervision.

My Take: Manus. Ick. I tried to do a bunch of stuff with it when it was released. Just kept locking up on me ½ way through anything I was doing. More complex work with less supervision. Fantastic.

Energy Department Announces Collaboration Agreements with 24 Organizations to Advance the Genesis Mission - Today's White House meeting between industry participants, U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, U.S. Department of Energy Under Secretary for Science and Genesis Mission Director, Dr. Darío Gil, and Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Michael Kratsios helped launch public-private innovation partnerships in AI technologies to secure a scalable national infrastructure to push the boundaries of science at unprecedented speed and ensure the benefits of AI flow to the entire nation.

My Take: The U.S. government is teaming up with big tech and AI companies to speed up scientific research using AI. This Genesis Mission could help solve huge problems in energy, health, and climate by making science faster and smarter. Even Trump would probably call it “the biggest, most tremendous science project ever — maybe in the history of the world.”

This and That!

Broadcom CEO Hock Tan cautious on silicon photonics, CPO need - Tan told investor’s during Broadcom’s recent earnings call that silicon photonics is lining up to be a way to “create basically, much better, more efficient, lower power interconnects in not just scale out, but hopefully scale up.”

My Take: Today, optics are external to the chips. Pluggable, selectable, etc. Silicon photonics changes that by putting the light technology right inside the chip, so data can move faster and cooler without needing as much electricity or space. It’s inevitable, but the timing is in question, and no one wants to be left behind. Move too early, and it’s more costly with possible reliability concerns. Wait too long, and you get left behind.

🇨🇦 BDC unveils $4-billion defence technology platform - The platform, announced Wednesday, includes $3.5 billion for financing and advisory services to help Canadian businesses scale and participate in “major defence contracts and national projects focused on sovereignty.” Another $500 million will be delivered through three streams of venture capital: a deep-tech, dual-use focused StrongNorth Fund, the Catalyst Innovation Fund, and indirect investments in VC funds “aligned with Canada’s defence and sovereignty priorities.”

My Take: I continue to be amazed - in a good way - at the amount of money being earmarked for deference in Canada. From a space perspective, Kepler needs it, and I think it may be one of the only strong sources for Telesat with LightSpeed.

Waymo resumes robotaxi service in San Francisco after blackout chaos — Musk says Tesla car service unaffected - “While the Waymo Driver is designed to treat non-functional signals as four-way stops, the sheer scale of the outage led to instances where vehicles remained stationary longer than usual to confirm the state of the affected intersections,” Waymo’s Philion also told CNBC. “This contributed to traffic friction during the height of the congestion.”

My Take: This is where V2V communications would come in handy, autonomous vehicle or otherwise. If every car provided some form of positioning information, we would be able to move past these issues. On-board processing with access to centralized real-time data pushed to the vehicle.

The Economic Costs of Disruption from a Snowstorm - The economic impact of snow-related closures far exceeds the cost of timely snow removal. Although states and localities may be hesitant to expend significant upfront resources in the short-term, the long-term payoff more than justifies the expense

My Take: So, the message is to spend the money to clear the snow. I think the Utilities should find a way to heat power lines to melt snow and ice before their weight takes down a line or a pole. You’d figure with all that electrical potential it would be easy to add a little resistence heat things up!

Cats meow more at men to get their attention, study suggests - A small study reveals that cats greet male owners more vocally than female ones. But the findings could be a result of cultural norms among the participants, rather than a universal cat behavior, scientists say.

My Take: “To find out more about how cats greet humans, the researchers fitted 40 cat owners with cameras. They were asked to film the first 100 seconds of their interactions with their cat after returning home. The participants were told to act normally so they could capture typical interactions. The researchers then analyzed the footage to assess whether certain behaviors are related, and whether different demographic variables influenced the cats' behaviors.

Nine people were excluded from the study for various reasons..”

What did those nine people possibly do to be excluded from the survey, other than calling their cats bad names, as every cat owner does. Present company included.

“..cats are more social than previously assumed. They do not interact with humans solely to obtain food.”.. (I call BS on that one.)

“This shows that cats are not automata and possess cognitive abilities that enable them to live alongside humans in an adaptive manner,"

Infographic Of The Week

My Take: “Fossil fuels powered 80% of global energy demand in 2024, with this share forecast to shrink to 67% by 2050.”

Movie/Streaming Recommendation

IMDb: 7/10

JMDb: 🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿/10 (“almost wall‑to‑wall action”)

I’ve been waiting for you, second SISU movie…

“Sisu: Road to Revenge” is a lean, viciously entertaining sequel that takes everything outrageous about the 2022 film and pushes it into full Looney Tunes‑meets‑Fury Road territory. Aatami returns to the site of his family’s massacre, dismantles the house, and hauls it across Soviet‑controlled Karelia, determined to rebuild it somewhere safe—until the Red Army commander who killed them comes back to finish the job, turning the film into one long, inventive cross‑country pursuit.​

The movie is almost wall‑to‑wall action: R‑rated, gory, and staged with a clarity and momentum that keep the mayhem oddly joyful rather than numbing. Jorma Tommila is once again magnetic as the nearly silent “man who refuses to die,” while Stephen Lang gives the sequel a nastier, more personal villain.

If you enjoyed the original’s stripped‑down, mythic brutality, this sequel is bigger, sillier, and very much worth seeing.

So good. A great family Christmas movie! (not) 🧑‍🎄

Until Next Time

Comments here are my own and do not represent the opinions, views or thoughts of any person, company or organization that I may be associated with.

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