In partnership with

You won’t find a better source for Market Intelligence about Telecom, Space Communications and AI, all in one place, for free, anywhere.

Join thousands of weekly readers.

If you’re enjoying this newsletter, please consider sharing it with others!

In Today’s Issue

The Podcast

Episode #11 - Broadband, Books and Pickleball. Fact vs. Fiction - Lessons from building Infrastructure in Ontario. With GORD REYNOLDS, former Vice President, Commercial Advisory and Strategy with Infrastructure Ontario.

I speak with Gord Reynolds and delve into the complexities of Ontario's broadband journey, discussing the barriers to construction, the impact of legislative changes, the mechanisms of funding and subsidies, and the ongoing challenges to continue closing the Digital Divide.

We explore the challenges faced by municipalities and internet service providers, the viability of wireless versus fiber solutions, and the role of satellite internet.

The discussion also touches on community engagement, Gord's upcoming panel at the Canadian Rural and Remote Broadband Community Conference, and we close out with the one question that really gets people thinking and results in some real personal reflections.

Some key takeaways from our conversation:

✅ Ontario's broadband journey is fraught with challenges.
✅ Barriers to construction include misaligned objectives among stakeholders.
✅ Legislative changes have been made to facilitate broadband expansion.
✅ Funding mechanisms like the reverse auction have been innovative but complex.
✅ Project execution faces challenges due to rising costs and regulatory hurdles.
✅ Municipalities play a crucial role in broadband deployment.
✅ Wireless technology is improving but faces its own set of challenges.
✅ Satellite solutions may be necessary for hard-to-reach areas.
✅ Community engagement is vital for successful broadband projects.
✅ Personal resilience and curiosity are essential for success in the industry.
✅ ..and old guys regularly beat Gord in Pickleball games 😁


💡 Gord will be moderating a panel discussion and hosting a workshop at the upcoming Canadian Rural and Remote Broadband Community Conference in Rama, Ontario, June 9-11.

🎧 Listen, follow and share on Spotify, or on your Podcast player of choice.

What’s Happening On Earth?

Broadband Trends are Shifting Fast Again - According to the latest OpenVault Broadband Insights Report, after several quarters of deceleration, Q1 2025 marks a decisive return to growth...and volatility. Upstream traffic is surging again, business broadband is reshaping demand, and subscriber tier shifts are making network planning more complex than ever. Broadband providers must be ready to adapt.

My Take: The FCC also released Fixed Broadband Deployment Data from June 30, 2024 - released in May 2025, almost a year later. There is no solid correlation between the data.

From the OVBI Data:

➡️ Average monthly total usage is now sitting at 663.2 GB per subscriber, which is a year-over-year increase of 9.5%. Other industry topics and trends include:

➡️ Upstream usage surged 17.6% YoY (the fastest Q1 rate in three years) while downstream use rebounded for the first time since 2021.

➡️ Peak traffic patterns are shifting. Business broadband usage is rising rapidly, with peak consumption now double 2021 levels. 

➡️ Nearly 1 in 4 subscribers are changing usage tiers each month, introducing new challenges in forecasting and network planning.

AT&T broadband CPEs gain powerful container management update - AT&T has migrated millions of its broadband gateways to a new container framework from the Prpl Foundation to power application management on those devices. This plan comes as the carrier is set to boost the reach of its broadband services.

My Take: Another Prpl convert. They are in good company with some outliers still driving their own solutions, and probably wishing they would have migrated earlier.

DriveNets wants to upend network cost structures - DriveNets is well aware that vendors like Cisco and Juniper Networks are big fish in the network pond but knows it can counter that size with greater software agility, an advantage it’s using to score a diverse set of new business.

My Take: White boxes. Disaggregation. Fabrics to connect tens of thousands of GPUs.. with a more cost effective framework.

🇨🇦 Telecom giants taking action to address the debt elephant in the room - Canada’s four largest telecoms have become increasingly weighed down by a key metric they have relied upon to build their businesses: debt.

My Take: I know. Sell of the fiber and tower assets to someone else and then lease the back. Or maybe invest heavily in the US and build new data centres in Canada.

🇨🇦 Rebirth in motion - BlackBerry is nothing like the company whose smartphones once ruled the world. Now it’s looking to dominate another market entirely — inside your car

My Take: This is a good outline of what they’re up to. QNX has been in the automotive space for a long time and, frankly, I spent zero time even thinking about blackberry. Is it worth investing in? They’re certainly right in the middle of some very visible and important solutions.

🇨🇦 TELUS investing $70 billion in Canada through 2029 to enhance connectivity, support Canadian AI leadership and fuel economic growth - TELUS is investing more than $70 billion over the next five years to expand and enhance its network infrastructure and operations across Canada. As the country navigates a challenging economic environment and seeks to attract more investment to stimulate growth, this commitment to Canada's future will help fuel homegrown innovation and support the prosperity of urban and rural communities.

🇨🇦 Bell to open six data centres equipped to power AI models and apps in B.C. - The first of the data centres will come online in June in Kamloops, with the second opening in Merritt by the end of the year. Two more will open in the next two years, with one scheduled for 2026 at Thompson Rivers University. Two others are in the advanced planning stages, according to the company.

Groq Becomes Exclusive Inference Provider for Bell Canada’s Sovereign AI Network - Groq, the pioneer in fast AI inference, today announced an exclusive partnership with Bell Canada to power Bell AI Fabric, the country’s largest sovereign AI infrastructure project.

My Take: Their massive debt problems (see above) and whining about regulatory oversight aside (if we can do that), these efforts will bolster research and home-grown innovation - as long as we don’t just continue to the practice of taking foreign dollars to develop something, and then just give it away. This will take years to implement, integrate and prove out. I wonder about lofty numbers like $70B, competing initiatives and frankly, the amount of electrification needed for many of these initiatives - or is it all just flag-waving click-bait, running after federal incentives and distracting people from what’s not getting done, who’s investing heavily outside of Canada and how the little guys are becoming more competitively disadvantaged with every new regulatory decision? I wonder who they’re all going to use for transport? 😁

🇨🇦 Nearly 1 in 3 Canadians grumbled about internet provider in 2024: CRTC - “Just under one in three, 31.5%, reported having had a complaint related to the service provider they were subscribed to in the last 12 months, excluding complaints about pricing,” researchers wrote, per Blacklock’s Reporter.

My Take: Excluding complaints about pricing. Complaints were “most often related to home internet service (47%) followed by mobile phone service (29%) and television (22%).” Well, if they can watch TV while they’re using a mobile phone to complain about the Internet, it can’t be all that bad. I can’t remember the last time I called for something other than pricing. (well, yes, I can, but it was a long time ago and ended up being my fault, so it doesn’t count. I tried to make it their fault, though..)

AI influences Telstra’s new five-year strategy - Australia’s incumbent network operator, Telstra, has unveiled a new five-year strategy, dubbed Connected Future 30 (because it runs until mid-2030), that is heavily influenced by the expected needs of customers in the AI era. 

My Take: Data Centres and Fiber. Now all you need is power.

Harmonic extends broadband bridge to low-density MDUs - Harmonic believes it has found a way to fill a gap in cable and telco broadband strategies with a platform tailored to bring multi-gigabit speeds to small multiple-dwelling units (MDUs) that connect to individual units with coax.

My Take: No more remote OLTs? Looks like an interesting solution. MDUs continue to be a focus for many, for obvious reasons.

Power System 101 - A while ago I created a presentation to give a quick high-level explanation of some basic aspects of North American power systems for non-experts to help demystify some of the nuances of our complex industry.

My Take: Found this interesting and informative post on LinkedIn and thought I would share!

Eurobites: Nokia feels the G-force with shared-PON breakthrough - Nokia has come up with what it calls a "co-existence network element" that allows operators to simultaneously run 10G, 25G and 50G passive optical network (PON) services on the same fiber broadband network. The network element, says Nokia, allows operators to easily add different PON technologies running on different wavelengths to a single fiber without messing up the existing services, thus reducing the need for existing infrastructure to be replaced

My Take:

TXO: Now is the time for telecom to tackle sustainability - Sustainability is obviously a big deal across all industries, telecom included. But it’s not just about environmental responsibility. Recycling and reselling legacy equipment can help telcos upgrade their networks faster, plus it can give them some extra cash, according to TXO.

My Take:

🇨🇦 Ciena is supporting global tests and trials of 1.6 Tbps network speeds, to meet the demands of AI - The current fastest intermediary of high-speed networking glimmered green, gold and silver in Helen Xenos’ hands, the result of years of research and development in Ciena’s Ottawa lab.

My Take: Reminds me of all the great things that Nortel used to develop in Ottawa, except without the part about everything that was stolen from them.

Telecom associations urge Trump to move BEAD forward - A new letter signed by the leaders of five telecoms industry associations calls on President Donald Trump to bring an end to the BEAD Program’s ongoing delays.

My Take: Trump also points out that “not a single household has been connected to high-speed internet through the program.”

The plan for nationwide fiber internet might be upended for Starlink - For about 15 percent of US households as of 2023, the only internet options are crappy, especially in rural areas. But thanks to the US Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) program, which aims to connect everyone in the US to high-quality, mostly fiber-based internet, that’s close to changing. Or at least, it was.

My Take: On, and on. One day a single household will be connected through the program. Maybe they should give everyone Starlink while the rest of it gets figured out?

Nvidia powers through China setback with record Q1 FY2026 - U.S. export controls cost Nvidia billions, but a pivot to sovereign AI and surging infrastructure demand helped deliver a $44.1B quarter

My Take: Oh, my. A 69% increase y/y and 12% increase q/q. Remember when NVIDA was a $9 stock?

What’s Happening In Space?

What’s in Space This Week?

Starship breaks up on reentry after loss of attitude control - SpaceX’s Starship suffered a loss of attitude control after reaching space on its latest test flight May 27, leading to an uncontrolled reentry and a third consecutive failure.

UPDATE: SpaceX experiences some good, some bad and some challenging experiences with Starship launch of 9th flight test

 My Take: Attitude control, you say. Here’s the whole report. Still very cool to watch it launch as well as the videos from orbit. It just needs as attitude adjustment.

Apple's satellite goals face internal questions after past rejection of Musk's Starlink - report - Apple's ambitions in the satellite sector face reported internal resistance from executives, with some questioning the long-term viability of the iPhone’s satellite service.

My Take: Apple is dealing with some internal debate about its satellite plans after saying no to a partnership with Elon Musk’s Starlink. People inside the company are worried that relying on Globalstar might not be enough, especially since its network is getting old and will need a lot of investment to keep up. On top of that, Apple’s strategy to not charge users for satellite features, so they avoid getting the regulators’ attention, is making things even more complicated. Nothing is easy.

Atlas V to launch Kuiper 2 - United Launch Alliance (ULA) will use its Atlas V rocket to deliver the second batch of Project Kuiper satellites into space for Amazon.

My Take: June 13, 2025. 2:29 p.m. Another 27.

T-Mobile, Starlink to launch satellite-based connectivity in July for $15 per month - T-Mobile said on Sunday it will launch its satellite-to-cell service, powered by SpaceX's Starlink, in July for $15 a month, as the U.S. wireless carrier aims to eliminate mobile dead zones and extend connectivity to remote areas.

My Take: I need to make a new chart of who, what, and how much. I’ve lost track.

Solar Eruptions Are Killing Off SpaceX's Starlink Satellites, NASA Study Reveals - Solar eruptions are impacting the lifespan of satellites in Earth's orbit, especially large constellations like SpaceX's Starlink. According to a report by New Scientist, the sun's 11-year activity cycle, known as the solar maximum, peaked in late 2024, causing increased geomagnetic storms. The study, led by NASA scientist Denny Oliveira, found that these storms cause satellites to re-enter the Earth's atmosphere faster than expected, reducing their lifespan by up to 10 days.

My Take: 10 days? Doesn’t sound like much, but the risk of collision is possibly greater?

UN Releases Space Debris Primer - Decades ago, the UN was already thinking about the risks and liability concerns raised by debris falling out of orbit. Now, as falling space debris becomes a more common occurrence, the UN’s Office for Outer Space Affairs is reminding nations that it has a process for dealing with it.

My Take: I didn’t see any process in there. Let it all rain down on open land in Saskatchewan so they can start a museum and develop tourism to the “Space Junk” museum.

How Cuts to NWS and NOAA Could Impact the Upcoming Hurricane Season - With the start of hurricane season fast approaching, recent reports show that cuts and staff vacancies at the National Weather Service and NOAA could impact public safety services. Earlier this month, CNN reported that a number of NWS weather forecast offices do not have a meteorologist-in-charge due to layoffs, early retirements, and vacancies. 

My Take: Clearly, everyone should get their amateur radio license. With all the satellites orbiting and watching, and things “AI”, shouldn’t all be well?

How Much Does It Really Cost to Launch a Data Centre into Orbit? (And Why Everyone's Still Using Numbers from the 1990s) - A quick case study that cuts launch costs in half just by swapping out obsolete space hardware. No redesigns, no hype, just updated assumptions.

My Take: “The cost drops from 19.5 million dollars to 7 million using today’s launch pricing, and as low as 350,000 dollars if Starship reaches its long-term targets”.. So all you naysayers on Linkedin, shut it.

SteamJet water thruster selected for Artemis II cubesat critical orbit correction - Developed by South Korea’s NaraSpace, the cubesat will be deployed into a highly elliptical orbit, where SteamJet’s water-based thruster will play a critical role in ensuring mission success.

My Take: Water thrusters in space? So it’s not really water. Water in a tank is separated int hydrogen and oxygen gas through electrolysis, and then burned.

EchoStar to FCC: Spectrum Inquiry Threatens its Business, 5G Progress, and Licensing Regime - EchoStar responded to the FCC this week after the Commission opened an inquiry into the operator’s spectrum. In new filings, EchoStar argued the FCC’s inquiry threatens its business, 5G progress in the U.S., and the FCC’s own licensing regime. 

EchoStar: FCC action creates ‘dark cloud’ of uncertainty - The FCC’s inquiries into EchoStar’s terrestrial wireless and satellite businesses are already harming the company’s plans to succeed as the fourth facilities-based U.S. wireless carrier.

Carr's attack on Ergen looks gross - Charlie Ergen, the billionaire backing EchoStar, is facing what appears to be a politically motivated investigation by FCC Chairman Brendan Carr. And that's not cool.

My Take: More spectrum allocation and regulatory issues, and possible political games to favout a certain LEO-based satellite company?

China's 33rd rocket launch in '25 puts new satellite into orbit - The Shijian 26 satellite was jointly developed by the Harbin Institute of Technology, Aerospace Dongfanghong, a subsidiary of the China Academy of Space Technology, and the Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics and Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. It is mainly used in fields such as land survey and environmental protection and providing information services for economic development, according to the company.

My Take: Anyone paying attention? “Land survey and environmental protection”. See the infographic below. Are they really concerned? What land are they surveying?

Space Force orders two more GPS IIIF satellites for $509.7 million - The U.S. Space Force has ordered two additional Global Positioning System satellites from Lockheed Martin. The $509.7 million contract covers GPS III satellites 21 and 22, which are part of the advanced GPS III Follow-on constellation designed to provide enhanced positioning, navigation and timing services to both civilian and military users worldwide. 

My Take: Space force has lots of money.

Direct To Device

🇨🇦 Minister blasts Telus’ ‘lack of information’ during Manitoba 911 outage, calls for CRTC to step in - His letter comes following the death of Dean Switzer, a 55-year-old man who suffered a heart attack at his home just outside Fisher Branch, Man. His family has said Dean’s wife and friends made more than 20 desperate calls to 911, but none got through.

My Take: Why did I post this? Perhaps a use case or driver for D2D, if that was the issue.

Spectrum choices dictate the launch and evolution of D2D services - D2D may have previously been associated with specialist usage for areas that lack any terrestrial mobile network coverage, but the prospect of new mobile technology from space has broader appeal as a way of keeping users connected as they move within network coverage, as well as when they are completely outside of terrestrial footprints. 

My Take: Spectrum dictates a lot of things. Lots of complexities involved, as the article outlines, especially with carriers holding different blocks of spectrum.

Space Systems Limited, signed up its very first investor and partner for the Skycel LEO 5G NTN constellation - BPI international develops mission critical medical testing services required in rural areas of the world where access to mobile data services are unreliable. Skycel will be one of the very few systems that will have the capability to provide 5G NR broadband to unmodified mobile phones.

My Take: Another of another?

This is very important milestone, making the vision becoming a reality. Roaming between Terrestrial and Non Terrestrial Network using 5G standard is almost there.- As part of our mission to build a global roaming network, we completed a connected-vehicle demo using off-the-shelf SD-WAN tech combining Intelsat’s FlexMove Fleet service with public 5G cellular for uninterrupted connectivity on the move.

My Take: Watch the video

Enabling AI

🇨🇦 Ottawa rushes to build its own AI translator as government use of free tools soars - The federal government’s translation bureau is rushing to devise an AI-based tool for public servants after being spooked by the use of free services on potentially sensitive materials.

My Take: So, the Canadian government doesn’t have policies around loading sensitive information into free, public AI tools?

UBS deploys AI analyst clones - The Zurich-based bank is using OpenAI and Synthesia models to create AI-generated scripts and avatars of its analysts following increased client demand for research in video format, UBS said.

My Take: More jobs gone as people would rather speak with avatars.

Can nuclear power really fuel the rise of AI? - Over the past year, the likes of Meta, Amazon, Microsoft, and Google have sent out a flurry of announcements related to nuclear energy. Some are about agreements to purchase power from existing plants, while others are about investments looking to boost unproven advanced technologies.

My Take: Well, the effort will drive innovation to modernize and optimize reactors. I think.

We did the math on AI’s energy footprint. Here’s the story you haven’t heard.- We spoke to two dozen experts measuring AI’s energy demands, evaluated different AI models and prompts, pored over hundreds of pages of projections and reports, and questioned top AI model makers about their plans. Ultimately, we found that the common understanding of AI’s energy consumption is full of holes.

My Take: The article is so long. I should have used ChatGPT to get to the point, but that would have kiiled some trees, so…

Introducing Stargate UAE - Our first OpenAI for Countries partnership expands global AI infrastructure and access, in coordination with the U.S. government.

My Take: Yea, and it’s free for everyone. Good thing? Dunno.

Behind the Curtain: A white-collar bloodbath - AI could wipe out half of all entry-level white-collar jobs — and spike unemployment to 10-20% in the next one to five years, Amodei told us in an interview from his San Francisco office. Amodei said AI companies and government need to stop "sugar-coating" what's coming: the possible mass elimination of jobs across technology, finance, law, consulting and other white-collar professions, especially entry-level gigs.

My Take: AI blood bath. Nice. Maybe someone should ask AI what to do about the problem. On the other side, people should be thinking about the new jobs that AI will be creating over time. Every role has been told they would be replaced with technology at some point, yet we still have exec admins, people building cars and robots, and even people who still check out customers in grocery stores, and even put stuff in bags for them! Jobs will shift. It’s up to the smart people to figure out how to take advantage of that. Example: I’d bet there are MANY people who just use ChatGPT and don’t even use it properly. What’s the opportunity to educate small, local businesses on how to use LLMs, and furthermore how to effectively automate? Someone has to both train them and orchestrate the automation. Just because there are 1,000 free courses on ChatGPT doesn’t mean people still don’t like to be led through learning, by people.

AI in telecom is the path to a dull dystopia - Society seems increasingly prepared to relinquish skills and expertise to AI – a bad idea if the AI is fallible – and yet hardly anyone talks about it.

My Take: They won’t care until they have to care.

This and That!

Dark Partners cybercrime gang fuels large-scale crypto heists - Masquerading as popular apps, these cloned sites deliver the Poseiden (macOS) and Lumma (Windows) infostealers and malware loaders like Payday. This malware is used to steal cryptocurrency and sensitive data such as host information, credentials, private keys, or cookies, which are likely sold on the cybercriminal market.

My Take: As the saying goes, “Watch you wallets”

Groundbreaking amplifier could lead to 'super lasers' that make the internet 10 times faster - Scientists have designed an amplifier that can transmit 10 times more information per second than current fiber-optic systems can, which could be helpful for medical treatment and diagnosis.

My Take: Super lasers. Sounds technical.

'Super-vision' contact lenses let wearers see in the dark — even with their eyes closed - Researchers have developed new contact lenses that enable vision in the near-infrared range, and they could restore color perception to people with color blindness.

My Take: Well, that would be neat. Of course, the military will get hold of it.

Unknown strain of bacteria found on China's Tiangong Space Station - Analysis of swabs from China's Tiangong Space Station has revealed a new strain of bacteria sporting new adaptations for surviving outer space.

My Take: Anyone remember The Andromeda Strain? Like that would never happen.. 🦠

A New Study Reveals the Makeup of Uranus’ Atmosphere - the seventh planet in the solar system, located between Saturn and Neptune, has long been a mystery. But by analyzing observations made by NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope over a 20-year period, a research team from the University of Arizona and other institutions has provided new insights into the composition and dynamics of the planet’s atmosphere.

My Take: Can never pass up a good article about Uranus.

10 Incredible Facts About Light Sails - Light sails, often referred to as solar sails, are an innovative propulsion concept that utilizes the momentum of photons emitted by a light source—typically the Sun—to produce thrust. Unlike conventional chemical rockets, this method of propulsion does not require fuel in the traditional sense. As a result, light sails have become a key concept in forward-thinking space exploration strategies.

My Take: Pretty cool concept.

There’s growing evidence of possible life on other planets – here’s why you should still be sceptical - A team of researchers has recently claimed they have discovered a gas called dimethyl sulphide (DMS) in the atmosphere of K2-18b, a planet orbiting a distant star.

My Take: I’m sure there’s life on other planets. And why do people always assume life on other planets are far more advanced than we are, and build space ships to come and steal our blood and water.

Infographic Of The Week

My Take: Canada. 1.54% I’ll say no more (but I need that Greta emoji).

Podcast Recommendation

With the start of hurricane season fast approaching, recent reports show that cuts and staff vacancies at the National Weather Service and NOAA could impact public safety services. Earlier this month, CNN reported that a number of NWS weather forecast offices do not have a meteorologist-in-charge due to layoffs, early retirements, and vacancies. 

In this episode, On Orbit interviews Dan Harkins, COO of Tropical Weather Analytics, about how the upcoming hurricane seasons could be impacted by cuts and vacancies, and the critical role that government weather satellites play in keeping the public safe. 

 While the U.S. is talking about investing in a massive-scale Golden Dome for missile defense, Harkins argues the country should consider a similar investment into weather monitoring capabilities — given how extreme weather events lead to loss of life, and disruption for both people and businesses. Aside from cutbacks, Harkins talks about what is missing in government weather monitoring capabilities, and how commercial companies play a role.

Listen Here!

Movie/Streaming Recommendation

IMDb: 7.3/10

JMDb: 🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿/10 (Visually stunning.)

“Air Force Elite: Thunderbirds” on Netflix is a visually stunning and emotionally resonant documentary that takes viewers deep inside the world of the U.S. Air Force’s legendary aerial demonstration team. Directed by Matt Wilcox and executive produced by Barack and Michelle Obama, the film combines breathtaking in-cockpit footage and dynamic aerial cinematography with candid interviews and behind-the-scenes access. The documentary follows the Thunderbirds’ gruelling two-month training and certification process, highlighting the immense discipline, teamwork, and “blind trust” required as pilots fly F-16s mere inches apart at supersonic speeds.

Beyond the spectacle, “Air Force Elite: Thunderbirds” explores the personal sacrifices and motivations of the pilots, delving into their family lives, the ever-present dangers of the job, and the emotional aftermath of tragedies like the 2018 loss of Maj. Stephen “Cajun” Del Bagno. The film balances patriotic fervor with a surprisingly honest look at the risks and pressures behind the polished public image, offering a nuanced portrait of service and dedication.

While it shares similarities with last year’s “Blue Angels” documentary, “Thunderbirds” stands out for its human focus and high production value. Highly recommended for aviation enthusiasts and anyone interested in stories of teamwork and perseverance.

A Word From Our Partner

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.

Feedback, comments and ideas are welcomed. Message me on LinkedIn or contact me at [email protected]

Want to support this newsletter? Feel free to buy us a coffee to show your support!

This site may contain links to affiliate websites, and we receive an affiliate commission for purchases made by you on the affiliate website using such links.