With government-funding programs focused on fiber as a broadband-delivery technology, it can be easy to overlook or undervalue other technologies that are capable of providing broadband services to residential and business users. Yet forecasters like Dell’Oro Group foresee traffic over mobile and fixed-access wireless networks rising sixfold by 2030. Additionally, close evaluations of BEAD allocations have some believing this program will fall short of providing a fiber connection to every American. In light of these circumstances, hybrid networks—combining fiber with other communications technologies—are poised to play a critical role in providing high-speed, high-quality connectivity to many. 

What mix of network architectures (e.g. fiber, fixed wireless, DAS, 5G, xDSL, satellite) are broadband network providers planning to leverage in the future? How do service providers perceive these technologies in terms of pros and cons? And how equipped are engineer/furnish/install (EF&I) firms to build these hybrid networks? ISE and Endeavor Business Intelligence will explore all these issues and more in a survey of the service providers and EF&I firms that will build and operate tomorrow’s broadband networks. The survey will gather data on expectations, plans, and capabilities related to the following: 

• How far BEAD funds will go.
• The necessity of hybrid architectures to achieve nationwide broadband connectivity.
• Design and installation practices for deploying hybrid networks.
• Technology, process, and value-chain considerations during the planning process.

Results of this survey will be used as the basis for a panel discussion on this topic to be held at ISE EXPO (Dallas, TX, August 20-22).

Dedicated conference session moderated by Joe Gillard, Executive Editor of ISE magazine, will discuss the State of Market Research findings accompanied by a panel discussion that outlines ways industry professionals can leverage hybrid networks.