TeleGeography Explains the Internet

On TeleGeography Explains the Internet, we often focus on the long-haul, zeroing in on the network portion of telecoms. Today, with the help of Tiago Rodrigues, President and CEO of the Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA), we’re switching things up a bit. Drawing upon his vast expertise in the Wi-Fi space, Tiago steps into the hot seat to outline the key issues in the wireless LAN. This episode considers Wi-Fi 6, 6E, and 7 developments, OpenRoaming™ that allows seamless connection across different Wi-Fi networks, and Wi-Fi’s role in emerging solutions like NaaS. We also discuss the digital divide and how to best use the limited resource of spectrum to ensure connectivity in our increasingly digital world. From This Episode: WBA Annual Industry Report 2024 Episode 504 | How NaaS Relates to SDN and Automation Episode 409 | The Digital Divide Episode Episode 402 | Data Centers and the Opportunity at the Edge Episode 315 | How Enterprises Are Implementing NaaS (And Leaving MPLS) Episode 313 | The Need for NaaS

Today we welcome Nokia's Paul Unbehagen to the pod. Paul has a deep history in the networking world, so he approaches his role at Nokia—NE Americas CTO—from the perspective of a network engineer. Although our main topics this week are enterprise cloud and right-sizing cloud utilization, we use those as a springboard into many topics circling the state of the network in 2023. We touch on the history of the enterprise’s move into the cloud and why some companies have reevaluated their cloud strategy in recent years.  As it so often does, the geography of the cloud comes up, along with Paul’s take on location and design in the cloud. This brings us to the edge—not only what it means and where it is, but some of the new and exciting use cases of what edge computing facilitates. Embedded in that conversation is also 5G and how mobile can push the network into being a central part of the business. And we can’t resist bringing up AI/ML. From This Episode The price of managed cloud services X celebrates 60% savings from cloud exit Read @XEng post Episode 509 | Why 4G Is Still Relevant for Enterprise Connectivity Episode 508 | How Geography Influences Network Security Episode 505 | It's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's Super Cloud Episode 402 | Data Centers and the Opportunity at the Edge

This week on TeleGeography Explains the Internet, we welcome SmartCIC CEO Toby Forman to the show. Toby comes to us with a global perspective on the development of fixed wireless access (FWA) and its potential as a disruptive technology in the enterprise connectivity space.  After nailing down a solid definition of FWA in the market today, we run through the factors to consider when deploying FWA. Toby explains what Cellsmart—a division of SmartCIC focused on FWA—does for service providers and enterprises interested in going through this process. Next, Toby offers some real-world use cases and shares how he sees the fixed wireless and wireless markets developing over the next few years, briefly delving into the broader implications of broadband access for economic development around the world. This episode should leave you with a deeper understanding of the development of FWA, but also the ability to evaluate and plan for what is coming next. From This Episode Cellsmart Mapping Project:  Heatmap of Tests | Tests By Date | Last 24 Hours Drive Testing Episode 508 | How Geography Influences Network Security Episode 504 | How NaaS Relates to SDN and Automation Episode 219 | NaaS, the Cloud, and the Future of 5G 2G and 3G Shutdowns Continue

Today’s TeleGeography Explains the Internet guest comes to the security world with a deep background in cloud and networks. Joe DePalo is Chief Platform Officer at Netskope, and the ideal person to help us understand how and why location matters in network security. We first identify how the network has changed over the past few years, gauging the impact on both the threat landscape and how networks perform generally. Also on the agenda: why middle mile performance and security should be part of the equation, and how lessons learned from the challenges of creating CDNs are instructive about the modern issues in network security. Finally, Joe offers a particularly interesting take on a question that comes up often on the podcast—what does it mean to have a WAN in this environment?   From This Episode Episode 505 | It's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's Super Cloud Episode 421 | What Makes a WAN Truly Secure? Episode 415 | Unpacking Telecom Predictions of the Past Episode 414 | SASE and Secure Episode 409 | The Digital Divide Episode Episode 309 | How Do You Solve a Problem Like Middle Mile?

Today on TeleGeography Explains the Internet, we're asking the big questions about mobile advertising. Luckily, Ross Flynn of the Mobile Ecosystem Forum is with us to explain, which is exactly what we do on this show. Ross has a background in digital advertising, making him the ideal person to walk us through advertising formulas that pair ads with IPs.  He talks to Greg about programmatic advertising—not just what it is, but how the practice impacts the mobile market. And then we get to the fun stuff: how do these advertising practices actually impact the mobile market? Is mobile advertising evolving? Does it present unique opportunities? From This Episode About the Mobile Ecosystem Forum Episode 423: Staying a Step Ahead of Mobile Fraudsters Mobile Calling’s Share of International Traffic Declines i3forum Tracks COVID-19 Impact on International Voice Traffic Mobile Advertising: Preparing for the Big Re-Set

We're thrilled to welcome William Collins, Principal Cloud Architect at Alkira, to the pod. We asked William to talk us through the history of enterprise cloud and highlight a few of the bigger issues in enterprise cloud networking today. His answers might surprise you. We even talk about supercloud—what it is and what the implications are. Grab your super suit and punch the play button to hear the full discussion. From This Episode Alkira Boosts Global Expansion Efforts for Enterprises with Cloud Exchange Point Presence in China Mapping Out Asia’s Cloud Data Center and Connectivity Market These Two Regions Account For About 65% of the World’s Cloud Data Centers How Common SASE Products Are Being Offered Cloud Infrastructure Map Cloud and WAN Research Service

The newest member of the TeleGeography Explains the Internet club is telecom industry veteran Mark Daley, Epsilon Telecommunications Director of Digital Strategy and Business Development. After spending nearly a decade directly involved with SDN and NaaS at Epsilon Telecommunications, Mark is the perfect guest to help us talk through how NaaS is unfolding in the market. The pod starts with Mark’s definition of NaaS and where he sees its availability in the current telecom services landscape. He also shares six important NaaS characteristics: visible, configurable, priceable, orderable, deployable, and manageable. (Be sure to write that down.) Later, we talk about the history of Epsilon Telecommunications and how its mission became integrated into an incumbent provider.  From This Episode Episode 502 | Why Telecom Service Providers Need To Automate Episode 501 | Are These WAN Sourcing Trends Real or Just Hype? Episode 425 | Surveying the WANscape Episode 406 | Unraveling the Fabric Providers of Reality Episode 313 | The Need for NaaS Episode 219 | NaaS, the Cloud, and the Future of 5G

Luis Fiallo has been in the telecom industry for over 25 years. And for the majority of that time, he has been at China Telecom Americas, witnessing the many changes happening in the Latin American telecom market firsthand. After years of helping to drive CTA's growth in the region, Luis—now Vice President—has many valuable insights to share with TeleGeography Explains the Internet. Peter Wood, TeleGeography’s Senior Analyst covering Latin America, joins to cover the history of networks in the region, going back to the days when even intra-South American traffic tromboned to Miami and back. We also discuss the idea of directly connecting developing markets around the world, without passing through the U.S. or Western Europe, and the economic connections between East Asia and Latin America. Finally, we talk about the cloud and dig into the areas of the Latin American telecom market that Luis views as the most important to develop in the coming years. From This Episode Episode 422 | AI Meets The Corporate Network Episode 404 | What Role Do Satellites Play in Global Communication? Episode 310 | How Global Events Impact the Internet Get Acquainted With Our Cloud Infrastructure Map 5G Frequency Frenzy: A Guide to Latin America’s Upcoming Spectrum Auctions Latin American Pricing Takeaways From ITW Has Geopolitical Conflict Between China and the U.S. Caused Their Networks to Disconnect?

In both 2021 and 2022, MEF CTO Pascal Menezes joined us on TeleGeography Explains the Internet to talk through the work MEF is doing on standardizing the enterprise network. This season, we welcome a new face from the same team, Stan Hubbard, Principal Analyst at MEF. Stan recently authored a State of the Industry Report for MEF, so we wanted to have him on to discuss his findings and see where the telecom industry is at with adopting new technologies. Stan first explains the drivers in the market and why telecom service providers need to automate to stay relevant and competitive. He then outlines the path carriers can take to achieve this. Next, we talk about his report and get details on the state of adoption of automation in the telecom industry, why customized or proprietary APIs are inefficient, the benefits of standardization, how enterprise drives automation, and even how blockchain will be involved in network contracts. You can hear about more topics like this at MEF's Global NaaS Event, happening October 2-4, 2023 in Dallas.    From This Episode Global NaaS Event | Register Here (Free for Enterprises) Download the MEF State of the Industry Report Episode 408 | Orchestrating the Service Lifecycle Episode 202 | Would an SD-WAN by Any Other Name Smell as Sweet? Episode 406 | Unraveling the Fabric Providers of Reality Episode 402 | Data Centers and the Opportunity at the Edge

This week, Season 4 of TeleGeography Explains the Internet ends on a high note with Junior Research Analyst Mei Harrison’s podcast debut. As one half of our enterprise team two-man band, Mei is the perfect person to help me talk through results from our recently published WAN Manager Survey. We highlight the key trends in multinational corporate networks around the world, covering MPLS vs. DIA use in the underlay, SD-WAN adoption, cloud connectivity, NaaS, and more. Listen in for a comprehensive review of what is afoot in the world of WANs—plus a little preview of what we’re looking into next. From This Episode Download the WAN Manager Survey Executive Summary Download Historical WAN Manager Survey Results Real Talk: Are WAN Managers Adopting NaaS? Bonus Episode | The WAN in 2022 Episode 307 | Insights from the 2021 WAN Manager Survey About TeleGeography’s Cloud and WAN Infrastructure

How are submarine cables impacted by tectonic shifts beneath the seafloor? This week's guests on TeleGeography Explains the Internet are well-positioned to tell us. They join us from the UK’s National Oceanography Centre: Isobel Yeo, Researcher in Geology and Volcanology, and Michael Clare, Principal Researcher of Ocean BioGeoscience and Marine Environmental Adviser to the International Cable Protection Committee.  Mike and Izzy are geologists specializing in the seafloor, so their research has become vital for the submarine cable community. While most cable faults are due to human activity, a fair number are caused by changes in the seafloor. This includes earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides, and even flooding on land.  We discuss the myriad ways that the dynamic nature of what lies under the surface can damage cables. We even get into the history of natural disasters and communications cables going back a century or more.  We get into a specific seismic event—the recent Tongan volcanic eruption—as well as ongoing threats to sub cables, including how climate change could increase risks and how we can start to mitigate them.  From This Episode: Episode 310: How Global Events Impact the Internet Explore our 2023 Submarine Cable Map Cutting off Europe? A Look at How the Continent Connects to the World Gloomy Economic Indicators… Scary Future for the Subsea Cable Industry? New Cables Are Coming to Africa Submarine Cable FAQs  

Our guest today is Dario Betti, CEO of the Mobile Ecosystem Forum.  It's always nice to have industry association folks on the show. I've found they can pull back from the perspective of a single vendor or operator to paint a broader picture of the challenges facing different corners of the telecom industry. This is exactly what Dario does in this interview on all things mobile.  Dario first explains what the MEF does (and does not do) for its members. But, perhaps more importantly, he provides a great overview of the key issues at play in the global mobile market. And what might those issues be? We talk about fraud—always needing to stay one step ahead of the bad guys—and what's happening with roaming as carriers turn off 2 and 3G networks. We get into security for mobile networks, meeting ever-increasing mobile bandwidth demand, and 5 and even 6G mobile service.  From This Episode: 2G and 3G Shutdowns Continue Tracking 5G Deployments in the Middle East and Africa Mobile Calling’s Share of International Traffic Declines i3forum Tracks COVID-19 Impact on International Voice Traffic Ukrainian Telcos: Communicating Through the Conflict

Today’s episode of TeleGeography Explains the Internet is about artificial intelligence. And for that we welcome Kannan Kothandaraman, Co-Founder and CEO at Selector AI. With a plethora of cheeky, AI-generated content out there already, we don't have to tell you that AI has been in the news a lot lately. And I know "AI" is a capacious term; this week's conversation focuses on how AI/ML will actually impact telecom networks. In fact, we've talked a lot on TeleGeography Explains the Internet about the meaningful changes that have come to corporate networks over the past several years—although it's often in the context of impacting the underlay selection, cloud utilization, security, and other factors. Our interview with Kannan is all about how AIOPs (don't worry, we'll define this in the show) are an important tool for meeting the many challenges that come with a reimagined WAN.

I've always known Aryaka Networks as service provider with a different approach to enterprise networks—they don’t neatly fit into categories like facilities-based carrier or managed service provider. When Aryaka’s Chief Product Officer Renuka Nadkarni agreed to join me on TeleGeography Explains the Internet, I quickly had a list of questions mapped about their place in the WAN landscape. In this episode, we cover how Aryaka approaches the WAN across different services like network, WAN optimization, SD-WAN, and security. We also get a chance to chat about the state of the modern WAN, the forces that have changed it, and how those changes impact the way one should think about security. With an extensive background in security, Renuka has a clear and interesting take on what a secure WAN truly is.  From This Episode: Episode 414: SASE and Secure Episode 312: SASE Isn't Revolutionary. It's Evolutionary. Episode 216: To The Edge and Back Episode 202: Safe for WANs The WAN in 2022 SD-WAN's Shift to Security Explore the Hypothetical Network Series

Wanna look at some cool voice data? The recent expansion of the i3forum's Insights tool has quite a bit of that. I've been itching to talk about it on TeleGeography Explains the Internet. So today we're chatting with the i3forum, a nonprofit industry body focused on "accelerating transformation across the carrier ecosystem." Put another way: this consortium of carriers routinely collaborates on solving some of the biggest challenges facing their industry. And they have a really innovative way of sharing data among participants, to the benefit of all involved. (Non-members can participate in this data-sharing, too. More of than in our discussion.) To get into carrier collaboration, I'm joined by Philippe Millet, Founder and Chairman of the i3forum, as well as Michael Lawrence, Director of Business Intelligence, Operations and Transformation at Tata Communications. Philippe walks us through why he founded the forum and how it operates. And how exactly do members develop, curate, and share recommendations with one another?  This is the perfect segue to chat with Michael, an active member of the i3forum. He offers an inside perspective on the Insights tool and the benefits of connecting with other carriers.  From This Episode: Episode 416: The Death of Voice Has Been Greatly Exaggerated Voice Traffic: I've Fallen and I Can't Get Up About i3forum Insights Behind the Scenes of i3forum Insights, the Industry's New Database for Global Voice Services What is i3forum Insights and How Does it Work?

Meet Aaron Chan, Founder and Managing Partner at Recurve Capital. As an investor in the “technology media and telecom” space—or “TMT” as they say in finance circles—Aaron has something of an outside perspective. In this episode, we discuss how investors view the telecom industry and how Aaron classifies publicly traded telecom companies. You'll hear Aaron's view of the long-term profitability of network operators and what he looks for in making investment decisions in the telecom space. We also talked about the future of the industry, what might lead to competitive advantage for some companies, and how long that might last. From This Episode: Keep Up With Telecom Trends Episode 415: Unpacking Telecom Predictions of the Past Learn More About Our Research Disclaimer: This podcast expresses the views of its participants only as of the date indicated, which are subject to change without update and may not represent the views of Recurve Capital LLC [(“Recurve”)]. Recurve makes no representation that any past securities performance discussed should be an indication of future results. This podcast does not constitute investment advice, or any offer to sell or buy securities or other investment products. Recurve or its affiliates may from time to time have positions in the securities discussed, which do not represent all of the securities purchased, sold or recommended by Recurve to its advisory clients.

There's a good chance that you first heard about TeleGeography through one of our maps. Our own Research Analyst Lane Burdette was introduced to TeleGeography when she came across our Submarine Cable Map a few years ago. Now part of the team that creates this map, Lane is understandably stoked about this week's 2023 Submarine Cable Map launch. It seems like the perfect time to welcome Lane—along with our incredibly talented Designer and Cartographer Larry Lairson—to TeleGeography Explains the Internet. In this episode, we first talk to Lane about what data goes into our submarine cable maps, how we collect that information, what's new in this year's edition, and more. Then we pass the mic to Larry to discuss his design process. How does he translate the data into beautiful visuals? How geographically accurate is the info on our maps? How are the design themes chosen for printed maps? Hit the play button below to step into the world of TeleGeography map making. From This Episode: Explore the Interactive Submarine Cable Map Check out the printed 2023 Submarine Cable Map Visit Our Map Store Design a Custom Map Sponsor a Map Download the Mapping Communication E-book Hear From Other TeleGeography Experts

Rohan Singh knew his future was in networking and communication when he saw his first network diagram at around 12 years old. That's probably why he feels like he's been involved in networking for most of his life. Now Vice President of Client Services at Marlabs, Rohan joined us at TeleGeography Explains the Internet to talk about all that goes into the modern digital transformation. While we had a lot to say about WAN optimization and partner ecosystems, it was getting into the future of networking that makes this episode special. Rohan shared his insight on what the market needs in its future infrastructure professionals, from training considerations to getting young developers and computer science students interested in networking.  Come for the data center migration talk, stay for the thoughtful musings on the future of the industry.  From This Episode: What We Learned From Enterprise Networking in 2022 Upskilling Network Architects for the Automated Network Nailing Down Network-as-a-Service Key Findings From Our Latest WAN Market Size Report Learn more about the WAN Manager Survey Explore the WAN Forum  

Why has it taken us this long to welcome Senior Research Manager Paul Brodsky—an A+ podcast guest—to TeleGeography Explains the Internet? We brought Paul on to discuss our most recent voice report, but we couldn’t help getting into a whole lot more. We talk about the history of telecom and how voice and internet networks compare—and how that is impacting voice traffic and revenue.  The conversation also covers the cash cow that voice once was and what's happening now. Voice enthusiasts will appreciate that we get into the history of OTT and VoIP technologies and how they've disrupted the market. And we couldn't leave out mobile, especially as Paul came to TeleGeography from a mobile provider. From This Episode: Voice Traffic: I've Fallen and I Can't Get Up About the TeleGeography Report and Database Download the New Executive Summary Hear From Other TeleGeography Experts

It's one thing to make predictions. It's another to go back and assess how those predictions shook out. One month into 2023, Mattias Fridström, Chief Evangelist at Arelion, very kindly agreed to scrutinize his 2022 forecast with us. As you will hear, Mattias has been at Arelion (formerly Telia) for a long time. From his perspective within a tier 1 provider, he has an outstanding view of the industry. He uses that vantage point to write a forward-looking article every year, reviewing trends he expects to see in the days ahead. We were thrilled that Mattias visited us at TeleGeography Explains the Internet to wade through those predictions from days past. We start with the top three global carrier trends. Listen in for a closer examination of network security, utilization of the public internet, and disaggregated networks.  We also consider issues that arose in 2022—both anticipated and unanticipated—like skills gaps, cost increases/shortages like “chipmaggedon," and global issues outside the telecom industry.  From This Episode: Peruse Mattias' Original Predictions for 2022  How Global Events Impact the Internet What to Know About Fiber’s Role in Ukraine’s Information War Explore the Hypothetical Network Blog Series The Data Center Sector: An Uncertain Juncture Content Providers Binge on Global Bandwidth Key Findings From Our Latest WAN Market Size Report Learn more about the WAN Manager Survey Explore the WAN Forum