Tyler Godfrey is a Project Manager in our Deployment Services division, working on Outside Plant (OSP) fiber optics projects in the Pacific Northwest. He shares how he evolved from working oil fields to managing a fiber crew at Network Connex.

Tell us about your career path and what led you to your current role?

I started out working in oil fields and did that for several years but when I moved back east to Cincinnati, I got a job working for Cincinnati Bell doing copper and fiber optic installs at residences and businesses – that was my first experience working in the telecom industry. I really liked that the job was a little different every day, since each location was different. Now I’m kind of on the other side of it, getting to build the whole system before installs happen at end user locations…

I ended up moving to Idaho in 2019 to be with my wife and was hired as a technician by Track Utilities. Pretty soon I was given the opportunity to move from the field into the office to manage the projects. I joined Network Connex when Track was purchased by them and since then I’ve just been taking every opportunity I can to keep advancing as much as possible in my role and with the company.

What kinds of education or on the job training have helped you be successful in your current job?

The biggest help to learning to excel in this job is I’ve had a great team around me that is able to teach me the ropes, especially like how bid new opportunities, how to navigate the telecom field, our contracts, and all the as-built requirements and paperwork and stuff. I’ve never had to worry about asking questions—they’ve always been super willing to help.

Besides that, I just graduated this year with my BS in Occupational Health and Safety and now I’m looking to pursue PMP (Project Management Professional) training because I think there is a lot more to learn about this work and it’s transferrable across industries.

What characteristics do you think are needed to be successful in your role?

There are a few characteristics I think help prepare someone to be a project manager in the world of fiber optics infrastructure:

• Prioritization—there is a lot that can go on throughout the day and there are always challenges popping up. I’m really working on setting a schedule for myself that allows me to complete everything I need to in the time I have.
• Management skills—It’s really important to learn how to work with people, listen, and understand where they’re coming from and what they need. I’ve gotten a lot of help with this from talking with my leaders, our HR leader in the PNW, as well as with my father-in-law who works in the financial industry.
• Self-motivation—There was a lot I had to learn when stepping into this role and it’s been key for me to be willing to go out and find information, processes, or techniques that would help me get better at the job.

What does a typical day at work look like for you?

A large portion of this job is running crews and then project billing. I get a set of prints I have to go out and pre fill it and make sure units are right and then basically make sure we get paid for what we do. That’s the business as usual side. I also work on bidding new opportunities where the customer gives us a general idea of what their build plan is and we check out the project and the location then share our price for the work, keeping in mind how to price competitively and profitably. Once we’re awarded a new job, I work with a team here to sit down and try to plan out as much as we can in terms of material ordering and crew schedules because we normally have three weeks before we can start bid work, so we’re working with tight deadlines and a lot of moving parts.

What do you love most about what you do?

I’ve always been drawn to construction just because of the pace of work and that everything changes day-to-day. Every job is different and there’s always a little issue popping up—I like the challenge of that. The other thing I like is that we’re going after new work, diversifying, trying to get new customers in the door, so it’s learning how to go after that work and making new connections as well.

How do you like to spend your time outside of work?

We just had our first child, our son Evan, so a lot has changed over the last few months! Definitely the number one pastime is hanging out with him and my wife right now.

Other than that, I golf and fish a lot, I like fly fishing on the river and going camping. Ironically enough, actually getting out of cell phone range and disconnecting from cell towers and cell phones from time to time is really great for recharging.

Jeremy Sinon is a Project Manager in our Deployment Services division, working on Outside Plant (OSP) fiber optics projects in the Pacific Northwest. Read on to learn how he leveraged a career in public works to managing a fiber crew at Network Connex.

Tell us about your career path and what led you to your current role?

I worked for the City of Bellevue for 18 years, starting as a temporary worker for the street department and working my way up to crew leader. In that role, I coordinated projects with other utilities, water, sewer, signals, and storm drainage along with managing the streets crew. This experience helped prepare me for the current position I have with Network Connex.

What kinds of education or on the job training have helped you be successful in your current job?

The majority of my career education has been on the job training along with getting certified in certain areas as I moved up through the ranks. I have certifications in CDL A, Confined Space Training, Traffic Control Supervisor, Erosion and sediment control lead, CPR/AED, and FEMA Disaster Response training.

What characteristics do you think are needed to be successful in your role?

I think there are a few characteristics that are needed to really give a person a good foundation to be a project manager in the world of fiber optics infrastructure:

• Being able to effectively communicate with crews, management and the customer.
• Job knowledge and being able to prioritize the workload for the crews and customer.
• Being able to adapt to the unexpected—this could be anything from an emergency response that multiple crews are needed or an issue with an individual crew member.
• The ability to listen and understand what is needed.

What does a typical day at work look like for you?

The first thing I do is meet with the construction manager to make sure there are no issues with the current workload. Then the CM and I will meet with the crew to make sure the work for the day or the week is

communicated and implemented properly. Lastly I might be fielding new projects, billing, completing tasks to support the crew, or participating in meetings with management. Each day is different but most include a combination of all those things.

What do you love most about what you do?

What I enjoy most about this job is working with the other Project Managers and Construction Managers within our area. These guys all have an incredible work ethic and an amazing amount of job knowledge.

How do you like to spend your time outside of work?

I love to watch and follow all the Seattle sports teams. This usually leads to disappointment, frustration, depression, anger, and once in a while, hope….. If I need an escape, you can find me on the local golf course experiencing these emotions in public.

Tell us a fun or surprising fact about you!

I really enjoy woodworking. So far I have built a dining room table, indoor/outdoor chairs and I am currently working on my kitchen cabinets.

Harold Briones is a Project Manager in our Deployment Services division, working on Inside Plant (ISP) projects across many states in the eastern and central U.S. He’s been on our team since 2010 when he was part of our previous operating company, Fairhaven Partners, and has made a name for himself as a technical expert and respected team leader at Network Connex.

Tell us about your career path and what led you to your current role?

I started my career in the telecom industry by doing on-the-job training as a requirement in college in 2004 and 2006. After graduating from college, I started working as a planning and design engineer in 2008 back in my home country. In 2010, I decided to move back to the US and got a job at Fairhaven where I started as a level 1 technician where my only task was to pull cables. But because of my work ethic and willingness to learn, I became the lead technician in just a few months. From there, I led and supervised small, medium, and large projects.

While a technician and a lead/supervisor, I was exposed to different types of projects from installation and integration, upgrades, structured wiring, antenna and satellite dish installation and peaking, network device configurations, power, test and turn-ups, provisioning and commissioning, migrations, and many more. I have been fortunate enough to work for many different customers such as Scientific Atlanta, Cisco, Commscope, AT&T, Comcast, Time Warner (now Charter Spectrum), Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon, and DirecTV, either on headends, hubs, VHO/SHO, data centers, colos, etc. In 2019, I became a technical project manager and then, in 2020, my role changed to project manager. As a PM, my role includes planning, time management, communication, leadership, negotiation, problem-solving, budgeting, active listening, adaptability, collaboration, quality management, conflict resolution, prioritization, technical skills, and scheduling.

What kinds of education or on the job training have helped you be successful in your current job?

I have an associate’s degree in Electronics and Computer technology and a bachelor’s degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering.  My formal education started it all and equipped me with the skills and knowledge that I need to be where I am at right now. I developed my technical skills by doing on the job and hands-on training. The experience that I gained through the years, both in the field and in the office, helped me to be successful in my job.

What characteristics do you think are needed to be successful in your role?

I think good work ethic, attention to detail, technical and engineering skills, problem-solving, effective communication, leadership skills, willingness to learn, organization, budgeting, team player, and adaptability will make one successful in my role.

What does a typical day at work look like for you?

Every day could be different for me. But, a typical day starts with checking my notes from the previous day to see where I left off. I also check what my meeting or call schedule looks like for the day. I then check the status of my projects which could include reviewing the scope of work, calling my team in the field to get updates, discussing the project, and seeing what support they need. Afterward, I have a quick glance at the financial side of my projects.

I move on to customer interactions, starting with making calls to customers to give project updates and let them know about any concerns. Next I’ll check emails and will run through those while prioritizing the most important tasks first. If we have any customer quote requests I’ll work those up and send out. I also review open POs and work with customers to get the next projects scheduled.

The last component of my day includes paperwork – I’ll prepare engineering documents, review SOWs, create BOMs, and order materials for upcoming projects. Once done, I can share project information and discuss upcoming projects with my leads or field supervisors.

What do you love most about what you do?

I am always grateful for this job and the people I interact with daily, who make it easy for me to do my work. I enjoy collaborating and exchanging ideas with customers and my team. I enjoy helping and supporting my team by giving them advice, and by sharing my knowledge and skills. I love the fact that every day presents me with different challenges. I like challenges, and they help me think of ways of how to overcome issues while keeping my focus.

How do you like to spend your time outside of work?

I love spending time with my family including playing with my son Gabe, taking him for a bike ride, running while I push him in his stroller, and a lot more. My wife, Myra, and I like to watch movies and TV series and we both love to eat.

I like to run— it’s not just exercise for me, it is also my stress reliever, confidence booster, helps me cultivate mindfulness, lets me practice setting a goal, then achieve and celebrate it, and be resilient. I also like playing basketball, playing video games, and watching sports like football and basketball.

Tell us a fun or surprising fact about you!

When I was in college, I played drums 🥁 (I wasn’t good at all 😂) with a band made up of college friends and classmates. We attended battles of the bands and occasionally performed at events.

Ever since I was a small kid, I have been fascinated with action figures. And in 2021, I started collecting them. They bring out the little kid in me!

Accounts Payable Specialist, Kaitlyn Worley, works out of our Deployment Services division, ensuring payments are made to our suppliers and subcontractors and keeping tabs on insurance and licensing requirements. She shares what it’s like to be part of the Accounting team at Network Connex.

Tell us about your career path and what led you to your current role?

I have always been good at math and enjoy working with numbers so this role has been a great opportunity for me to do that. I hope to continue working up the ladder of this department.

What kinds of education or on the job training have helped you be successful in your current job?

I have had on the job training with my coworkers as well as training from informational videos made available by our Training, Safety & Quality team through our compliance management system, Workhub.

What characteristics do you think are needed to be successful in your role?

To be successful in my role, good characteristics to have are the ability to work well with others and build good relationships with your coworkers. You would also need to know how to use a computer along with programs such as Microsoft Office and Vista, our custom ERP system.

What does a typical day at work look like for you?

A typical workday starts with of setting up all computer programs needed for the day as well as checking emails and then throughout the day I input invoices as well as checking to make sure all Subcontractors insurance are up to date as well as making sure all State and city licenses and registration are up to date.

How do you like to spend your time outside of work?

Outside of work I enjoy spending time with my friends and my dog and cat and trying to spend as much time outside and away from technology as much as possible like camping, going to parks, or swimming.

Tell us a fun or surprising fact about you!

I have a Siberian Husky named Anakin that is white with a grey patch on his back that has grown and gotten darker as he ages, so you could say that he is going to the dark side. 🙃

Network Connex Engineering Manager, Spencer Foster, works out of our Deployment-North division based in Chicago, overseeing engineering activities in both the wired and wireless spectrum. He shares what keeps him engrossed in his work, and what keeps him busy outside of the job.

Tell us about your career path and what led you to your current role?

I’ve been in the telecommunications industry since 1984, and over the years, I’ve held various positions that have helped me build a deep understanding of both wired and wireless networks. My passion for engineering and project management, along with years of experience, eventually led me to my current role as Engineering Manager at Network Connex, where I started in 2016. I oversee both ISP and OSP infrastructure designs for telecom data carriers, working with some of the largest mobile carriers and shared communications infrastructure providers in the country.

What kinds of education or on the job training have helped you be successful in your current job?

Over the years, both formal education in telecommunications and hands-on, on-the-job training have been essential. My continuous work with industry-leading telecom companies and staying current with evolving technology trends have played a significant role in my success.

What characteristics do you think are needed to be successful in your role?

To be successful in my role, I believe strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, leadership, and the ability to adapt to the ever-changing telecom industry are essential. Being able to manage teams effectively and maintain strong communication with customers is also key.

What does a typical day at work look like for you?

My day starts with scheduling our crew with the objective of the day, going over the progress, and reviewing status on any pending or upcoming jobs.

I then briefly communicate with our customers via email or phone call just to go over projects and keep a healthy relationship.

I then support our team out in the field—with splicing, testing, and aerial work—in areas we are short staffed or need to complete work by a certain time.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT WHAT YOU DO?

I love the challenge of solving complex engineering problems and the opportunity to work on projects that shape the future of telecommunications infrastructure.

How do you like to spend your time outside of work?

Outside of work, I love spending time with my family and grandkids. I have 4 children and 11 grandchildren, including two sets of twins. I’m passionate about outdoor activities like fishing and hunting, especially bird hunting over pointer dogs. A daily activity for me is reading the Bible, which brings me a lot of peace and fulfillment.

Tell us a fun or surprising fact about you!

A surprising fact about me is that I’ve been a youth minister for over 26 years. It’s a deeply fulfilling part of my life that allows me to serve and support others in meaningful ways outside of my professional career. Another surprising fact is that I’ve read all 66 books of the Bible at least three times.

don’t let a lack of fiber documentation hold you back

By Damon McKinney—Program Manager, Mike Abbott—Director of Engineering, Spencer Foster—Engineering Manager

You can’t be online without realizing the importance of AI and big data in the global economy. In fact, 99% of critical services providers acknowledge that continuous demand for AI and the push for internet for all will require upgrades to fiber optic networks.

As networks expand due to business acquisitions, being ready for new commercial opportunities and maintaining performance and uptime both rely on knowing what you’ve got in the ground and exactly where it is.

But fiber route information is often inaccurate, out-of-date, or nonexistent. A fiber network audit can help you minimize downtime, optimize network performance, and unlock new revenue streams by giving you precise, up-to-date information on your fiber assets.

The impact: Why conduct a fiber network audit

Knowing where your fiber is in the ground is the only way to avoid costly issues and to optimize your business. Non-existent or incorrect fiber network records can lead to:

System downtime + fiber damage. According to a report by the Uptime Institute, more than two-thirds of all outages cost companies more than $100,000, so there is a strong business case for avoiding preventable incidents.

• Meta’s March 2024 outage cost more than $100 million in revenue (with an even greater hit to their stock valuation)

• An Amazon glitch in 2021 cost the company an estimated $34 million

Besides the loss of revenue, no network provider wants to be a news story, especially when it impacts people in need. For example:

• In Wyoming last September, a cut to a fiber optic cable took down all the county phones in the courthouse, at the sheriff’s office and the police department.
• During the same month, a fiber network outage left several Nebraska counties without access to 911 services.

In the case of forced relocations to accommodate road construction or utility moves, not knowing where fiber cabling lies opens network operators to damage and downtime while slowing the progress of the infrastructure project.

Overspending and missed commercial opportunities. Inaccurate or missing fiber network documentation limits visibility to bandwidth that may be available for the operator’s customers. It’s hard to sell capacity you don’t know you have! For example:

• Network Connex teams were deployed to run 5,000 feet of cable for one customer, only to discover that there was already new fiber plant in place on that route.
• During a fiber network audit for another customer, we found they were using only 2% of an 864-strand cable. This “found” capacity meant they could sell additional bandwidth without incurring new construction costs.

Utility damage + deployment delays.  The Common Ground Alliance, an organization that tracks damage data across the North American underground utility industry, identified “location errors” as the top root cause of damage, with inaccurate maps being a large part of the problem. When fiber network construction causes a utility strike, it not only stops work and causes the operator to incur additional costs, it also negatively impacts the community and damages the goodwill between the municipality and the operator/contractors.

• One fiber optic company working to expand high-speed internet access in South Carolina was forced to halt work after causing multiple gas leaks and water main breaks in suburban neighborhoods. The deployment schedule is at a standstill while they develop a corrective action plan and seek Public Works’ approval to restart construction.
• During Louisiana’s efforts to close the digital divide, legacy ISPs refused to share cable locations. Poor recordkeeping and inaccurately marked locations caused one company to strike underground infrastructure eight times as they buried 1,300+ miles of fiber.

Documenting fiber optic systems for a complete record

The overall goal of fiber auditing is to maximize the value of your network by delivering a consistent, reliable signal and being ready for future development. We help you achieve this by validating network information through:

Physical assessments. A fiber network audit compares route maps and records with real-life conditions. We open handholes and splice cases and investigate all network attributes between fiber termination panels, redlining the inaccuracies we find or confirming the documentation is correct. If no route maps exist, we can create them.

Report and punch list. Customers get a closeout package that includes a new map(s), photos, and a written summary of the physical network. We also provide a punch list of areas that need to be fixed or replaced.

Sharable records. To ease sharing, geographic data can be delivered in a KMZ file or in the customers’ own GIS application. Regardless of the format, records capture pictures and sequential footage numbers from cables for the most accurate location information. This record will be available for them to share with other entities, like local utilities, to prevent cable cuts in future, such as in the example below:

• A backhoe repairing a water line damaged our customer’s cable. When we mapped the entire undocumented network, we found that cable had mistakenly been buried just 12 inches deep (not the recommended 30) leading directly to the break. Going forward, the network operator can share accurate cable location data to help avoid future incidents.

Construction inspections. To avoid documentation and deployment issues before they’re buried under a couple of feet of dirt, we also offer on-site inspection services for new fiber route construction. Engaging our team helps spot issues before they impact the entire project. For example, the first two miles of a 10-mile route is typically where mistakes occur in deployment. Inspecting and relaying any concerns found to network operators and installation contractors can mitigate errors during the rest of the build, saving everyone time and money.

Gain the network visibility you need

As the world embraces 5G and smart city initiatives, having a clear understanding of your fiber network is more important than ever. Our fiber network audit customers engage us again and again. They tell us they appreciate our responsiveness and our flexibility to go when and where they need us to find their fiber. Above all, they know it costs less to document a fiber network accurately than it does to repair it after a preventable incident.

A fiber audit ensures that the infrastructure is ready to meet future demands, scale up for new technology, and support emerging markets. Find out more about our fiber network services and our professional services for complex network projects.

One of our Fiber Splicing Foremen, Juan Cantu, works out of Network Connex’s Dallas, Texas market on fiber optics deployment in Texas. He shares what his role looks like and how he’s developed into a respected leader for his team of OSP technicians in our Deployment Services division.

Tell us about your career path and what led you to your current role?

I started splicing when I was 19 years old, I started off as an electrician apprentice and transferred over to low voltage within the first year. I began learning how to terminate ISP (inside plant) fiber and Cat 6 cabling for global cloud data centers and even in some of the major Texas hospital systems. After doing that for about 3 years I made the decision to learn the OSP (outside plant) side of the industry. I began terminating fiber underground and building aerial fiber paths for enterprises and small cell networks.

What kinds of education or on the job training have helped you be successful in your current job?

In addition to all of the on the job training I’ve experienced over the course of my career, I have over 45 college credit hours and have taken training courses for fiber splicing, fiber testing, OSHA 30.

What characteristics do you think are needed to be successful in your role?

The characteristics needed would be a good leader, problem-solving, participation and being a facilitator. It’s important to be able to motivate and lead your team to work together to get the objective done.

It’s great to have enough experience in the field to solve unexpected problems that your crew encounters. As I was growing up my dad always told me “when things get tough, get smart” meaning there is a solution for everything, you just have to find a way.

Staying hands on as a member of the team in all of your projects can help track progress and send a important message to the team that you are with them as a unit.

Ultimately being a good facilitator of information and materials sourcing is necessary for everyone involved in the project to succeed.

What does a typical day at work look like for you?

My day starts with scheduling our crew with the objective of the day, going over the progress, and reviewing status on any pending or upcoming jobs.

I then briefly communicate with our customers via email or phone call just to go over projects and keep a healthy relationship.

I then support our team out in the field—with splicing, testing, and aerial work—in areas we are short staffed or need to complete work by a certain time.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT WHAT YOU DO?

I love being involved in projects such as outages for businesses that I know really depend on their internet network.

How do you like to spend your time outside of work?

I enjoy spending time with my family, playing golf, watching sports and cooking out.

Tell us a fun or surprising fact about you!

Something surprising about me is that I am fascinated with outer space and astronomy.

Sr. Electrical Engineer Gary McCullough works out of Network Connex’s Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania office on wireless, EV charging, and data center projects in many markets around the US. He shares what his role looks like and sheds light on why an electrical engineer’s primary responsibility is public health and safety.

Tell us about your career path and what led you to your current role?

I got my first taste in the construction industry as a summer helper in my father’s electrical union. After I graduated from college, I began my career as a Facilities Engineer and have had numerous engineering positions since. I started doing Telecommunications design in 2006 and found I enjoyed it. I’ve now been with Network Connex for eight years.

What kinds of education or on the job training have helped you be successful in your current job?

The Bachelor’s Degree I earned in Electrical Engineering Technology laid the foundation and provided the theoretical knowledge. Experience gained over the past 37 years, starting as an Electrician’s helper to roles as an electrical designer in A&E firms as well as a Project Manager, have provided me with the skills and knowledge that I use here at Network Connex.

What does a typical day at work look like for you?

The majority of my time is spent developing and reviewing electrical designs, responding to emails and phone calls, performing electrical calculations, writing letters and mentoring our junior electrical engineers and designers. We have a great electrical team here at NC.

What characteristics do you think are needed to be successful in your role?

I think several attributes are really important to this role: attention to detail, listening, communicating, critical thinking and a high standard of ethics.

How do you like to spend your time outside of work?

I’m a history buff and enjoy haunting around the Gettysburg Battlefield. I also enjoy model railroading and building models.

I’m also a huge baseball fan, both MLB and Minor League, and I have a part time gig as a Ticket Scanner with the Harrisburg Senators. I’ve met some of the players, but with my position I typically get to meet and chat with the families of the players.
And, once in a while, an MLB scout. 😊

Tell us a fun or surprising fact about you!

Fun fact: My wife and I were high school sweethearts and have been married for 37 years. She’s a saint.

Surprising fact: In the 1990s I had a position that required overseas travel to our Embassies around the globe. I’ve been to 32 countries.

Construction Manager Marc Mesaros works in the Baltimore/Washington D.C. market out of Network Connex’s Columbia, Maryland office. Read on to discover how construction became his second career and what a CM role working with wireless small cells looks like.

Tell us about your career path and what led you to your current role?

I was a teacher and football coach for thirty years in both the Baltimore City Public Schools and Baltimore County Public Schools, but I also had a background in general construction (which was like a side hustle while I was teaching). When I retired from the school system, I decided that I wanted to try something else, and construction seemed like something I would enjoy. I had no experience with the telecom industry, but when I interviewed it just seemed like a good fit!

What kinds of education or on the job training have helped you be successful in your current job?

I didn’t have any formal training in construction; my training was on the job experience on job sites in and around Baltimore. I think having a solid background in general construction definitely helped me acclimate, as did an ability to read and edit construction drawings. I also think that working with people in the school system every day was a benefit, because, really, this business (like most others), comes down to building relationships with the people that you work for and with every day. Having the skillset to work with people in a positive manner really helps.

What does a typical day at work look like for you?

It depends if I’m on the road or at my desk. When I’m on the road it’s usually pretty early and I tend to try to package a few sites up in the same trip, so they are longer days. When I’m at my desk I am on the computer at 7:30 AM. I like to work at the office- I usually get more done there. And of course, whether I’m driving or working at a desk, I am on calls like everyone else! You just have to be able to multi-task, but that’s what keeps the job interesting—it’s never the same day after day.

What characteristics do you think are needed to be successful in your role?

I think you have to be a good communicator first, both in written and spoken form. I also think it’s important to be responsive; nothing is more appreciated than when someone reaches out about an issue with a site or a project and they get a response quickly. if you can work with people to get issues resolved in a timely matter you can solve most problems before they become huge issues. From what I’ve observed, good CMs do that every day.

How do you like to spend your time outside of work?

I like spending time with my wife and dog. We didn’t have children, so the dog gets the lion’s share of our attention. I also enjoy hanging out with my friends, and I am still involved with coaching as an assistant football coach at a local private school. I also am the President of the Maryland Football Coaches Association and serve on the executive boards of both the Baltimore Touchdown Club and the National Football Foundation, Greater Baltimore Chapter. It’s a full life!

Tell us a fun or surprising fact about you!

I am the least photogenic person in the world. If you Google my name, you will see some of the ugliest candid photos of me while I was coaching. (We think you’re looking great, Marc! So glad you’re on the team!)

HELP CUSTOMERS GET THE MOST FROM THIS BURIED TREASURE

By Jacob Guthridge, NTI Project Manager and Greg Spraetz, CRO

Today, AI and machine learning are more than innovations, they are voracious bandwidth consumers that push the performance boundaries of the infrastructures that support them.

Hyperscale cloud providers and network carriers are under pressure to provide the high-bandwidth, low-latency connections their customers need to get the most from these technologies. In response they’re leveraging dark fiber networks as an alternative to purchasing lit strands from carriers, as they’ve done in past.

Growth figures reflect this shift and the revenue opportunities for dark fiber providers. In 2022, the global dark fiber market was estimated to be USD 6.14 billion. By 2032, it’s projected to rise to 20.95 billion.

Bryan McCombs of Critical Infrastructure Partners (CIP), a dark fiber provider, agrees there is a staggering demand for it, with more underground fiber being put into the ground now than ever before.

“Dark fiber is the ideal solution for dealing with massive amounts of data that has to traverse between two or more sites,” he says. “It’s the absolute gold standard for delivering the low-latency solutions hyperscalers and carriers need.”

Multiple pathways and parties

If you want to use dark fiber to make the metro or long-haul site-to-site connections your customers need, the most prohibitive factors can be dealing with the multiple different entities, service providers, and physically separate pathways along the way.

It’s not as simple as connecting point A and point B when there are existing overlapping networks and multiple landowners between them. It takes experience and out-of-the-box thinking to navigate those complexities.

That’s why it’s a good idea to start with a feasibility study of the proposed route to evaluate how the network infrastructure has been laid out in the area, as well as the parties involved in granting ROW access.

You may learn that you can run fiber down the median of an interstate where there’s much less rock or map a route that avoids railroad crossings and waterways. You may also be able to choose a path that minimizes the entities who need to grant permits.

By streamlining the design, engineering, and permitting processes, we can help you find the shortest pathway with the fewest roadblocks to reduce capital outlay and implementation time.

Construction equipment and labor shortages

Like any fiber network construction project you undertake, you’ll be challenged with managing the logistics of having everything you need delivered on time. Those difficulties are compounded today by the lack of available trenching, boring, and plowing equipment and the trained workers needed to operate them.

This is especially true in hard-rock environments, like the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia. Starting in the fourth quarter of this year, Network Connex will be working with CIP on the Blue Ridge Run Network, a low-latency route spanning 767 miles to bring fiber broadband closer to rural communities in the Southeast region. 

“The biggest challenge for us in underground fiber construction is where we’re building,” says McCombs. “It’s largely an all-rock environment, which is very expensive, labor-intensive and time consuming. There’s also limited equipment and operators that work in that medium.”

Network Connex is supporting CIP with feasibility studies, fiber engineering, permitting services, and construction for the Blue Ridge Run Network.

On these and other rugged terrain projects, we use a recently introduced specialty tool to install conduit systems. Called an all-terrain directional drill, the AT120 features the largest inner rod produced to date. Currently, there are only a few of these game-changing machines on the East coast and Network Connex has one of them.

Breaking through the barriers

Whether it’s dealing with design, site selection, ROW access, rocky environments, routine maintenance, or recovery services, Network Connex can help you break through barriers to make the most of a dark fiber build.

As a trusted partner to CIP, our services help them get to market faster with the connectivity solutions their customers need.

“For us, Network Connex conducts feasibility studies to identify roadblocks and advises how to mitigate them. From there, they help us with all aspects of a project, from the engineering and permitting process to land use and the right of way agreements needed to make it all happen,” says McCombs. “Their soup-to-nuts approach is a rare thing to find in this industry.”

Find out more about how our fiber design, engineering, construction, and restoration services can help you meet the needs of your customers.