Broadband

The Rapid Evolution of Transport Lasers

Exploding internet traffic and AI demand are driving a rapid upgrade in fibre transport lasers, from early one gigabit systems to 400, 800 and even 1.6 terabit links reshaping backbone capacity worldwide as networks scale.

Rising Costs of Broadband Construction

Despite steady expansion of fibre networks, the cost of building them is rising. New survey data show labour-heavy construction, higher aerial costs and persistent inflation pressures likely to push deployment expenses higher in 2026.

The Challenge of Adding Fiber to Poles

An FCC ruling in a dispute between Comcast and Appalachian Power clarifies pole attachment cost rules, but exposes how regulatory delays and uncooperative utilities can slow fiber deployment and raise costs for broadband providers.

Winning the 6G Race

America has declared its intent to win the 6G race, casting next-generation wireless as vital to security and growth. Yet standards are global, vendors multinational, and the rhetoric looks like spectrum lobbying than technological rivalry.

Who Uses the Internet?

Pew Research finds most Americans are online, yet access still tracks income, age and geography. Broadband gaps persist as subsidies fade, while smartphone dependence rises, reshaping how millions connect to work, services and civic life.

SpaceX Proposes a Million More Satellites on Paper

SpaceX has filed a plan to place more than a million satellites in low Earth orbit, recasting data centres as spaceborne infrastructure while testing regulators, safety, competition and the line between vision and paper ambition.

Starlink Flexing Its Market Power

Starlink is leveraging its growing dominance with data-hungry AI ambitions, regulatory demands, and space infrastructure plans. A merger with xAI could solidify its position as an unregulated gatekeeper of orbital connectivity and intelligence.

From Localization to Globalization: Challenges and Evolution of LEO Satellite Communication on RIR Geographic Allocation Principles

Low Earth Orbit satellite networks are dismantling traditional IP address allocation models. As signals defy borders, Regional Internet Registries face challenges in geolocation accuracy, routing security, and the definition of digital territory itself.

Starlink Update: Expansion, Performance Gains and Network Developments

Starlink expanded to 42 new countries in 2025, added 2.7 million customers, improved network speeds and latency, and continued satellite launches as it nears its first-phase constellation goal of 12,000 satellites.

Undersea Cables as a Layer of the AI Tech Stack

As AI shifts from experimentation to real-world deployment, its unseen foundation - undersea cables - emerges as a strategic frontier. Their resilience may shape not only infrastructure policy but the outcome of US-China AI competition.

World Internet Statistics December 2025

Global internet use has surpassed six billion users, yet stark divides persist between regions, genders and urban-rural populations. Meanwhile, download speeds have surged and smartphones now dominate how people access the web worldwide.

Starlink in Ukraine: What Three Years of Wartime Connectivity Taught Us

What began as an emergency response evolved into critical wartime infrastructure. Ukraine's experience with Starlink reveals the strategic risks and benefits of relying on privately operated networks for national resilience and defence.

Grenada Steps Up Into New Role in Global Internet Governance

Grenada advances its digital resilience by signing the Convention on the Packet Clearing House Organization, positioning itself to help shape global Internet governance while gaining coordinated support, stronger infrastructure, and a formal voice in decisions that influence worldwide connectivity and security.

CaribNOG Partners with Global Infrastructure Body PCH to Strengthen Caribbean Resilience

CaribNOG and PCH have renewed their partnership to boost the Caribbean's Internet resilience, expanding technical capacity, advancing inclusive training, and strengthening the people and systems essential for recovery as islands rebuild after Hurricane Melissa.

Evaluating Starlink Performance: Implications for Digital Equity and Regulatory Compliance

Despite its promise of universal access, Starlink often fails to meet broadband benchmarks across key markets. New data reveals fluctuating performance and raises questions about reliability, digital equity, and tiered service models.