Broadband

Global Internet Infrastructure at NANOG 98: Growth, Ownership, and Sovereignty

Growing demand for international bandwidth is accelerating investment in submarine cables and satellite networks, while increasing ownership concentration among major technology companies raises questions about competition, infrastructure resilience and national sovereignty.

Technology Advances That Could Transform the Broadband Industry

Research breakthroughs that highlight advances in semiconductor design, record-setting fiber transmission, light-based quantum computing and WiFi sensing, with potential implications for network performance, energy efficiency and privacy.

The WiFi Dilemma: Why ISPs Get Blamed for Poor In-Home Connectivity

Poor in-home WiFi significantly increases broadband customer dissatisfaction and churn risk. New survey findings highlight the challenge ISPs face when customers blame providers for connectivity problems beyond their direct control.

Data Centers Can Profitably Clean Up Their Act

As opposition to large data centers grows, developers face mounting pressure to address environmental impacts, infrastructure costs and limited local economic benefits. Greater transparency and community engagement could prove more profitable than secrecy.

The Growth of Mobile-Dependent Households

Purdue researcher Roberto Gallardo finds that as US Internet access expanded, millions of households became mobile-dependent, highlighting persistent affordability, device and digital literacy barriers that infrastructure investment alone may not solve.

SpaceX Wants to End Rural Broadband Subsidies

SpaceX argues that Starlink makes rural broadband subsidies obsolete, but questions about speed, universal availability, voice service and affordability complicate its case for eliminating high-cost Universal Service Fund support.

Remote Work Is Here to Stay, but Rural Broadband Gaps Remain

Remote work remains far above pre-pandemic levels, but rural participation trails urban areas as job mix and inadequate broadband limit opportunities for working from home.

Starlink’s Other Network

Starshield gives SpaceX a separate military satellite network, raising a broader question about whether Starlink could dedicate satellites to cellular and business backhaul without reducing broadband capacity for residential customers.

Starlink’s Unconventional Approach to Cellular

SpaceX is considering a terrestrial cellular network powered by Starlink satellite backhaul, but scarce spectrum, enormous capacity demands and entrenched rivals could make its boldest telecommunications gambit yet far harder to execute profitably at scale.

Wi-Fi 7 Adoption Is Accelerating

Wi-Fi 7 is spreading rapidly across America, promising faster speeds, greater capacity and fewer connectivity headaches. With big internet providers driving adoption, the technology is reshaping home broadband even as Wi-Fi 8 approaches.