Shortly after I wrote this month’s cover story on how supply chain issues might affect fiber to the premises roll-outs, several U.S. communications services providers offered comments to the press or during various investor-related events regarding their current experiences. While AT&T acknowledged that they likely won’t hit their 2021 fiber to the premises (FTTP) deployment target because of supply chain constraints, other operators suggested their FTTP efforts continue unimpeded. One reason for ongoing optimism these operators cited is the commitment agreements they had their suppliers sign as well as the establishment of multiple sources for their needs.
Gary Bolton, president of the Fiber Broadband Association, commented at the recent Fiber Connect event that such strategies should indeed enable operators to keep their initiatives on track. However, it seems to me that enacting such plans might be easier said than done for many rural operators. It stands to reason that broadband equipment vendors would sign supply commitments at the behest of larger operators with major deployment plans. But what about smaller operators, particularly those who are still awaiting funding? With programs such as the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) just starting to release money, how much near-term supply capacity will still be available when rural providers are ready to begin their builds?
It already has taken too long to address the unserved and underserved. It would be frustrating for such people, and the operators who hope to serve them, if supply chain issues force further delays.