PODCAST: Harmonic helps broadband providers prioritize customers’ quality of experience
With an array of broadband competitors in the marketplace, it’s clear the shift is going towards providing customers with a solid quality of experience (QoE). Service providers are also shifting their build-out focus. While gaining subscriber density by passing more homes with fiber and coax has always been a key focus for broadband providers, there’s a growing emphasis on homes served.
One company taking on these challenges is Harmonic. In recent years, Harmonic has pivoted to becoming a broadband-focused company. Harmonic recently released a few key products to help broadband providers deliver broadband more efficiently: the Jetty hardened outdoor switch, the compact Oyster+ PON platform, SeaStar Optical Node, and its cOS SensAI vendor-agnostic software platform.
At the recent TechExpo26 trade show in Atlanta, Ga, we caught up with Hy Huynh, vice president of fiber products at Harmonic, to discuss the evolving fiber broadband landscape.
Key Moments in This Episode
Opening/Intro | 0:05
Near-term network and competitive concerns | 0:54
Successful broadband providers need to differentiate by providing a solid quality of experience.
Building smarter, more capable infrastructure | 3:52
How broadband providers are leveraging various technologies that shift their focus from homes passed to homes served.
Balancing between expansion and financial discipline | 8:23
How to accommodate various fiber network build-out strategies—edge-outs, rural areas, and high-density markets.
Harmonic’s Jetty |13:08
How this product, which is a hardened outdoor remote switch that’s designed to expand fiber-to-the-home (FTTH), is resonating with its customer base.
Underappreciated fiber expansion opportunities | 14:58
Harmonic has answered the call with its Oyster+, a compact, cabinet-free, backup-powered PON fiber node designed to scale broadband edge deployments in rural and low-density areas.
Multi-dwelling unit (MDU) broadband | 19:43
Harmonic is taking on the Brownfield MDU market challenge with its SeaStar Optical Node, which allows service providers to leverage existing in-building coax wiring to deliver high-speed broadband services.
AI’s role in broadband | 23:41
With its cOS SensAI, Harmonic is offering a vendor-agnostic, software-driven intelligence fabric designed to unify data across broadband networks.
Final thoughts/closing | 28:35
Hy Huynh shares his final thoughts and closes out the podcast.
Meet Our Guest
Hy Huynh is the Vice President, Fiber Products at Harmonic. He has 15 years of customer-facing experience spanning sales, product management, program management, product support/operations, and some development. On his LinkedIn page, he describes himself as a nerd with an engineering degree and an affinity for understanding and engaging with customers. He says he is passionate about technology and a staunch advocate for the customer and end-user experience.
About the Podcast
In the Lightwave Broadband Pulse podcast, we address the key issues affecting the optical and broadband industry segments. Join us every week for insights from industry leaders on these topics. Visit our website at www.lightwave.com and listen here.
