In this week's episode of Building Broadband, we're tracking new broadband builds from Alabama Fiber Network (AFN), Breezeline, Brightspeed, eX² Technology, Home Telecom, and Ziply Fiber.

These providers are all using a mix of public and private funding for a host of new broadband build-outs across a diverse set of communities.

Lightwave is tracking service providers' ongoing efforts to extend broadband to more homes and businesses via our Building Broadband series.

If you want to share a new broadband build, contact Lightwave Editor in Chief Sean Buckley at sbuckley@endeavorb2b.com.

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 our podcast site at www.broadbandpulse.podbean.com.

In this special edition of the Broadband Pulse podcast, we're in Dallas, Texas, covering this year’s Mplify (formerly MEF) Global NaaS Event GNE 2025 show.

For this episode, we’re taking a look at the key highlights of the first day of the event:

• Mplify’s leadership transition
• Mplify Market Brief Positioning NaaS as Foundation for Agentic AI
• Mplify’s Carrier Ethernet for AI certification
• Advancing Mplify's certification efforts in wireless through aligning with the GSMA
• Addressing standardized automation for enterprises

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 our podcast site at www.broadbandpulse.podbean.com.

In this week's episode of Building Broadband, we're tracking new broadband builds from Brightspeed, Digital C, Ezee Fiber, Fidium, Greenlight Networks, Junction Internet, Lyte Fiber, Metro Communications, Metronet, and Vero Fiber are all using a mix of public and private funding for a host of new broadband build-outs across a diverse set of communities.

As part of this mix, we also saw three service providers move to expand their footprints through M&A:

• Greenlight Networks to acquire FastBridge Fiber
• Metro Communications’ Clearwave Fiber Southern Illinois deal bolsters its FTTH plans
• Vero Fiber extends its Southeast reach with the acquisition of Telephone Electronics Corporation (TEC) acquisition

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 our podcast site at www.broadbandpulse.podbean.com.