The following summary has been condensed for length and readability. To listen to the full discussion, click here. This episode is sponsored by ETI Software and VETRO FiberMap.
In this episode of the Broadband Bunch, host Pete Pizzutillo sits down with Felix Virto, Director of Operations at Blue Streak, and Stephen Rose, CEO of Render Networks, to explore why the future of fiber deployment depends on digital transformation, field-first automation, and a new approach to partnerships across the broadband ecosystem.
Their conversation offers a look at what’s working, what’s broken, and how operators, builders, and investors can reduce risk while accelerating time to revenue.
The broadband industry is seeing record levels of investment, with tens of billions of dollars flowing into fiber construction each year in the U.S. alone. At the same time, private equity and institutional investors are demanding greater transparency, faster payback, and more predictable outcomes.
Felix explains that this shift has changed expectations across the entire value chain. Status updates can no longer happen weekly or monthly. Investors and operators now expect real-time visibility into construction progress, costs, and risks, forcing builders to modernize the way they operate.
Stephen adds that the biggest challenge isn’t funding — it’s scale. Construction involves countless handoffs between operators, engineers, contractors, subcontractors, and inspectors. When each group uses different systems and processes, delays and cost overruns become inevitable.
One of the biggest themes of the episode is the “scale problem” in broadband deployment. With so many handoff points, even small inefficiencies multiply into major delays.
According to Stephen, the industry still relies too heavily on spreadsheets, manual reporting, and disconnected tools. These fragmented systems make it difficult to know the true state of a build at any moment — increasing risk for operators and investors alike.
The solution, both guests agree, is digitized, integrated workflows that connect design, construction, and closeout into a single source of truth.
Digital transformation in broadband can’t be driven only from the boardroom. Both Felix and Stephen stress that change must start in the field.
Field crews generate the data that drives decisions across the organization. When tools are easy to use, automation reduces administrative work, and reporting happens naturally, data quality improves dramatically. That better data then flows up to supervisors, operators, and investors — enabling faster decisions and fewer surprises.
Steven describes this as “AI meets field first”: empowering crews with technology that removes friction rather than adding it.
AI is already influencing how broadband networks are designed, built, and maintained. The episode explores several practical applications, including:
Automating inspections and quality assurance
Using visual data to validate completed work
Reducing manual reporting and paperwork
Predicting risks and delays earlier in the build cycle
Helping supervisors allocate crews and resources more efficiently
Rather than replacing workers, AI augments their capabilities — allowing experienced field teams to focus on building while software handles the administrative burden.
A recurring theme throughout the conversation is that who you partner with matters more than how much money you spend.
Felix emphasizes that true partners share the mission, co-invest in innovation, and are willing to adapt alongside operators as needs evolve. Stephen reinforces that digital transformation only works when designers, builders, software providers, and operators collaborate instead of operating in silos.
This partnership mindset reduces friction, shortens learning curves, and increases the likelihood that projects stay on time and on budget.
Both guests are clear: waiting is no longer an option.
With competition increasing, overbuild accelerating, and cost of capital rising, operators that delay modernization risk falling behind. Digital ways of working create a competitive advantage, improving valuation, reducing overruns, and enabling faster market entry.
As Stephen notes, transformation doesn’t require massive disruption on day one. It starts with a focused use case, executive sponsorship, and a commitment to continuous improvement.
Felix and Stephen close the conversation with simple, direct guidance:
Lean in and start — fear is more expensive than experimentation
Focus on one problem first, not everything at once
Sponsor change from leadership, but design for the field
Choose partners, not vendors
Use automation to remove friction, not add it
The message is clear: the future of broadband deployment belongs to operators who combine strong leadership, modern tools, and trusted partners.
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