Abstract:
The progress of telecommunication technologies—5G in particular, and fiber optic technologies—has enabled digital services and applications that were unthinkable a couple of decades ago. These technologies are now essential for addressing the massive bandwidth and energy demands of AI breakthroughs. Fiber optics provide high-speed connectivity to households and institutions, while the Smart Grid ensures efficient energy distribution from diverse sources, relying on real-time data collection and rapid adjustments—areas where 5G and fiber play a critical role.
The Middle Mile Network (MMN), connecting local access networks to the internet backbone, is vital for bridging the digital divide and fostering economic development in underserved areas. Sharing infrastructure between ISPs and utilities offers practical solutions to streamline deployments, reduce costs, and optimize resources. The impact of the middle mile in providing broadband services and the convergence of Middle Mile, 5G, and the Smart Grid to deliver high-bandwidth data and efficient, sustainable energy will be discussed in the presentation.
About the Presenter:
Dr. Jose Castro is the Manager and Distinguished Engineer of the Fiber Research Group at Panduit. Jose was the editor for Fibre Channel T11.2 and the recipient of the Technical Excellence Award in 2019, from the International Committee for Information Technology Standards. Jose authored over 70 technical articles and presented in multiple international conferences his research in the areas of optical devices and fiber communication. He is also a co-author of a book on Holographic Applications in Solar-Energy-Conversion Processes and holds over 25 patents. He is a participant and frequent contributor to IEEE, TIA, Advanced Photonic Coalition, and Fibre Channel standards.