At the end of September, we joined North America’s largest broadband event, the SCTE TechExpo. It brought together tech leaders, policymakers, and innovators from over 1,500 companies spanning 54 countries to Washington D.C. Globema’s Ian Oliver and Mediacom Communications’ Nick Holcomb took the stage to share how AI-driven automation is reshaping access network planning.
What set this year’s event apart was its singular focus. The conference was reimagined with a clear mission: to move beyond theory to scalable, real-world deployment. This theme of turning ideas into tangible results resonated in every session, demonstration, and conversation.
“Designing Smarter” Session with Ian Oliver and Nick Holcomb
One of the highlights of the event for us was the Q&A session “Designing Smarter: AI-Powered Automation in Access Network Planning”. Our own Ian Oliver, Technology and Project Consultant was joined on stage by Nick Holcomb, Access Network Engineering Director from Mediacom Communications to discuss how AI is being applied in live network design processes today.
Their conversation offered a practitioner-focused view of both the opportunities and challenges of implementing automation in broadband network planning.
In the session, Nick and Ian discussed:
How Mediacom leverages AI to automate network design.
Where automation creates the greatest value in planning and deployment workflows.
Mediacom’s plans for the future of AI-automated network design.
The key implications for the industry of adopting network design automation tools.
Watch the session below!
The Hub of Innovation: Conversations at the Globemian Booth
At the event, we presented our portfolio of solutions supporting telco network transformation, such as:
NetVersant Designer
for FTTH planning automation.
The GlobIQ Platform,
which supports the building and maintenance of the telco network Digital Twin.
GeoTask,
a Field Service Management system for real-time workforce optimization and monitoring.
iMDC
supporting efficient field data collection and management.
Yet discussions with telecom operators, engineers, and strategists quickly went beyond product features, focusing on a common challenge: the increasing pressure to build better, faster networks more efficiently. These conversations centered on solving real-world operational bottlenecks, including:
- Accelerating fiber design: Many visitors were exploring ways to cut down the lengthy and costly FTTH planning cycle, making our live demonstrations of NetVersant Designer’s automation capabilities particularly relevant.
- Achieving a single source of truth: The need for an accurate, living record of network assets is more critical than ever. We showcased how our GlobIQ Platform supports a true Digital Twin, providing the foundational data layer for everything from maintenance to strategic expansion.
- Optimizing the Field Workforce: We also discussed how platforms like GeoTask and iMDC bridge the gap between office planning and field execution, ensuring that data flows uninterrupted and work is completed efficiently.
Let’s Continue the Conversation
A big thank you to everyone who visited our booth, attended our session, and shared their insights with our team – Ian Oliver, Joel Swanson, Tomasz Mazan, and Bill Scheffler.
If you’d like to learn more about how AI-powered, geospatial solutions can accelerate your network design and operations, don’t hesitate to contact us.
