On this podcast, Highline's CTO Matt Hayes and Ciena's CTO of the Americas Kevin Sheehan have an insightful, wide-ranging discussion on everything from the many challenges and opportunities involved in rolling out rural broadband, to operational excellence in networking, to the great potential and worrying risks of generative AI and its machine-learning capabilities.

Episode 66: A CTO’s perspective on the digital divide, network operations excellence, and AI

The demand for data traffic and connectivity has skyrocketed – especially these past few years during the pandemic. On top of this, there is greater concern about the world's climate situation. On this podcast, Geoff Pegg TELUS' Head of Sustainability and Environment and Ciena's Beth Hunter, Director of ESG Communications and Social Impact discuss ways telcos can create more sustainable networks while also meeting subscriber demands for greater connectivity.

Episode 65: TELUS - A True Sustainability Champion

On this episode, Dave Lewis and Amanda Molina from broadband solutions consultancy JSI join Ciena's Trey Hall and Vini Santos for a discussion about the opportunities and challenges that network operators are facing at this unique moment in the broadband market. Hear their insights on funding options, network build considerations, and why a disruptive mindset is key to long-term sustainability, monetization flexibility, scalability, and successful business outcomes.

Episode 64: The Future of Broadband Demands Disruption

The internet permeates everything we do today – from how we work, to how we play and learn. Yet, for some, affordability can be a problem. On this podcast,Ciena's Director, ESG Communications, speaks with Spark Skinny Jump's Lead, Martin La'a on why providing internet access can be a gamechanger for students and how Ciena and Spark are collaborating to create positive repercussions in the community.

Episode 63: Jumping Across the Digital Divide in New Zealand with Spark

This episode features Lumen's CTO Andrew Dugan and Ciena's Steve Alexander. The two industry veterans discuss Lumen's recent 400GE network enhancements and how wavelengths enable Lumen customers to modernize and scale their Core Digital Network so that their data, applications, and workloads can be distributed securely between their IT instances residing in data centers and public cloud.  In addition, they discuss ways Lumen is uniquely positioned to help enterprises modernize their network infrastructure and what customers are looking for from a Digital Experience standpoint.

Episode 62: Lumen’s 400GE network evolution and approach to enable a better digital experience

On this episode Kate Mace and Chin Guok from the DOE's Energy Sciences Network along with Stanford's Amadeo Perazzo discuss ESnet6 with Ciena's Rod Wilson. ESnet6 will enable scientists to significantly advance their ability to gain insight from massive datasets produced by experiments that use large scale instruments like genome sequencers, telescope observatories, X-ray light sources and particle accelerators, among many others.

Episode 61: The next generation of ESnet – ESnet6 

Did you know that around 95% of the world's intercontinental communications traffic is carried over submarine cable networks? What's more, our need for connectivity shows no signs of abating. According to research firm TeleGeography, capacity along the transatlantic corridor alone is forecast to grow by about 77 times between 2015 and 2028. Simply mind-boggling! On this podcast, industry veterans Ed McCormack and Brian Lavallée look back at some of the important milestones in submarine network history and envisage what the future might hold.

Episode 60: Submarine networks: Past, present, future 

800G and beyond, 5G, Greener Network solutions and Submarine buildouts. Host Bo Gowan talks with Ciena CTO Steve Alexander, and Submarine/5G expert Brian Lavallée about the key tech trends and predictions that will shape the industry in 2023.

Episode 59:  2023 Tech Predictions and Industry Trends 

Ciena's executives were joined by many amazing guests throughout 2022. For our final episode of the year, Bo Gowan, Ciena's social media director and today's host, highlights some of our most listened to podcasts of the year. Tune in to see if your favorite episode was included!

Episode 58: Year in Review: Our best podcasts from 2022

Service providers are tasked with the challenge of decreasing carbon emissions while also meeting surging demands for high-bandwidth services and broadband connectivity. On this podcast, euNetworks' Tetyana Mozhayeva, Senior Director of Sustainability and Ciena's Beth Hunter, Director of ESG and Social Impact, join host Sara Atkinson to discuss the importance of working toward a more sustainable network architecture. Tetyana shares ways that the Network Construction Carbon Calculator developed by euNetworks has helped to assess the impact of network construction projects and provide transparency around the emissions impact of euNetworks' solutions.

Episode 57:  euNetworks Shares Tips to Make Networks ‘Greener’

It's well understood that we'll be looking at system overload of our global networks due to increasing IoT traffic, emerging 4K and 8K video, and VR applications. To keep up and avoid hitting critical mass, networks have to work smarter, not harder. Join Network Insights each month as we take an in-depth look at the different ways these bandwidth killers force networks to push the boundaries of programmability and intelligence, and meet the innovators and thinkers who are building the infrastructure for our future.

Ciena Network Insights

The notion that 5G is mostly hype is quickly becoming old news. Many organizations around the world are investing more resources into exploring how 5G will deliver a better user experience. In this episode of the podcast, Pierre Boucher from ENCQOR and Ciena's Brian Lavallée discuss the impact 5G will have on various industries from gaming to utilities to mining. Imagine how 5G can make your next trip to the museum even more educational with augmented reality exhibits or controlling mining equipment that is complex and potentially risky from a remote location. The possibilities are limitless and a 5G-enabled future is near.

Episode 21: 5G is More Reality than Hype

Submarine cable networks are the silent workhorses of the internet - carrying over 99 percent of the intercontinental traffic and over $10 trillion in transactions, every single day! On this episode, Craige Sloots from Southern Cross talks about the operator's NEXT submarine cable network, which is expected to deliver connectivity to some of the Pacific Islands for the first time. Also, Ciena experts Ian Clarke, Darwin Evans, and Brian Lavallée share their views on where the submarine industry is headed and key trends impacting the sector like machine learning and artificial intelligence, 5G, security and the growth of data centers to support global connectivity.

Episode 20: The Future of Submarine Networks

From providing faster and smarter networks to help fight forest fires, support remote medical care and even reduce environmental issues with smarter traffic management systems, the various ways in which 5G will enhance our lives are virtually endless. In this podcast episode, join 5G Americas' Chris Pearson and Ciena's Brian Lavallée as they discuss real-life 5G business use cases for several industries including healthcare, gaming, and utilities.

Episode 28: Will 5G be a game-changer for business?

In this episode, Ciena's CTO Steve Alexander discusses key trends that will shape the industry in 2020 and beyond including, 5G, edge computing, and AI. We also take a look back at how technology defined the last decade and helped inspire a new, more immersive connectivity experience.

Episode 27: Where Do We Go From Here? 2020 Predictions for Making Networks Faster, Closer, Smarter and Safer

Japan is known for always being on the cusp of the most advanced technologies and innovations. The country is taking bold steps to drive 5G, Artificial Intelligence, and Internet of Things initiatives that will greatly impact the lives of consumers and businesses alike. From new ways of broadcasting sumo wrestling to navigating the supply chain of Japan's agriculture, Ciena's Rick Seeto discusses ways Japan is paving the way for our next digital frontier.

Episode 25: Spotlight on Japan: Driving Innovation at a Breakneck Speed

Today's multi-cloud era is being driven by growing connectivity demands. From edge computing to IoT, data centers are working swiftly to support emerging trends facing service providers and enterprises. In this episode, CoreSite's Matt Senderhauf joins Blue Planet's Kailem Anderson to discuss how data centers use advanced software and automation to keep up with the cloud.

Episode 24: Living in a Multi-Cloud World – Why Automation is Paramount

Gaming is quickly becoming the sports pastime of today's digital generation, and players and spectators are driving its explosive growth. Long gone are the days of inviting friends over to play Super Mario Brothers on your home console. Today's gaming experiences can happen right in the palm of your hand where you compete against players from all over the world. In this episode, ESL's Craig Levine joins Ciena's Steve Alexander and Joe Cumello to discuss where the network and gaming/esports collide.

Episode 23:  How Gaming is Going Beast Mode

Craig Williams, Ciena's CIO, gives a “behind the scenes” look at his approach to change management and its role in driving successful digital transformation. He also offers tips to help spark employee engagement and adoption for new tools like video conferencing and mobile applications.

Episode 22: Digital Transformation and Change Management - Tips from Ciena’s CIO

Technology has profoundly changed the way we communicate and consume content; from how we share videos, to how we stream and binge-watch our favorite shows on smart devices. None of this would be possible without the underlying optical networks. But, are networks prepared for this voracious and often unpredictable demand? Enter WaveLogic 5, Ciena's latest generation of coherent technology that will help network operators tackle scale, cost and efficiency challenges in their networks, and enable high bandwidth connectivity to consumers to bring new applications to life. In this episode, Ciena's Scott McFeely and Dino DiPerna discuss how WaveLogic 5's programmable 800G and footprint-optimized solutions will transform network performance and our overall digital experiences.

Episode 18: Ciena Announces WaveLogic 5

Ciena's Chief Technology Officer, Steve Alexander, shares his thoughts on some of the key technologies on the horizon like 5G, Artificial Intelligence, Data Center Interconnect and Blockchain. We also take a brief look back at some of our predictions from 2018 and years prior.

Episode 17: 5G, AI, DCI and Blockchain. What will be their impact on the network in 2019?

Mark Stevens, Ciena's Director of CSR provides an overview of the Ciena CARES community outreach program. Also, Sondra Smith, Director of CSR for CenturyLink, joins as a special guest to share recent benevolent activities lead by the organization.

Episode 16: Ciena and CenturyLink Giving Back

In a world where user demands are skyrocketing, the volume of devices and data is exploding, and legacy systems are incapable of keeping up, how must networks evolve? Special guests Telstra and Ericsson join the podcast to share their views and discuss the evolution of today's networks and what it means to end users. They also touch upon hot trends and recent work in the area of 5G, Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence and 400G.

Episode 14: Telstra and Ericsson Discuss Key Trends Like 5G, IoT, Artificial Intelligence and their Impact on Today’s Network

Ciena is at the forefront of Asia's digital transformation. On this episode, Rick Seeto, VP and GM of Asia-Pacific &amp; Japan, discusses Ciena's recent expansion and success across the Asia-Pacific region. We take a closer look at some of the key drivers, including 5G, over-the-top video and the Internet of Things, as well as opportunities in emerging markets like, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam and Thailand.

Episode 13: Ciena’s Take on Digital Transformation across Asia

Flash back 20 years - email was just being introduced to the work place, teleworking was sparse, and video conferencing was unheard of. That's all changed considerably – and it's imperative that IT personnel embrace policies that are consistent with the modern work climate, while looking to the future so their companies are not left in the dust. Ciena's CIO Craig Williams walks us through his IT methodology, including his “PHD” hiring approach, and why you should run IT like a bagel shop.

Episode 12: IT's Impact on Today's Digital Economy

India is one of the standout markets for network infrastructure growth. According to the GSMA's 2018 Mobile Economy report, India will contribute over 300 million of the 1.75 billion increase in mobile internet users in the period from 2017 to 2025. In addition to significant mobile subscribership growth, major Indian government initiatives such as Digital India, a countrywide initiative to bring citizens online, are helping to improve connectivity for government entities, schools, hospitals, and rural villages.Join Ciena's Ryan Perera and Dimple Amin as they discuss the company's expansion in the region as well as share insights on the where the country's telecom industry is headed.

Episode 11: Spotlight on India - The Next Digital Frontier

To dive deeper into what motivates service providers to adapt their networks to be more intelligent, flexible and automated, Ciena and ACG Research surveyed 200 of the industry's top service providers across the globe. Tune in to this podcast as Ciena's Chip Redden, Rebecca Prudhomme, and ACG Research's Tim Doiron discuss some of the key findings including which Marvel superhero operators would most want their future automated network to resemble. Here's a hint…it's, not Iron Man.

Episode 10: Automation – A Critical Element of the Adaptive Network

Glenn Wellbrock

Glenn Wellbrock, Verizon's director of optical transport planning, and Ciena's Kevin Sheehan discuss the goals and challenges of Verizon's effort to consolidate and operate a single seamless network infrastructure with their One Network initiative. This daunting task, of course, does not come without its challenges. Glenn and Kevin talk through the challenges and road that led them to make this far-out concept a reality. Wireless networks are exploding – the future of 5G is bursting at the seams, and Verizon is providing the fuel to drive the machine.

Episode 9: Verizon’s Glenn Wellbrock talks ‘One Network’ with Ciena

We've reached a pinnacle moment—applications like the Internet of Things, virtual reality, and artificial intelligence have transitioned from a dream to a reality. This requires networks to run more efficiently and be more responsive than ever before. It's not just about becoming autonomous—the network needs to adapt.Rebecca Prudhomme, Ciena's VP of Portfolio Marketing, walks us through the Adaptive Network vision—Ciena's bold response to users' voracious appetites for bandwidth—and discusses the opportunity it presents for network providers.Also in this episode, Ciena's Brian Lavallée discusses the transition to 4G and 5G, which is once again expected to dominate the conversation at Mobile World Congress.

Episode 8: The Adaptive Network Sets Sail

2017 was the year that pushed operators to think about the network in a new way – one that can support massive data surges from the demand for greater access to cloud applications such as Netflix and Spotify, to the wave of connected devices placing new strain on the network. As we wade deeper into 2018, what new trends and challenges will emerge? Tune in as we talk to a cast of Ciena experts about what we might expect for the rest of 2018, and what existing technologies will play larger roles as operators look to evolve the network to new levels of intelligence and programmability.

Episode 7: 5G and other technologies impacting the network in 2018

Taking the family to the local department store, once a time-honored tradition, is an event that has fallen by the wayside as eCommerce becomes routine. In this episode, Ciena's Corporate Strategist Loudon Blair reflects on the evolving retail landscape and what's required from a networking perspective for businesses to answer the call of the always-on, instant gratification economy. We also discuss some of the emerging retail trends as they relate to IoT, augmented reality and virtual reality.

Episode 6: The Evolving Retail Experience

The best podcast episodes of the most interesting stories and things. From skyping someone while they're in space, to tracking down and meeting a telephone scammer in person, to the story of a Galapagos. These episodes will keep you and all your friends entertained and captivated for hours. Learn something new in every episode! Add episodes you're interested into your queue below!

Best Episodes: Interesting Stories & Things

The best podcast episodes on non-current politics. Covering topics such as universal basic income, democracy, poverty & justice and more. For anyone interested in learning more about politics that affect that world, not just now, but in the longer term. Add episodes you're interested into your queue below!