Commercial VoIP Is Still Needed and Expected

For many of your local businesses, voice service is still mission critical. Whether it’s one line or many, from mom and pop shops, schools and municipal organizations, to healthcare offices and hospitals, reliable business voice communications remain essential to daily operations. Providers that offer broadband and voice together are better positioned to retain those accounts, especially in competitive markets where bundled services still matter. And adding voice service will add a substantial bump to your bottom line.

A Steady Source of Revenue

Commercial VoIP provides a predictable, recurring source of revenue. And while it may not generate the same buzz as gigabit speeds, business voice services will deliver solid margins. It remains a practical option for providers looking for revenue streams beyond connectivity, particularly as residential voice adoption declines but business demand stays steady.

Funding and Compliance Considerations

In addition to revenue opportunities, voice services can also play a role in compliance with broadband grants. Some broadband funding programs require service providers to offer voice service as part of their overall portfolio. For providers participating in these funding programs, having a reliable VoIP offering isn’t just a value add, it’s part of meeting program requirements. You can also provide voice to business customers as you satisfy those obligations while continuing to focus on broadband growth.

Operational Reliability Matters

Of course, commercial voice services come with higher expectations. Business subscribers expect reliable uptime, excellent call quality, and responsive support. To meet those expectations, providers need solutions that are well managed and easy to support. Whether handled in-house or with a managed services partner, the operational side of VoIP is just as important as the technology itself.

Voice Still Belongs in the Conversation

Voice may not be the most talked about service in broadband today, but it remains a relevant and profitable part of a well-rounded offering, especially for business customers. For broadband providers focused on long term growth, reliable operations, and compliance for funding, commercial VoIP isn’t a relic of the past. And it’s still very much part of the broadband conversation.

ZCorum delivers a fully managed and hosted VoIP solution designed to streamline service delivery, control costs and reduce overhead, and help providers launch or scale voice services quickly for expanded revenue. Click the thumbnail to learn more, or visit our VoIP website.

The post Voice Isn’t Dead: Why Business VoIP Still Matters for Broadband Providers appeared first on ZCorum.

But here’s the reality in 2026: video never ended. It just changed form.

Subscribers are watching more video than ever with streaming apps, live TV, on- demand platforms, and all the connected devices. And at the center of it all sits one constant: your broadband network.

Streaming reshaped the living room. Smart TVs and streaming devices replaced set-top boxes. Apps replaced channels. Control shifted to the viewer. For subscribers, that brought flexibility and choice. For providers, it created distance from a service that once drove strong customer relationships and recurring revenue.

Yet every show, every movie, every live sporting event still relies on fast, reliable internet. As a broadband provider you didn’t lose relevance in video, you became the foundation. That shift opens the door to a new way of thinking about video, not as a legacy service, but as a modern value add that fits 2026 viewer habits.

Why Traditional Video Became Unsustainable

There’s no nostalgia blindness here. Traditional cable TV became difficult to justify:

• Expensive headend equipment
• Complex and restrictive programming contracts
• Shrinking margins
• Operational overhead tied to hardware, installs, and truck rolls

Walking away from video may have made sense at the time.

But while providers exited the market, subscribers didn’t stop watching TV. They simply fragmented their viewing across multiple platforms.

The Streaming Reality Check

Streaming initially felt like freedom. Affordable devices, endless choice, and no contracts. Fast forward to today, and many households are now juggling five, six, or more subscriptions, each with their own app, password, and monthly charge. Costs have crept up. Complexity has crept in. Frustration has followed.

Subscribers didn’t eliminate the bundle; they just rebuilt it. This is where you have an opportunity to resume the conversation.

IPTV: A Modern Middle Ground

Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) sits between traditional cable and OTT streaming. It delivers live TV, local channels, and on demand content over your IP network without the infrastructure and operational headaches of maintaining a legacy cable TV service.

For service providers, the right IPTV solution changes the economics:

• Much less headend video infrastructure and no set top boxes
• Hosted, cloud-based delivery that scales with your network
• Faster time to market
• Predictable, recurring revenue opportunities
• Managed national and local programming and contract renewals

For subscribers, it simplifies the experience:

• One provider
• One bill
• Live TV plus on-demand content
• Compatibility with smart TVs and popular streaming devices

Instead of competing with streaming, IPTV complements it by offering an array of live and on-demand content, including local channels, coupled with ease of use.

Why Video Still Matters to You

The value of video today isn’t about owning content, it’s about what the subscriber wants. Bundling video with your broadband service increases ARPU, reduces churn, and positions you as a trusted source for both connectivity and entertainment. Even modest video attach rates can translate into meaningful revenue and profit, without the obstacles of traditional cable TV.

Video, reimagined correctly, becomes a key differentiator not a liability.

The Path Forward

The video landscape has changed, but the opportunity hasn’t disappeared. It’s simply evolved. Modern IPTV solutions allow broadband providers to participate in video again on their terms,
aligned with today’s viewing habits and business realities.

If you’ve stepped away from video in the past, now may be the right time to take another look.

Video isn’t over. It’s just entered its next chapter.

ZCorum offers a fully-managed and hosted IPTV solution powered by SFN TV that is designed to reduce complexity, control costs, and create new revenue opportunities. Click the thumbnail to read more, or check out our IPTV website.

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Become the Subject Matter Expert and Educate

Start by providing your audience with an overview of the broadband industry. Discuss the significance of high-speed internet in modern life, and the rapid advancements in technology that drive the need for faster and more reliable broadband services. Many potential customers may not fully understand the technical aspects of broadband services. Create educational content that explains concepts like bandwidth and latency in a simple and accessible manner, and the benefits of fiber-optic technology if you offer fiber service. Informed consumers are more likely to make confident purchasing decisions.

Know Your Audience

Effective marketing begins with a deep understanding of your target audience. Explore the demographics that make up your customer base, from those tech-savvy millennials to the remote-working professionals and social media entertainment enthusiasts. Tailor your marketing strategies to the unique needs and preferences of each segment.

Highlight Your Uniqueness

What sets your broadband services apart from the competition? Whether it’s lightning-fast speeds, reliable connections, innovative features, or the quality of your customer support, clearly communicate your unique advantages. Use compelling messaging with emails, social media posts and community announcements to convey the value customers can expect from choosing your broadband service.

Include Digital Platforms

With broadband marketing, a robust online presence is crucial. Use the potential of digital marketing channels, including social media and online advertising to reach a wider audience. Share success stories, customer testimonials, and engaging content to build trust and credibility.

Leveraging Influencers and Community Goodwill

Use your digital platforms above to collaborate with influencers in the tech and lifestyle space. Even local influencers, political office holders, local sports stars and community leaders can provide authentic reviews, testimonials, and engaging content that resonates with followers. Become involved in your local charity events such as fun runs, golf tournaments or seasonal festivals. Sponsor your local schools with scholarships and highlight on social media posts. These approaches humanize your company and adds a personal touch to your marketing efforts.

Loyalty Programs

Building long-term relationships with customers is key to success. Implement customer engagement initiatives and loyalty programs to reward existing subscribers. This not only encourages customer retention but also boosts word-of-mouth referrals.

Monitoring and Adapting Strategies

The broadband industry is always evolving, with technological advancements and market trends shaping the digital world. Regularly monitor the performance of your marketing strategies to see what is working best in your market.

Improving your broadband marketing requires a customer focused strategy. By understanding your audience, showcasing your unique selling propositions, and embracing multiple marketing channels you can successfully position your broadband services in a highly competitive market.

We can help

For more information about how we can help you increase your subscriber base and your average revenue per user (ARPU), click here.

The post Marketing at Gigabit Speed: Broadband Strategies for Success appeared first on ZCorum.

According to the BEAD Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), providers who receive money from BEAD must have a plan in place that reflects the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) cybersecurity Framework. NIST has developed a comprehensive set of guidelines and requirements that can look pretty daunting. However, the significance of the NIST requirements and their hand-in-hand relationship to BEAD funding stresses the importance the government is placing on countering cyberattacks with robust cybersecurity plans. It’s also important to note that it is worthwhile to follow the NIST Framework even if you will not be seeking out BEAD funding. A successful cyberattack on your network can result in significant downtime, stolen data, lost revenue, and loss of customer trust.

Understanding NIST Requirements

NIST is the prominent authority when it comes to cybersecurity best practices. Their guidelines provide a structured approach to managing and mitigating cyber risks. Implementing NIST requirements offers several advantages. First, it provides a comprehensive roadmap for operators to assess and improve their cybersecurity posture. Following NIST guidelines allows you to identify potential network vulnerabilities and implement effective safeguards, reducing the risk of cyber incidents. Adhering to NIST requirements also demonstrates a commitment to cybersecurity best practices, which can enhance subscriber trust and confidence in the your ability to protect their sensitive information. Here’s a summation of what the NIST Framework requires for an adequate cybersecurity plan.

The Significance of BEAD Funding

Governing bodies and organizations have recognized the critical role of cybersecurity in the advancement and governance of its broadband initiatives. Therefore, the BEAD funding initiative aims to support organizations that prioritize cybersecurity by providing financial resources to strengthen their security infrastructure and capabilities. BEAD funding offers a unique opportunity for broadband operators to invest in their cybersecurity initiatives and promote sustainable growth.

Obtaining BEAD funding requires broadband operators to demonstrate a robust cybersecurity plan aligned with a recognized framework and standards. By aligning their cybersecurity strategy with NIST requirements, operators can ensure they meet the necessary criteria for BEAD funding consideration. This alignment not only strengthens an operator’s cybersecurity practices but also positions them favorably to secure financial support for their initiatives, enabling them to further enhance their overall security posture.

Preparing Your Cybersecurity Plan for NIST Requirements and BEAD Funding

To ensure your organization’s cybersecurity plan is ready for NIST requirements and BEAD funding, consider the following steps:

1. Assess Your Current Cybersecurity Posture: Evaluate your existing cybersecurity measures to identify any gaps or vulnerabilities. Have a comprehensive risk assessment performed to determine potential threats and their impact on your organization.

2. Adopt NIST Guidelines: Familiarize yourself with NIST’s frameworks, such as the NIST CSF or relevant Special Publications, and implement the recommended controls and procedures. NIST provides detailed documentation and tools that can help guide your cybersecurity efforts.

3. Establish a Robust Cybersecurity Program: Develop a comprehensive cybersecurity program that addresses risk management, incident response, access controls, employee training, and regular security audits. Ensure your program aligns with the specific requirements outlined in NIST guidelines.

4. Document Your Plan: Create a detailed cybersecurity plan that outlines your goals, strategies, and specific measures for implementing NIST guidelines. This documentation will not only guide your internal efforts but also serve as crucial evidence when applying for BEAD funding.

5. Seek Expert Assistance: Adhering to the NIST guidelines can be difficult, lengthy and tedious and could require requires a lot of time you and your current staff probably do not have. Consider engaging cybersecurity professionals or consultants with expertise in NIST requirements and BEAD funding to assist with plan development, and ensure you meet the necessary criteria.

We can provide that expert assistance. We’ll help you meet the NIST Framework so that you can apply for BEAD funding, and we can provide the ongoing monitoring and threat detection that will take your security posture to the next level. You will save you time and trouble as we help navigate this complicated environment with you, for much less then it would cost you to set up and maintain your own security operations center. You can read more about our Managed Cybersecurity Services, or you can contact us today to learn more about how we can get you prepared for your BEAD submission.

By aligning your cybersecurity plan with NIST requirements and exploring opportunities provided by BEAD funding, you can establish a powerful cybersecurity posture that ensures secure connectivity for your operation and the communities you serve. Prioritizing cybersecurity not only protects your data and infrastructure but also builds trust with stakeholders and enables a stable and future-proof digital system.

Additional Resources:

WATCH: Implementing the Core Components of the NIST Cybersecurity Framework for BEAD Funding Requirements

The post What are the NIST Cybersecurity Requirements for BEAD Funding appeared first on ZCorum.

This continues to be an issue for broadband providers, and that’s even the case for those who are new to the game. A new provider might think they can launch their service with an all-IPv6 network and not have to worry about IPv4, but that’s not how it works. IPv6 is not backward compatible with IPv4. Even if a provider’s network is all IPv6 from the very start, every subscriber still must have access to a publicly routable IPv4 address so that they can reach any IPv4-only websites on the Internet. And that IPv4 content will remain there for years to come.

Dual Stack Deployment for IPv4 Compatibility

If you are launching service for the first time on an IPv6 network you can do a dual-stack implementation where you provide your customers access to both an IPv6 address and an IPv4 address. If the content they are trying to reach is IPv4 only, their system will automatically use their IPv4 address. If the website is on an IPv6 network, it will use their IPv6 address.

One way to deploy dual stack is to assign every subscriber their own public IPv4 address, but this can get very costly over time. IPv4 addresses are expensive, having varied from $40 to $60 per address recently. That winds up being an additional cost for every subscriber you add.

With the distribution of millions of dollars in funding from the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program, new and existing operators will be launching broadband service in previously unserved and underserved areas. In those areas there will be a lot of pent-up demand from customers who have been living with slow Internet service, which will mean a quickly growing subscriber base right from the start.

Reduce IPv4 Costs with Carrier Grade NAT

A better solution than buying IPv4 addresses for every subscriber is to deploy Carrier Grade NAT (CGNAT) with NAT64 and DN64 enabled. With CGNAT you don’t need an IPv4 address for every subscriber. NAT64 will do a translation between a subscriber’s IPv6 address and a public IPv4 address that is shared among multiple customers. DNS64 is used to translate the IPv4 A record of the website into an IPv6 AAAA record (quad A record).

What can that mean to your bottom line? With CGNAT you can oversubscribe every IPv4 address 128 times or more. As an example, if you expect to have 1,200 subscribers after your first year in business, you’ll only need ten IPv4 addresses that first year with a 128:1 oversubscription ratio. Compare that to paying for 1,200 addresses at $40 each ($48,000). Yes, there is the upfront cost of purchasing CGNAT software and equipment, but it doesn’t take long for the cost of IP addresses to exceed the cost of deploying CGNAT. In the scenario above, the payback would be well under a year. In addition, without CGNAT your IPv4 expenses will continue to climb with every subscriber who signs up for your service.

We can help. ZCorum offers an affordable, software-based CGNAT solution that is easily scalable for providers of all sizes. Unlike some CGNAT solutions that are deployed on expensive, proprietary hardware, you can deploy our virtual CGNAT solution on standard, off-the-shelf servers sized for your current needs. And, we offer flexible licensing that will grow with you. You can learn more about our virtual CGNAT solution here, or feel free to contact us for more information and pricing.

The post Greenfield Broadband Deployments and IPv4 appeared first on ZCorum.

What is CALEA?

CALEA is the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act. It originally passed in October of 1994, and initially only applied to providers of telephone services. It was put in place due to the increasing use of digital phone switches, and it required that phone companies be able to assist law enforcement in performing electronic surveillance if presented with a valid court order or other lawful intercept authorization. In addition, switch manufacturers needed to ensure that their equipment was CALEA compliant.

In 2006 the law was extended to apply to “all facilities-based broadband Internet access providers and providers of interconnected VoIP service.” In other words, if you are an ISP, you must be CALEA compliant and you need to take CALEA seriously. If you receive a CALEA request and are not able to comply, you can be fined up to $10,000 per day by the court until you are able to.

What is a CALEA SSI Plan?

As part of the CALEA, telecommunications companies (including ISPs since 2006) are required to file a System Security and Integrity Plan (SSI plan). This plan documents how the service provider will be complying with CALEA, and has the contact information of the people at the company who will be assisting any law enforcement agency that presents a lawful intercept request under CALEA. Originally SSI plans were paper copies that were sent in to the FCC and filed. As of June 29, 2023, SSI plans must be filed electronically in the CEFS. This is a requirement for every facilities-based Internet Service Provider.

You need to get compliant before you receive a CALEA request, and filing is an important step to let the FCC know that you are compliant and will be able to respond to a CALEA request in a timely manner. Since SSI plans will now be online, it will also make it easier for the FCC to determine which ISPs have filed their plans and which have not.

How do I become CALEA compliant?

CALEA compliance requires the appropriate technology to be placed in the right location in your network so you can enable, mediate and securely deliver a live stream of data from a specified subscriber to the requesting law enforcement agency when presented with a lawful intercept request. You must also have policies in place to ensure that CALEA requests are handled quickly and confidentially. This includes having specified CALEA contacts that law enforcement can get in touch with at any time, that any CALEA-based court orders you receive are fully verified, and that all intercepts that are initiated (and the targets of those intercepts) will be kept confidential and on a need-to-know basis.

There are two options to become compliant. One is to have your own mediation equipment on hand, along with the appropriate staff who can fully verify CALEA requests, deploy the equipment appropriately and securely to isolate the specific information requested from a specific subscriber, and deliver it to the requesting Law Enforcement Agency (LEA). This can be difficult and expensive for all but the largest providers. The other option is to use a Trusted Third Party (TTP). TTPs can act as your CALEA contact, including verifying any lawful intercept requests, sending the required mediation equipment and assisting in its proper deployment, and managing the process of delivering the intercepted data to the LEA in the required format securely and confidentially.

If you are not yet CALEA compliant, ZCorum can act as your CALEA Trusted Third Party. We can provide the services and intercept devices needed so that you are always ready to respond appropriately to a CALEA request in a timely manner, and avoid potential fines for non compliance.

Additional CALEA Resources:
To request a Sample SSI form, which will help you collect and document the information needed for your online SSI filing, go here.

For more information about CALEA and the online filing mandate for SSI plans, watch this video.

Download the CALEA Electronic Filing System (CEFS) User Manual

You can also find more information about CALEA and SSI plans on the FCC CALEA Website.

The post Online Filing of CALEA SSI Plans Now Mandatory for Internet Providers appeared first on ZCorum.

Providers just venturing into fiber are trying to decide on which technology to use. Should they select GPON technology—which for most of the past decade has enabled BSPs to offer 2.5 Gbps
downstream and 1.25 Gbps upstream or should they begin with the next generation XGS-PON?

Established service providers already deploying fiber are debating whether to stick with GPON or move up from single gigabit to 10G services.

Where do I start?

The two most widely deployed standards today are GPON and XGS-PON.

GPON is trusted for competitive single-digit Gigabit broadband and has been the most widely deployed technology over the last five to seven years. And for most of the past decade, GPON has let providers offer the basic service for a low cost.

XGS-PON is a major shift. Developed as a successor to GPON, XGS-PON (X=10, G=Gigabit, S=symmetrical) is very similar to GPON technology, except that it can deliver up to 10 Gbps of symmetrical bandwidth.

While GPON is still being bought and deployed by operators, XGS-PON is overtaking GPON out of necessity. As the demand for bandwidth continues to rise, the ability to deliver 10 Gbps speeds to both businesses and households will be critical for fiber-based service providers.

How do I choose?

The simple answer is you don’t have to. Both technologies can exist on the same piece of fiber.

XGS-PON uses wavelengths outside of the spectrum allocated to GPON, so the technologies can co-exist on the same fiber without sharing bandwidth. Also, XGS-PON systems are backward compatible, meaning they can operate at the same wavelengths as an existing GPON system.

All this would suggest every new fiber network should start with XGS-PON. Not necessarily. New ways have been developed to make fiber deployments more cost-effective while allowing operators to choose. One new technology is a universal fiber solution where every port can work either as GPON, XGS-PON, or Multi-PON mode: GPON and XGS-PON at the same time. This is an enormous advantage for new deployments, giving operators the flexibility they want.

The question that arises is, “If I’m deploying XGS-PON what do I do with my existing GPON subscribers?” The simple answer is nothing immediately. Because you are running both systems
jointly, you can wait until your subscribers ask for an upgrade or you can monitor their usage, watching for signs of needing more bandwidth. Then upgrade those subscribers.

In the end, deploy your fiber on a platform that will simplify your operations and take you through the next decade. Access networks are a 10-year investment. Operators need to make the platform choice that meets the needs of their network now and for the length of the investment and beyond.

Download this brief for more insight into choosing the right system for your network needs.

To learn more about deploying 10G PON, watch this video from one of our live Tech Tuesdays broadcasts, which explains in more detail the GPON vs XGS-PON decision.

The post GPON or XGS-PON: Options for Fiber Deployments appeared first on ZCorum.

According to a report released by Lumen Technologies, Q1 2022 saw an increase of 32% in DDoS attacks from the previous year, coupled with protective measures that blocked nearly 70 attacks daily in that same quarter. With this increase in activity, telecommunications companies were a prime target, netting 1,487 attacks. Both bandwidth and packet threats surfaced, with Lumen seeing the largest bandwidth attack at 775 Gbps. The largest packet-based attack they scrubbed was 127 Mbps, and they had one attack that lasted for five days. That would not be a happy time for any network administrator, and an extended attack like that could lead to serious consequences for your broadband business if were not mitigated.

As DDoS attacks increase at alarming rates, a method knows as “carpet bombing” has started to invade the network landscape, accounting for 34% of attacks in Q1 2022 and jumping to nearly 60% in both Q3 and Q4. The complexities of carpet bombing make it much more difficult to defend, as the threats are delivered in smaller blasts over a larger area, which causes packet floods to multiple individual IPs in a short time.

Corero in this article lists the following components of carpet bombing attacks:

• Attack packets are often fragmented
• The targeted IP addresses often change during an attack
• Attacks can include a combination of reflection and flooding techniques
• Vectors are often automated, changing rapidly on the fly

You can also find additional details on carpet bombing and other threats as detailed in Neustar Security Services’ Cyber Threats & Trends Report.

To ensure your network is secure and protected, you need to have a plan to defend your network from DDoS attacks. When evaluating solutions, finding an option that is precise, automatic, scalable, and affordable is key, and will give you peace of mind in knowing that your network is protected. ZCorum’s DDoS solution can do just that. For more information on how you can get started implementing a DDoS strategy on your network, go here.

The post Carpet Bombing and the Rise in DDoS Attacks appeared first on ZCorum.

Prepare for an Upsurge in Call Volume Crush

According to Forbes, there is an increase in customer support calls by 5-10 times as you inch closer to the holidays.

The first step to preparing for the holiday avalanche of support calls is to assess the workload and capabilities of your existing staff. You may have to decide on the need to hire more team members or outsource to a third party in order to resolve the large number of incoming customer issues of all varieties. These support calls are going to come in fast and furious. Your staff needs to know the answers to questions about setting up new service, turning on new laptops and tablets, accessing WiFi and network passwords, streaming movies, network speeds and more.

Answer Frequently Asked Questions

You can help your subscribers and provide some relief to your overworked staff by having common questions answered and available on your website or social media pages. Get started by scanning through the type of questions asked last year. Review the top questions asked.

For phone calls, create a “cheat sheet” for your staff to have on hand with responses to similar customer questions from years past.

Focus on Your Staffing Needs

Holiday season requires all hands on deck, but you don’t need to recruit and hire full-time support employees. You can outsource your front-line subscriber support to an external agency full time or for holiday help. Looking back over your historical data can help you decide your personnel needs for the season.

In-house you’ll need to rotate holiday customer support staff. It becomes very stressful for your employees to be on duty during the Holiday season rush. It’s important that your front customer support staff get time off so that they can strike the balance and keep the support excellent.

Communicate on Preferred Channels

By 2023, messaging will be the number one B2C communication channel, making up 61% of total interactions.–Hubtype

Customer needs and preferences change during the holiday season. For most of the year, customers are comfortable using online self-help to have their questions answered. But during the holiday season, they want to dial a phone number and talk to a customer support person who can solve the problem quickly. The most important goal of customer support is to respond to a customer inquiry with speed. Having support staff always on and knowledgeable can lead to faster resolutions, reducing churn and building loyalty.

Being available on all support channels, phone call, social media pages, website, and chat line might seem the best thing to do, but it will stretch your limited in-house staff to cover them all. Look at the trends during the previous holiday season and identify your channels that received the most requests for help. Based on this, turn off the least used support channel and have your team concentrate on handling support requests on the most used channels.

Turn on alerts: If your staff has to be away, keep your email notifications on to update your customers when needed. Always keep knowledge base resources handy so that you can route your customers with links to relevant articles.

Small company and holiday customer support management: If you’re a small company (meaning just one person replying to the messages and resolving the requests), it’s essential not to impose unrealistic deadlines. Do not promise 24 hours to resolve issues, instead, help your customer support staff save time by using some canned responses to most often questions asked. Use of the cheat sheet is a good idea here.

Customer Service is Not Just for the Holiday Season

Every business needs a first class holiday customer service strategy, but it’s not restricted to the holiday season. Ensure your support team has all the resources needed to deliver quick and effective solutions to customer issues throughout the year. Talk to your staff to understand what the needs are, whether it’s more training, additional personnel or multiple phone lines. Your customer support staff is the front line for your reputation. Don’t make it an afterthought.

The post Navigating Your Holiday Subscriber Support appeared first on ZCorum.

Microbends

The problems begin when water has made its way into the conduit. Generally this happens when there are gaps or imperfect joins at the connectors or the connectors are simply not robust enough to avoid water ingress. Whenever water makes its way into the cables and the temperature plunges, the water freezes and ice forms around the fiber strands. The ice causes the fiber to contort and bend. These microbends will degrade the signal passing through the strands. Depending on how severe the bending is, the signals can be slowed down, reducing the bandwidth, but in other instances, signals won’t be able to pass through the fiber optics at all and leads to fiber optic networks going down without warning.

Ice Crush

In cold climates, water that penetrates a splice enclosure can freeze, and crush the fiber strands, leaving you with a costly network outage. Frozen water creates pressure upwards of 30,000 PSI. Most fiber cables will crush at a pressure of
around 6380 PSI.

So ice creates essentially five times the pressure that it takes to crush the fiber. When this ice crush occurs, an emergency network repair is required to avoid additional damage and downtime. However, given the frigid conditions, entry to the splice enclosure is often hard to reach. In some situations, it is not unusual to discover the handhole or pull box buried under a snowbank, with the lid sealed by ice, and full of water that has completely frozen solid.

How Does Water Get In?

Access Points – Conduits in a fiber optic plant have access points. Water can infiltrate at these connections and flow downhill and settle. This can lead to hundreds of gallons of water being present in the conduits. As long as the conduit is buried below the frost line, this doesn’t present a problem, as no freezing will occur. But where out of necessity a fiber optic cable is exposed to freezing temperatures, ice will develop in the duct.

Condensation – This is another culprit, chiefly at exposed bridge crossings, where differences between the ambient temperature and the inside of the conduits are common. Just as condensation forms on a cold glass, so too does condensation form inside innerducts and conduits.

Again, as long as the conduit is buried below the frost line, no freezing will result. At bridge crossings, it’s common for fiber freezing to occur two to three feet within the head wall of a bridge. Freeze-ups are similarly a problem in pipelines where they are exposed or situated on a beam or girder used in bridge construction to cross creeks or rivers.

Preventing Damage

Fortunately, there are some preventative steps available when installing your fiber optic cables to ensure that your cables are not affected and connectivity is not interrupted.

Obviously the best approach is to bury all fiber cables below the frost line, so there’s no threat of ice. Although temperatures in some states can get to -40°F, the temperature inside the conduit that’s underground will not drop below about 25°F. Unfortunately this solution can be extremely expensive and/or is economically out of the budget. In some areas, installing cables below the frost line is not even possible as when cables need to be routed along a bridge or other structure.

Another solution is to add antifreeze liquids or gels to the fiber conduit. These specialty, antifreeze gels are injected or pumped into conduits to restrict water ingress and the subsequent ice production. They’re recommended for systems installed above the frost line such as those carrying fiber optics across bridges and other large structures. But again, this can come with a significant cost.

To cost-effectively protect the fiber against severe temperatures, it’s essential to safeguard the endpoints and connections from any water leaking into the conduit, and later freezing. Connectors which are specifically designed for bitter environments can help ensure the fiber conduit is sealed, and the fiber itself is safe from the risk of ice formation.

Some providers have explored a remedy for the freezing in pipes at creeks or river crossings by laying carrier pipes along railroad rights-of-way and attaching them to the sides of any bridges or culverts or laying them on the bridge deck. This is much less costly than placing the cable underground.

When your weather service is advising you that the big blizzard is on its way, you have a lot of built-in weather advantages with a fiber plant, but even fiber is not bulletproof. Some preventative measures can add peace of mind for your fiber investment and keep your service operational.

The post What Weather Can Do To Your Fiber Optic Cables – Part 2: Ice appeared first on ZCorum.

Connectivity for your subscribers—especially during an emergency, is now their priority. Being able to access the internet after a weather situation means they can run their businesses, find supplies like food and fuel, and connect with their loved ones to let them know they’re alright. And while fiber optics by design are weather-resistant, the technology isn’t perfect. Though fiber has fewer operational and maintenance issues than copper, weather is still a serious factor in upholding your subscribers’ expectations for on-all-the-time connectivity.

Fiber networks, especially the ones built underground, are exceptionally reliable and will outlive brutal weather without breaking. However flooding can damage fiber even when deployed underground. As a result, broadband wireless service can be knocked out for an entire region in cases of extreme flooding especially in coastal areas.

But for the most part, underground installations will remain stable during inclement weather. In 2017 Hurricane Irma battered parts of Florida, Texas and the Caribbean. Local fiber networks hummed along, supporting strong internet connections. And major data centers in these areas kept their doors open thanks in part to fiber.

Unfortunately not every installation can be underground. In some areas, installing fiber on poles is not just a matter of economics, but also of necessity. Aerial installations can be problematic in the unusually high wind conditions of hurricanes or tornados. High winds, like the ones experienced when Hurricane Michael hit parts of Florida and Alabama in 2018, can uproot trees that fall on utility lines or knock over entire poles, taking above the ground fiber optics down with them.

Last month, Hurricane Ian reminds us how destructive these storms can be on aerial fiber installations. Some of the above ground fiber optic networks were knocked out after enduring the 150 mph winds. Internet access was hard-hit where there were some near-total blackout conditions due to the destruction of utility poles, power lines and cell towers.

Weather disasters, whether forecast or from out of the blue, will continue to bring about disruption on fiber-optic networks. Being prepared by having a repair strategy in place will be the best way to manage the recovery. Assemble the tools needed and train your technicians in making post-disaster fiber repairs quickly and safely.

The post What Weather Can Do To Your Fiber Optic Cables – Part 1: Wind & Water appeared first on ZCorum.

Passed in 1994, and managed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the provisions in CALEA initially only applied to phone traffic. It was originally passed in response to the need for law enforcement to be able to initiate wiretaps on digital phone switches, which were becoming more prevalent at the time. It required carriers and manufacturers of telecom equipment to ensure that their systems are capable of selective wiretapping of any phone traffic, and that carriers have the people and policies in place to properly assist law enforcement with that process in the event of a valid surveillance request.

In 2005 the FCC extended coverage of CALEA to include broadband Internet access providers and VoIP providers. With that change, Broadband providers also needed to ensure they have the systems and people in place to assist with lawful intercept requests, and to do so in a way that protects the confidentiality of the surveillance while securely transmitting the data to the requesting law enforcement agency (LEA). Compliance with CALEA is mandated, and if a provider is found not to be in compliance they can be subject to fines of up to $10,000 per day from the Court until they become compliant.

Unfortunately, CALEA compliance is not easy for several reasons. First, the provider needs to have designated CALEA contacts that are available 24 hours a day who are familiar with what needs to be done and who can ensure that the court order for a CALEA intercept is valid. CALEA requests do not happen often, but you could get one at any time. This makes CALEA compliance a challenge, since it’s difficult to maintain the required policies and efficiently execute procedures when something is relatively rare and occurs unexpectedly.

Next, there is the technical complexity of providing a live intercept of the traffic flow for a specific individual or individuals identified in the court order and then delivering that data securely, in the proper format, to the requesting LEA. This requires that specialized equipment be placed in the network in the right location. And, as your network changes over time, where that equipment should be placed could change. You won’t have a lot of time to figure that out. You need to be able to get the live intercept set up in a timely manner, which is generally considered to be within just a few days of the order.

All providers are also required to file a CALEA System Security and Integrity (SSI) Plan with the FCC. This plan explains how the provider will comply with CALEA, including who their designated CALEA contacts are. In addition, the SSI needs to confirm that appropriate legal and carrier authorization will be obtained prior to beginning an intercept, and that a record of each interception request will be kept for a designated period of time. You should also have a policy in place notify the LEA of any security breaches related to the request. We have a sample CALEA SSI Plan that you can download here.

The FCC currently only accepts paper filings of SSI plans, but they are in the process of implementing a CALEA Electronic Filing System (CEFS). Electronic filing in the CEFS will initially be voluntary, but the FCC is currently seeking comment on whether to make electronic filing mandatory, which will likely be the case six months after voluntary filing begins. With all SSI filings in an online system they would be easier for operators to submit and keep up to date, and easier for LEAs to access the information. It will also be easier for the FCC to determine if there are providers who have not filed a plan.

For service providers there are three ways to handle CALEA compliance: 1) You can develop your own equipment and initiate and manage your own compliance steps when a request comes in; 2) you can purchase equipment specifically for CALEA and handle your own compliance; or, 3) you can contract with a Trusted Third Party (TTP) to provide the equipment and CALEA compliance services for you. The FCC has allowed for this third TTP option because of the required resources and complexity of CALEA compliance, especially for smaller and mid-sized operators.

Additional Resources:

You can go to the FCC’s CALEA site to find out more about your responsibilities under CALEA.

If you are not CALEA compliant, ZCorum can help. We can provide you with CALEA Trusted Third Party services and do the heavy lifting for you. For more information, visit our CALEA Services page.

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