What are the biggest challenges you see for operators deploying FTTH at national scale?
Scale makes coordination harder. Contractors, planners and field teams all work at different speeds and with different tools. Without a single operational view, it becomes difficult to manage change. Each new project adds more moving parts and small mistakes quickly multiply.
Legacy systems are another issue. Many operators still rely on tools not designed for the complexity of modern fibre networks because they struggle to handle continuous updates or multiple subcontractors. As a result, it’s difficult to track what has been built, what is delayed and what is ready for activation.
Financial pressure adds to the challenge. Investors now look at homes connected rather than homes passed, which shifts attention from construction speed to operational accuracy. Operators must show reliable progress and turn existing infrastructure into revenue faster. This requires a stronger link between design, field work and commercial activity.
How can operators turn the data they already have into an advantage?
The most successful operators treat operational data as a live asset. They invest in faster feedback from the field and use this to guide both planning and execution.
When field data, network design and operations data are linked, progress can be tracked in real time and updates reflected in the network model. This visibility makes it easier to see where work is falling behind, where resources are underused, and where activation potential is highest. It also helps detect early signs of delay or quality issues before they escalate.
Operators that achieve this integration see fewer errors and faster project completion because every team is working from the same source of truth. They can identify the areas most ready for activation, prioritise resources effectively and make sure every decision supports both operational and commercial goals.
This connected approach becomes the main driver of efficiency and long-term profitability as networks scale.
What’s next for the future of intelligent networks?
The next step is using automation and AI to improve daily operations. Networks generate more data than people can analyse manually. AI can help by recognising patterns, validating information and pointing to areas that need attention.
The starting point is accuracy. Systems need to confirm that what is built in the field matches the design so that the operational model reflects the real network. Once that foundation is in place, AI can support predictive tasks such as identifying assets at risk or confirming where maintenance should be prioritised.
The goal is to move towards self-updating networks that maintain their own accuracy. When changes are made in the field, the system records and validates them automatically, keeping the digital model in sync with the physical network. This creates a continuous feedback loop where information stays current without waiting for manual updates, reducing errors and improving reliability over time.