Jason's Industry Insights

Most companies think they've got security covered. They've bought the tools, checked some boxes, maybe even signed up for cyber insurance. Daniel Zborovski, a fractional CISO with 25 years in the trenches, would politely disagree. In this episode, we get into what security actually looks like when you pull back the curtain. Not the product stack. The governance, the risk, the stuff that keeps a re...

What happens when a veteran network architect can't get his own Wi-Fi working before a podcast? Exactly the kind of conversation you can't plan for. Victor Kuarsingh and I have known each other for nearly 20 years, going back to when Jason was at Juniper and Victor was designing IP architecture at Rogers. Victor is now the Managing Vice President of Connectivity at Capital One, and Jason has a lit...

In this episode, I reconnect with Amedeo Bernardi, founder of the Canadian Rural and Remote Broadband Community Conference and Expo (CRRBC), to preview the 2026 conference season and explore this year's theme: "the infinite build." Born from a coffee conversation in 2019, CRRBC has evolved from a regional North Bay gathering into Canada's premier platform for addressing digital equity in rural, re...

In this episode of Jason’s Industry Insights , I chat with Rouzbeh Yassini-Fard, the man known worldwide as the father of the cable modem, to revisit the origins of the broadband era as documented in his recently released book, " The Accidental Network - How a small company sparked a global broadband transformation ." Rouzbeh recounts how, in 1987, a 20-person team at LANCity built the first high-...

Rahul Goel, CEO and founder of NordSpace, joins me to discuss how his company is building a fully Canadian space ecosystem — from 3D-printed rocket engines and launch vehicles to satellites, AI-driven payloads, and Canada's first commercial spaceport in Newfoundland. They’re working to reshape and fill gaps in every segment of Canada’s space sector, from investment and infrastructure to technology...

In this episode, Karl May, CEO and Founder of Join Digital, breaks down the shift from Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) to Network-as-a-Platform. We explore how this evolution opens new revenue opportunities for MSPs and ISPs by combining open hardware, software-first networking, and AI-powered operations. Karl shares how Join’s approach helps providers significantly reduce costs, scale without adding...

Municipalities are taking broadband into their own hands. In this episode, I chat with Laura Bradley, General Manager of YorkNet, about how York Region is building and managing its own fiber network. Laura shares how YorkNet went from connecting a few buildings in 2002 to deploying over 1,000 kilometers of fiber today, why open access infrastructure matters, and how strategic planning is shaping t...

What if you could see through the earth and scan entire cities without lifting a shovel? In this episode, I speak with Denise Squarzolo, Director of Electrical Engineering Services at Planview Utility Services, to reveal the high-tech future of infrastructure planning. From LIDAR scans and AI-assisted pole surveys to digital twins that render the invisible visible, Denise breaks down how vast data...

What’s really stopping rural and northern communities from getting connected? In this episode, I speak with Susan Church, Executive Director of Blue Sky Net, for a candid conversation about the stubborn challenges, and creative solutions, shaping broadband in Northern Ontario. Susan shares stories from her 25-year journey, exposing why national broadband stats are misleading, why “hexagon mapping”...

What if the biggest challenge in high-speed connectivity wasn’t digging trenches or laying fiber, but simply getting through a mile of air? In this episode, I sit down with Tom Chaffee and Jim Olson from Attochron, a team on a decades-long mission to finally solve the “last mile” problem with a technology that’s left an entire industry skeptical: free space optics. With stories of failed startups,...

I speak with Gord Reynolds and delve into the complexities of Ontario's broadband journey, discussing the barriers to construction, the impact of legislative changes, the mechanisms of funding and subsidies, and ongoing challenges to continue to close the Digital Divide. We explore the challenges faced by municipalities and internet service providers, the viability of wireless versus fiber solutio...

In this episode, I speak with Dr. Paul Dickinson delve into the transformative potential of fiber optic sensing technology. They discuss its applications across various sectors, including security, utilities, and municipal and smart city applications, emphasizing the importance of awareness and education in driving adoption. Dr. Dickinson shares insights from his extensive experience in the indust...

(I'm apologizing for the sound quality on this one. No idea what happened there!) In this episode of Jason's Industry Insights, I discusses the current state of mergers and acquisitions (M&A), Private Equity placement and the dynamic of valuation in the telecom sector with David Pickett, a chartered business valuator. We explore the factors influencing M&A and valuations, and the shift in...

With the first conference of the 2025 series fast approaching (June), I wanted to speak with Amedeo Bernardi, the founder of the Canadian Rural and Remote Broadband Community Conference to revisit the origins of the conference, how it has evolved and continues to innovate every year, and the importance of networking and collaboration in addressing broadband challenges in rural areas. The challenge...

In this episode, I discuss the Model Context Protocol (MCP) with John Capobianco, exploring its implications for AI integration and network observability. Think of MCP as the USB of AI Integration. Watch the episode with Video at https://youtu.be/vYF-vZnpQ4M We delve into the concept of vibe coding, the practical applications of MCP in networking, and the future of technology with this new protoco...

Broadband testing isn’t as simple as checking upload and download speeds. In this episode, I speak with Michael McCallen, CEO of Cheetah Networks , about the biggest challenges in broadband performance testing, why traditional methods often fall short and how they solve the problem with a home-grown Canadian solution. We uncover key obstacles, including: 🔹 Inconsistent Testing Methods – Why resul...

In this episode, I sit down with Philip Johnston, co-founder and CEO of StarCloud, a pioneering company at the forefront of orbital data centers. Philip makes a bold prediction: within 10 years, all data processing will be in space—and he’s on a mission to make that happen. We dive into the game-changing advantages of space-based data centers, including unlimited solar power, passive cooling, and...

In this episode, I chat with Tim Belfall from WestEnd WiFi in Stevenage, England. Tim is an expert in satellite broadband, and an authorized installer (integrator) fort Starlink. We discuss Tim's background in telecommunications, his real-world experiences with Starlink, how its performance has changed over time, and the upcoming pricing changes that will impact customers. We touch on the competit...

In this episode, Alex Qi, CEO of Pontosense, joins me to chat about the innovative technology behind their human sensing solutions. PontoSense focuses on using millimeter radar technology combined with AI to monitor human activity without the need for wearables, and without compromising personal privacy. The discussion covers the origins of the company, its applications in automotive safety and as...

In this episode I speak with Carlos Placido, a well known and respected independent consultant in satellite communications, about the evolving landscape of space-based communications. We discuss the significance of tools like NCAT (Non Geo Constellation Analysis ToolKit) for analyzing satellite constellations, the opportunities presented by direct-to-device communication, and the role of IoT in en...

Welcome to the first episode of Jason's Industry Insights! Be kind. It's a learning curve, especially with sound quality and editing. In this episode, I speak with John Capobianco from Selector.ai, exploring the innovative applications of AI in network management. We discuss how Selector. AI enhances root cause analysis, predictive capabilities, and the integration of AI into existing systems. Joh...

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