How BNGs can ease internet traffic congestion
Over the years, Broadband Network Gateways (BNGs) have had to evolve to support new functionalities. Management of multiple types of access, transmission of data encapsulations, and customers have challenged the effectiveness, speed and delivery of gateways. These are management systems …
The IoT Security Opportunity Sitting Right Under Every ISP’s Nose
The surging smart home market is opening up exciting new opportunities for internet service providers (ISPs) to deliver essential value-added services, but maybe not in the ways you’d think. For decades, ISPs have lived and died by the different tiers …
When Cable Broadband Leads to Underwhelming Wi-Fi
With the recent expansion of high-speed broadband and fiber internet into the residential space, more cable ISP customers are channeling their inner Tom Cruise and feeling the need for speed. They’re connecting more devices to their cable internet and streaming …
Why structured wiring needs to be on your radar as a builder or installer
From appliances to lights to blinds to thermostats, smart home devices are finding their way into every nook and cranny in the modern household. In many ways, these devices are making our homes more efficient and user-friendly than ever before. …
Tackling Dead Zones With Whole Home Mesh Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi dead zones. They’re every ISP’s worst nightmare. They’re also becoming more and more of a customer retention problem in the age of the smart home and high-speed internet. With so many connected devices performing critical tasks in the home, …
Cat5, Cat6, and Cat6a: Is it Finally Time to Start Future-Proofing?
For most of the past few decades, new Ethernet installations have been dominated by Cat5, Cat5e, and Cat6 cabling. Cat5 saw its stock rise in the mid-to -late 90s, Cat5e had its heyday in the 2000s, and Cat6 has been …
Top 5 Smart Home Blog Posts from The Switch
As we look forward to an exciting 2019 in the telco and smart home industry, here’s a list of our most-read blog posts on The Switch. Why 5G won’t replace fiber or cable broadband If you’ve been reading the headlines …
802.11ax: What You Need to Know About the Next Generation of Wi-Fi
If you’re a broadband installer or technician who’s ever had to troubleshoot interference or bandwidth problems with your customer’s WLAN, you know this reality all too well: It’s an ultra-crowded wireless world out there, and only the strongest network signals …
Why fiber-optic networks are vital to rural connectivity
Remember when fiber broadband was a premium offering available only in select regions? That was when your job involved more copper and coax enclosures than fiber enclosures. For the majority of broadband installers now, those days are long gone. Today, …
Why smart homes need solar power
What does every smart home builder need to install in a smart home? For starters, a media panel that facilitates a clear Wi-Fi signal. But did you know you should also consider providing solar power? Solar panels, also known as photovoltaic …