Last mile connectivity has always been the most challenging, and as bandwidth demands grow and applications move closer to users, it isn’t getting any easier.
In episode 5 of Bits, Bytes & Beyond, host Trent Blakely sits down with Shaheen Kalla, Presales Team Lead at PCCW Global, to unpack why the last mile remains such a complex piece of the puzzle, how it’s changed and where it’s headed.
Episode chapters:
(00:00) Start
(01:07) Intro
(03:08) What's the single biggest unsolved problem in last mile connectivity that you faced?
(12:36) When designing resilience into the last mile, what trade-offs or creative solutions have actually worked, and which have failed?
(19:52) How has the shift to cloud and SaaS changed the way you approach last‑mile connectivity compared to the old data‑centre model?
(23:53) How else have you seen the last mile change over the last 5 to 10 years?
(26:09) Do you see technologies like 5G or Leo satellites as realistic last mile replacements in enterprise environments or only as niche backups?
(31:33) If you had a blank slate, how would you reimagine the last mile for today’s distributed workforce and hybrid cloud world?
(37:34) Final thoughts
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Peering has long been the foundation of how networks exchange traffic, yet its role is rapidly evolving.
Episode 4 of Bits, Bytes & Beyond features Trent Blakely in conversation with Richard Petrie, Chief Technology Officer at LINX, on the future of peering. From data sovereignty and automation to the edge and AI, they explore how peering is transforming to keep pace with shifting demands, breakthrough technologies, and new business models.
Episode chapters:
(00:00) Start
(01:15) Intro
(02:57) How has the role of peering evolved over the last 10 years?
(06:07) What are the differences between public, private and remote peering?
(11:21) What are the use cases for data sovereignty and keeping traffic local?
(13:18) Is traditional peering still valuable in a world where CDNs, hyperscalers, and cloud interconnects dominate traffic?
(17:57) What is the role of automation and software-defined networking in modern peering strategies?
(24:30) How can engineers measure the effectiveness and ROI of peering?
(28:59) What do you see on the horizon for peering?
(34:53) How are paid peering, hybrid peering, and peering-as-a-service changing the landscape?
(40:57) Final thoughts?
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From enabling networks to deploy services instantly, to connecting systems across continents, APIs are essential for businesses to adapt quickly and operate efficiently.
In episode 3 of Bits, Bytes & Beyond, Trent Blakely is joined by Lawrence Lim, SVP of Software Development, PCCW Global and Diego Neto, Director of Digital Enablement, euNetworks to explore The API Effect - why application programming interfaces are now central to how networks are designed, managed, and evolved.
Episode chapters:
(00:00) Start
(01:15) Intro
(03:53) Why are APIs and compatibility a top criteria for network engineers when they're evaluating network solutions?
(08:12) How are we applying these APIs in our everyday engagements with customers or with partners?
(16:06) How do standards like MEF LSO APIs and open API support interoperability?
(28:32) How can a network engineer leverage APIs to really self-manage and optimise their WAN services?
(40:20) How do APIs support emerging these emerging trends like AI and MML, you know, edge computing?
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Routing issues might not make headlines but when things go wrong, they can take down chunks of the internet. In episode 2, Trent Blakely is joined by Paul Gampe, CTO of PCCW Global, and George Michaelson, recently retired Senior Research Scientist at APNIC, to dig into the fundamentals of routing security. They break down the risks of today’s global routing infrastructure, how initiatives like MANRS help clean things up, and why securing BGP matters more than ever.
Episode chapters:
(00:00) Start
(01:37) Intro
(04:24) Why routing security matters more than ever today
(08:38) Real world problems that MANRS is designed to prevent
(11:11) What RPKI is
(16:56) Real world problems that MANRS is designed to prevent (network operator perspective)
(21:43) How tools like PeeringDB or the Observatory fit impact routing policy
(25:33) What it looks like when a network operator implements MANRS, including practical steps
(32:11) Final thoughts - Advice for peers on implementing routing security
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When you're working with multiple cloud providers (especially the big three), it’s easy to assume everything will connect smoothly. But as many teams learn, that’s not always the case.
In this episode, Trent Blakely is joined by Jay Turner, SVP of Product Planning and Development at PCCW Global, to unpack the hidden pitfalls of multi-cloud deployments. They explore overlooked connectivity issues, how to catch failures before they happen, and share real-world lessons on quirks across AWS, Google Cloud, and Azure.
Episode chapters
(00:00) Start
(01:09) Intro
(06:22) AWS: Prefix advertisement limitation
(10:23) Google Cloud: Limited VPC peering across projects
(13:21) AWS: Elastic Load Balancers (ELB) limitations on maximum connections
(16:20) AWS: Limited networking features in VPC peering
(20:18) Azure: Public IP address restrictions
(25:56) Azure: No native support for multi-cloud network integration
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If you’re tired of surface-level tech talk and looking for real conversations about solving complex data and network challenges, you’re in the right place. Bits, Bytes & Beyond cuts through the fluff and dives deep into the real-world issues technical leaders and network engineers face today 🧠💻.
🎙️ Hosted by Trent Blakely, Head of Product Marketing at PCCW GLOBAL Limited, this podcast goes beyond the buzzwords and delves into the real-world challenges of how data moves – and what may happen when things go wrong. Each episode features candid conversations with industry experts, breaking down technical use cases and unpacking the strategies that actually work.
🎧 Episode 1 drops soon and features Jay Turner, SVP of Product Planning and Development at PCCW Global, revealing insider tips on cloud provider networking nuances you definitely need to know – especially if you’re moving data across complex digital ecosystems 🌍🧬.
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