Host Roy Chamberlain and Leviton data center expert Mike Connaughton reflect on season 2 of Beyond Bandwidth. They talk about the experts interviewed, and highlight some of the key topics covered, including: Emerging AI solutions like hollow core fiber and new transceiver technologiesThe problem of power consumption and finding efficiency gainsStandards bodies keeping up with AI advancementsGeography, the power grid, and data center real estate trends

Mike Connaughton talks to Iain Farquharson, the Head of Pre-construction at Red Bear Technologies. Iain has a background in cognitive science and AI, as well as extensive experience in data center infrastructure projects. The two discuss: The history of AI and recent exponential jump in AI advancements The human problem solving required between data center trades for AI data center planning Eliminating waste and rework from data center construction

In this episode, Mike Connaughton sits down with Vladimir Kozlov, the founder and CEO of LightCounting Market Research. They discuss some of the developing optical trends attributed to the growth of AI clusters, and challenges predicting trends in a fast-moving industry. They touch on: Transceivers and the current uncertainty surrounding trade and the business climateThe power efficiency requirements driving new approaches to optics and connectivity Examples of AI applications that gener...

This week, Mike Connaughton talks to Robert Henke of WestCal Technologies about the exiting and dynamic state of AI networks. They discuss: The early “wild west” era of AI infrastructureThe diverse group of companies interested in AI networksThe frequency of upgrades to AI chips and GPUsStructured cabling and lasting solutions for quickly evolving tech

David Potts, the Director of National Data Center Business a Graybar, brings a unique perspective when supporting data center customers with their AI infrastructure. He talks to Leviton’s Mike Connaughton about: Transitioning data center space to AI and finding power grid capacityThe role distribution partners play in supporting AI data center deploymentsThe demand for inventory and shorter lead times The leaps that markets and industries will make with the help of AI

Host Roy Chamberlain talks to network specification engineer Peter Helfrich about the design and implementation of structured cabling for AI data centers. They discuss: The difference between AI data centers and traditional data centersChallenges repurposing existing data center space for AI networksThe big players in AI for GPUs, servers, switches, and applicationsHow Leviton specification and product experts help clients with AI network design, deployment and education

In the wrap-up to our 4-episode AI panel discussion, Leviton’s Mike Connaughton hosts a Q&A session with panelists Jonathan Jew, Brooke Ford, and Nick Taylor. Topics include: Power infrastructure for AI data centersMoving to very small form factor connectivityStructured cabling vs point-to-point cablingDispelling myths around latency Trends in cooling distribution

Our panel discussion continues as Nick Taylor from Networks Centre talks about the cooling technologies used for AI networks. Nick discusses the challenges for deploying AI clusters and high performance computing in existing data centers designed with air cooling. He also covers the latest cooling technologies, including cold aisle and hot aisle containment, rear door heat exchangers, direct to chip, and immersion cooling.

In a continuation of the AI panel discussion at the 2025 BICSI Winter Conference, Leviton’s Brooke Ford discusses some of the emerging fiber infrastructure solutions that address density, including very small form factor (VSFF) connectors and multicore fiber. He also outlines potential technologies that reduce power consumption, such as co-packaged optics and linear drive pluggable optics. Lastly, Brooke explains how hollow core fiber is a unique (but expensive) option for improving latency i...

Leviton hosted an AI panel discussion during the 2025 BICSI Winter Conference, which included telecommunications industry luminary Jonathan Jew, president of J&M Consultants. In this episode, Jonathan provides an overview of the major AI chip manufacturers and their architectures for GPU networks. He also covers the GPU, storage, in-band, and out-of-band network connections in AI clusters, and explains why structured cabling is key to handling the sheer volume of fiber connecting AI netwo...

In this first episode of our series on artificial intelligence, host Roy Chamberlian talks to data center network expert Mike Connaughton about the larger trends in the AI space and what they hope to learn from this season. They discuss: How AI growth is requiring solution providers and standards bodies to keep up with rapid changesThe range of disciplines collaborating to address AI network challenges and best practicesWhat does an AI data center look like? Who is building them?

The latest advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI) are creating revolutionary new ways to automate our workflows, solve problems, and develop insights on large datasets. However, with AI networks, addressing power, cooling, geographic placement, latency, and deployment speed become more complex compared to typical data center networks. This season of Beyond Bandwidth takes a closer look at the planning and deployment of AI network infrastructure. We host a panel discussion with industry ...

In the final episode of our Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS) series, Host Roy Chamberlain sits down one last time with Sr. Product Manager Mike Connaughton for a series retrospective you won’t want to miss. Chamberlain and Connaughton break down the highlights from each episode, and offer their own perspectives on the key takeaways from each interview. Beyond Bandwidth will return in 2025.

In the 7th episode of our Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS) series, Host Roy Chamberlain sits down with Leviton’s Technical Training Manager Chuck Bowser, host of the podcast “Let’s Talk Cabling.” Chamberlain and Bowser break down: Why contractors may be tempted to shy away from DAS projects – and why they shouldn’tThe importance of project management skill development in the contractor industryThe partnerships contractors starting out should look for when implementing DAS for the first time,...

In the sixth episode of our Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS) series, Host Roy Chamberlain passes the mic once more to Sr. Product Manager Mike Connaughton. Connaughton talks with Michael Cassel, Aecom’s Director of Engineering and Co-Leader of the Wireless team. Connaughton and Cassel explore: Whether DAS will replace Wi-Fi – and in some cases, whether it shouldThe advantage of repurposing existing infrastructure for DAS implementationsThe range of use cases for modern DAS frameworks

In the fifth episode of our ongoing Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS) series, Host Roy Chamberlain sits down with Mike Lester from Triumph Marketing, Leviton’s Manufacturers’ Rep for Boston, Massachusetts. Roy and Mike break down: Where the DAS market is today, and where it will go in the futureHow DAS system specs are createdHow contractors can get involved and become integrators

In the fourth episode of our ongoing Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS) series, Host Roy Chamberlain has a conversation with Anne McGee, Wesco’s Wireless Business Manager for the PNW region. Roy and Anne discuss: The ecosystem revolving around indoor wireless technologyThe difference between Active and Passive DAS systemsThe biggest obstacles for installs and implementations

In the third episode of our ongoing Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS) series, Network Solutions’ Sr Product Manager Mike Connaughton catches up with Leviton regional sales representative Burt Jackson from Capitol Networks. Mike and Burt discuss: Which customer segments are interested in DAS and their possible use casesHow implementations like ULAN interact with DASWhat market shifts in DAS and cellular mean for structured cabling integrators

On our second foray into the world of Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS), we have a real treat for you! Sit in on a conversation between Network Solutions’ Sr Product Manager Mike Connaughton and Nextivity’s Chief Commercial Officer Stephen Kowal as they break down: The low voltage community’s interest in DASThe different types of DAS and how DAS compares to other optionsWhy ease of deployment is crucial in commercial spaces

In our premiere episode of Beyond Bandwidth, Roy Chamberlain sits down with Network Solutions’ Sr. Product Manager Mike Connaughton to investigate Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS). In this episode, Roy and Mike explore: What DAS is, and why demand for DAS has been increasingWhat 5G is, how it will collaborate with Wi-Fi, and how it may transform the industryWhether DAS support infrastructure will affect other back-end systems and what is required for different DAS systems to connect