Fiber Connect 2025 was held in Nashville for the second year running and while the venue may have been the same as in 2024, the atmosphere was strikingly different. As the premier fiber event for North America, it never disappoints, and this year I was struck by the positive energy and sense of mission that I encountered in the conference sessions and on the show floor.
The ambition of delivering digital equity to households and businesses across the continent was shared by all the people I encountered. And while the task at hand is daunting, there was a real sense of excitement and optimism about the potential that AI brings to the table.
Navigating uncertainty: The U.S. economy and AI’s role in the fiber industry
One of the most insightful sessions I attended was an interview between Gary Bolton, President and CEO of the Fiber Broadband Association, and David Altig, Executive VP and Chief Economic Advisor for the US Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. These two distinguished and knowledgeable individuals discussed the state of the American economy and the impact of the current US administration’s policies on the fiber broadband industry. With so many variables at play, the US Federal Reserve struggles to predict the economic future. It is, as Mr. Altig put it, a “wait-and-see world” as they seek to anticipate and respond to new economic realities. The transparency and clarity that normally underpins the Federal Reserves’ ability to manage the US economy is currently in short supply.
While very different in tone and outlook, the US economy and the future of AI in the fiber industry share some characteristics. Transparency and clarity are also critically important for predicting the future path of AI technology. Overhyped in some spaces, the potential of AI is only now beginning to deliver for the fiber industry. There is also an element of “wait and see” as AI technology is deployed across a range of use cases. However, unlike the US’ economic situation, the vision and mission of AI is growing increasingly clear and transparent, allowing us to chart its place in the fiber industry ecosystem.
Building intelligent fiber networks: Integrate, embed and agentify
IQGeo’s own deployment strategy for AI is well underway across our product line and the vision for its future role is clearly defined. Earlier this year we announced the acquisition of Deepomatic, the fiber industry’s leading provider of AI computer vision software for field service operations. As an existing IQGeo technology partner we were already well-engaged with Deepomatic and since our announcement we’ve accelerated the integration of our two software environments and demonstrated several exciting deployment examples at Fiber Connect in Nashville. Our joint customers are using AI image technology integrated into IQGeo’s mobile workflows to deliver right-first-time fiber connections, construction as-builts and many other use cases. Today, the IQGeo and Deepomatic AI solution is delivering compelling business efficiencies and cost savings in the integration phase of our AI roadmap.
Video interview - IQGeo and Deepomatic at Fiber Connect 2025
Fierce Network interview with Augustin Marty, CEO, Deepomatic and Jay Cadman, SVP Americas, IQGeo
Behind the scenes we have also embarked on the second phase of development by going beyond integration to fully embed AI computer vision into our network model to directly attack the industry’s greatest challenge of network data quality. Natively embedding AI into the fiber network model enables the automated, continuous improvement of network data across the entire operational lifecycle. AI is present during every interaction with the physical network, providing the opportunity to create an increasingly accurate data model that powers task digitization while delivering faster and smarter operations.
The third phase and longer-term vision is the agentification of the IQGeo network model. Building on top of accurate network data, we will create adaptive and autonomous agents that identify issues and proactively engage with the network for continuous optimization. Our ambition is to build the industry’s first truly intelligent network model. We previewed this transformational concept at the Fiber Connect show using AI agents that analyze field imagery, integrate Google Street View and third-party data sources to detect issues, assess asset conditions, update geospatial models and trigger service actions without the requirement for human intervention.
Video demonstration - Using AI to validate field work
Fierce Network interview with Thomas Thuillier, General Manager, Deepomatic and Jimmy Gagnon, Customer Success Manager, IQGeo
AI transparency and clarity
With any new technology, we often overestimate what can be accomplished in the short term and underestimate what will be achieved in the long term, and this will likely hold true for AI as well. There are still many “wait and see” unanswered questions about the future of the technology, including pragmatic considerations about the resources required to drive the AI revolution. How will the grid cope with power-hungry AI processors? Where will we find the land to build new data centers, the water to cool them and the fiber infrastructure to interconnect them? We have encountered and overcome similar challenges with past industrial revolutions and we will surely overcome those that face us today. The promise of AI is simply too compelling to fail.
Discover how AI agentification is transforming fiber network management
AI dominated the agenda at Fiber Connect 2025 and it’s an exciting time for IQGeo and our new colleagues at Deepomatic to be part of this transformational conversation. In our communications we seek to be as transparent and clear as possible so our customers and partners can realize the ROI they need to deploy our AI computer vision solutions today and have the confidence to chart an AI-driven course for the future.
As Jay Cadman, SVP at IQGeo, shared:
“IQGeo and Deepomatic are changing the rules of the game with technology that understands, decides and acts in real time.”
If you missed the live preview at Fiber Connect or want a more detailed demo, please don't hesitate to contact us.
