FiberLight CEO in Fierce Telecom on AI, Network Growth, and M&A Strategy

Amid the AI hype sweeping across telecom, FiberLight CEO Bill Major is setting a more grounded tone.

In an interview with Fierce Telecom, Major shared candid insights on the limits of AI for telcos, saying there’s “no miracle application out there right now” that can fix the industry’s core challenges.

While AI is helping FiberLight monitor and optimize its network operations, Major emphasized that the telecom sector remains fundamentally complex and unpredictable. That hasn’t stopped AI-driven demand, though. FiberLight recently received 64 orders for 400G wavelength services tied directly to AI, with more on the way.

The interview also covered FiberLight’s M&A ambitions, including its acquisition of Metro Fiber Networks in Virginia and plans to expand its 20,000-mile network by rolling up additional fiber operators.