December 6, 2024
As we stand on the brink of a technological revolution, the future of AI and its integration with digital infrastructure is a crucial conversation. It’s essential to consider the foundational elements that are driving this evolution. The journey of digital technology is a remarkable tale of rapid advancement deeply dependent on the expansion of broadband infrastructure. Historically, America’s communications systems relied on copper wires, which can handle about 10 gigabits of data transfer. In stark contrast, fiber optic cables—thin strands of silica no thicker than a human hair, which are the backbone of our modern, digital networks—are capable of theoretical speeds up to 60 terabits per second and commercially available at 100 gigabits per second.
This leap in capacity illustrates the innovation fueling our digital ecosystem. For instance, copper can transmit data only about 330 feet before speed degrades, while fiber optics can cover 25 miles with no degradation in speed. Copper also cannot deliver the symmetrical download and upload speeds that fiber can. This is particularly significant for AI applications, where symmetrical broadband speeds are crucial. During the pandemic, we experienced the vast capabilities of high-speed broadband networks which enabled telehealth, remote learning, and seamless streaming, all at once.
A new report from Global enabling Sustainability Initiative (GeSI) shows that beyond performance, fiber is also more cost-efficient and environmentally sustainable than its copper predecessor and unlike copper, as broadband technology evolves, speeds and capacity can typically be increased by switching out electronics, as opposed to the lines themselves. Fiber also demands significantly less energy input and produces less energy output. A visit to a central telecommunications office reveals the extensive cooling systems needed for copper wires—an issue that fiber has effectively resolved. AI is enhancing network performance by dynamically optimizing bandwidth allocation based on real-time data, ensuring more efficient use of energy and resources. As we reflect on the potential of generative AI, it’s clear that a robust digital infrastructure is essential for its success.
This digital infrastructure is also necessary for data centers which power AI and broadband providers are focused on supporting this infrastructure. Data center outputs are projected to double every four years and investments in data center infrastructure are soaring. Yet, without future-proof, scalable digital infrastructure, the full potential of AI will remain unfulfilled.
Despite impressive technological advancements, outdated regulations are hindering the progress of broadband innovation, tethering providers to outdated, legacy technology at the expense of investment in modern, digital networks. As the pace of AI innovation accelerates, government policies must keep up. Many current policies were established before fiber optics and other digital options were even on the radar.
Broadband providers are committed to modernizing and expanding networks across the nation. In 2023 alone, we saw the broadband industry’s capital expenditures in communications infrastructure reaching $94.7 billion —an investment critical for economic growth. But we can’t do it alone: public-private partnerships are critical to reaching our shared goal of connectivity for all. We’re working with our government partners to ensure that funding programs like Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) are set up for success to reach unserved areas with robust high-speed networks.
The future of AI is intertwined with our ability to complete the development of our modern digital infrastructure. Modernizing our networks is not just a technological necessity; it’s a national imperative that promises to unlock unprecedented opportunities for all. As we look forward, we must work collectively to ensure everyone has access to the innovations our digital networks support. Together, we can harness this potential to create a more connected world.