Every story tagged Connectivity, curated for CIOs and IT leaders — ranked by source credibility, engagement, and freshness.
7 stories · open in the command center
Endeavor Optical Networks is developing a satellite-based laser communication network to replace undersea fiber optic cables for data center connectivity, targeting hyperscalers with a constellation of ~20 satellites capable of 2.4 terabits-per-second throughput on underserved international routes. This emerging technology could reduce infrastructure fragility, deployment timelines, and costs for critical data transit, but CIOs should monitor progress carefully as satellite-based data infrastructure faces technical challenges around atmospheric distortion, reliability standards, and competitive threats from larger players like Blue Origin. The startup plans a demonstration satellite launch by end of 2027, representing a potential strategic inflection point for global data infrastructure.
Amazon is pursuing a massive satellite constellation (Project Kuiper) with up to 5,105 satellites launching in 2028 to provide direct-to-device connectivity, positioning itself as a competitive alternative to terrestrial networks and creating new hybrid infrastructure opportunities for enterprise IT. This development signals a strategic shift toward edge connectivity and redundancy, requiring IT leaders to evaluate satellite-based backup connectivity, IoT integration capabilities, and potential partnerships with non-traditional telecom providers. The initiative has significant implications for network architecture, disaster recovery planning, and multi-cloud connectivity strategies as Amazon extends its infrastructure beyond traditional data centers.
Framework's new 10G Ethernet expansion module reveals critical USB-C standardization and implementation inconsistencies across laptop models, with real-world performance falling significantly short of rated speeds (7-9.4 Gbps vs. 10 Gbps) and thermal management concerns that limit practical usability. IT leaders evaluating modular computing and high-speed connectivity solutions must account for hardware bottlenecks, driver compatibility issues across operating systems, and the gap between official specifications and actual performance delivery. This highlights broader platform fragmentation risks when hardware standardization—even on modern interfaces like USB-C—lacks consistent vendor implementation and firmware support.
Apple has captured over 71% of the satellite-connected smartphone market in 2025, with satellite connectivity projected to reach 46% of global smartphone shipments by 2030—signaling a fundamental shift in mobile device capabilities and network redundancy that will reshape enterprise connectivity strategies. This trend has significant implications for IT organizations, as satellite-enabled devices will enable new use cases for remote workforce connectivity, business continuity, and emergency communications while requiring updates to mobile device management, security, and network infrastructure policies. CIOs must begin planning for a hybrid terrestrial-satellite network environment and evaluate how this technology impacts their mobile workforce, supply chain operations, and disaster recovery capabilities.
New RTL8159-based 10 GbE USB adapters offer significant cost reduction (50-75% cheaper than Thunderbolt alternatives) and improved thermal efficiency, but performance is highly dependent on device USB port specifications—only reaching full 10 Gbps on systems with USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 ports, while most laptops and older systems deliver only 6-7 Gbps. IT organizations must carefully inventory endpoint USB capabilities before deployment and consider whether 5-10 GbE adapters provide better cost-to-performance value for their specific use cases, as legacy USB implementation inconsistencies and poor labeling create deployment uncertainty.
Amazon's $11.57B acquisition of satellite provider Globalstar marks a significant shift in the satellite connectivity market, with Apple transitioning its iPhone and Apple Watch emergency and messaging services from Globalstar to Amazon's Leo network. This consolidation creates a major competitor to Starlink and promises accelerated direct-to-device satellite services at scale, potentially transforming enterprise connectivity options for remote operations and IoT deployments. The deal demonstrates how hyperscale cloud providers are vertically integrating satellite infrastructure to offer end-to-end connectivity solutions beyond traditional terrestrial networks.
Android Auto continues to suffer from persistent connectivity and functionality bugs that significantly degrade user experience, with Google's response to these critical issues remaining slow and inadequate despite multiple user reports across platforms. While v16.7 beta promises some backend bug fixes and upcoming climate control improvements, Google's historical pattern of delayed responses and incomplete solutions suggests enterprise and IT organizations should exercise caution with Android Auto deployments and establish alternative in-vehicle connectivity strategies. This chronic instability in a key employee productivity tool underscores broader concerns about Google's quality assurance processes for mission-critical integrations and warrants evaluation of competing automotive platforms.