- Calix said virtually every cable operator is moving toward fiber-based networks, creating an opportunity for its XGS-PON and 50G-PON portfolio
- The vendor is emphasizing AI-powered subscriber engagement and retention tools as operators look beyond pricing and bundling to reduce churn
- A newly announced 50G-PON trial with Astound demonstrated an upgrade path that preserves existing operational processes and back-office integrations
As cable operators accelerate fiber deployments, Calix used SCTE TechExpo 2026 to position itself as more than an access equipment supplier.
Speaking with Fierce Network at the show, Alan DiCicco, VP of Solution and Product Marketing at Calix, said the company's relevance in the cable market begins with fiber but increasingly centers on software, data and subscriber experience.
"We are a market leader in fiber," DiCicco said, noting that Calix has built its portfolio specifically around passive optical networking technologies rather than hybrid fiber-coax networks.
According to DiCicco, the larger opportunity lies in helping service providers improve customer retention and lifetime value.
"If there's a takeaway here, it's that the cable operators' next loyalty play is not bundling, discounting or prices," he said. "They're all going to have to move to loyalty."
That strategy includes proactive customer engagement such as onboarding outreach, anniversary messages, service updates and personalized recommendations, which DiCicco said help increase satisfaction and reduce churn.
"The worst thing you can do is lose a customer," he said. "It's significantly more expensive acquiring that customer."
Calix highlighted the growing role of AI within its CalixOne platform. DiCicco said the company's Agent Workforce offering is designed around three business outcomes: accelerating subscriber acquisition, increasing customer loyalty and improving operational efficiency.
The message aligns with a recent customer announcement involving RTC Networks. Calix said the North Dakota cooperative is deploying its Agent Workforce and AI-native Calix One platform to automate workflows across marketing, support and operations. Calix said RTC increased average revenue per user by 22% and reduced monthly churn by 46% over a two-year period before expanding its AI deployment.
On the network side, DiCicco pointed to a Sept. 29 announcement with Astound, which completed a 50G-PON trial using Calix technology. The significance, he said, was not just higher capacity but operational simplicity.
"They took a system, unplugged a card, put a new card in, and there was nothing else they had to change," DiCicco said. "The software stayed exactly the same."
The Astound trial demonstrated that 50G-PON can operate alongside existing XGS-PON infrastructure using the same operational model and workflows, giving providers a path to higher-capacity services without a major network overhaul. That combination of access infrastructure, subscriber intelligence and AI-driven automation is what it believes will keep it relevant as cable operators evolve their networks and service offerings.
Read more from SCTE TechExpo26 on Fierce Network
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