Tell us a little bit about yourself – who are you, and what is your background?

Hi, I am Åsa Broman. As you may guess from the strange letter in my name, I am Swedish, but  I currently live with my family in Palo Alto, California. I lived and worked in the Bay Area about 10 years ago as well, and the US feels like a second home, so it feels great to be back! For almost 25 years, I have worked in telcos and other infrastructure-related companies in a wide range of roles. The common denominator for those roles has been to connect people and bridge the gaps where teams or companies have different perspectives or competences. And no matter what my title has been, I have always been close to the customer. 

What caught your interest in COS Systems?

I was part of the big broadband and fiber rollout in Sweden, where the majority of the citizens got fiber access 10-20 years ago. Those investments have been crucial to reaching equal Internet access for everyone, including the possibility to take part in the digital transformation in all aspects of society. COS delivers a unique tool that can make this infrastructure improvement happen a lot faster and providing a better customer experience. With the current explosion of fiber rollouts in the US, I couldn’t resist joining the ride.

What are your goals for the coming months?

Full speed ahead – I am getting to know our customers through a number of implementation projects that we are running, and at the same time, getting familiar with the product and its (many) features. I am also looking forward to meeting my colleagues. We are spread out on three continents to support our customers in the best possible way. 

Why should people contact you and press the “connect with Åsa” button?

Don’t hesitate to connect with me if you are interested in broadband rollout or for any other reason connected to the experience I have from different fields.

Tell us a fun fact about yourself.
I love traveling. Many years ago, before I started a family, I went on several backpacking trips on a shoestring around the world. During those travels, I experienced many odd and memorable situations. On our honeymoon, we were backpacking in India and went on a camel safari in the desert. The starry sky was supposed to be amazing and super romantic. This particular night, it got overcast and ended up pouring for the first time in four years. Traveling is a lot like life in general – unexpected things happen that totally can change the path you anticipated from the beginning. This actually makes both living, and traveling, an exciting adventure. 

The post Our (US) team keeps growing – Meet Åsa Broman appeared first on COS Systems.

We’re simplifying access to the marketplace by introducing passwordless authentication. When activated, your customers can create an account or log in to an existing account by simply entering their email address and following the link they received in an email from Business Engine. The link takes them back to the marketplace where they left off, and they are automatically logged in. Eliminating the need for passwords not only improves the user experience but also enhances the security associated with traditional passwords.

The post Passwordless Authentication – improve user experience and security appeared first on COS Systems.

The post Meet Pablo Perez – our newest Customer Success Director appeared first on COS Systems.

In its ongoing commitment to inclusivity and user-friendly design, COS Systems is thrilled to announce the introduction of website accessibility features, including the integration of Braille support. This initiative represents a significant step forward in ensuring that our digital platforms are accessible to individuals with diverse abilities, fostering a more inclusive online experience for all users.

Website accessibility is a cornerstone of COS Systems’ mission to provide cutting-edge solutions that cater to the needs of a broad and varied audience. By incorporating best practices in web accessibility, we aim to eliminate barriers and create an environment where everyone, regardless of their abilities, can seamlessly navigate our website and access the information they need.

One key feature of our accessibility initiative is the integration of Braille support. Braille is a tactile writing system that enables individuals with visual impairments to read and comprehend written information through touch. COS Systems recognizes the importance of making our content accessible to the visually impaired community, and by implementing Braille support, we are empowering these users to explore and engage with our online resources independently.

Key elements of COS Systems’ website accessibility and Braille integration include:

1. **Screen Reader Compatibility:** Our website now works seamlessly with popular screen readers, ensuring that users with visual impairments can navigate and comprehend the content effortlessly.

2. **Alt Text for Images:** All images on our website are accompanied by descriptive alternative text, providing context and information for users who rely on text-to-speech technologies.

3. **Keyboard Navigation:** Enhanced keyboard navigation allows users to navigate through our website without the need for a mouse, catering to individuals with motor disabilities.

4. **Contrast and Color Considerations:** COS Systems has implemented a design that takes into account high contrast ratios and color considerations, benefiting users with visual impairments or color blindness.

5. **Braille-Compatible Content:** Key sections of our website now feature Braille-compatible versions, allowing users with Braille displays or embossers to access information with ease.

COS Systems is dedicated to staying at the forefront of technological advancements while simultaneously prioritizing accessibility. By implementing these features, we aim to create a more inclusive digital environment that reflects our commitment to diversity and equal access for all. As technology continues to evolve, so too will our dedication to ensuring that our digital platforms remain accessible and welcoming to users of all abilities.

The post COS Systems Enhances User Experience with Website Accessibility and Braille Integration appeared first on COS Systems.

Your customer’s journey usually starts with an address search on your marketplace to see which services are available at their location. Until now, every spelling mistake could lead to incorrect or no results at all! Our recently added Fuzzy Search functionality helps correct spelling mistakes, and even if only fragments of an address are entered into the search field, the correct address will be located and displayed. Fuzzy Search automatically corrects minor inaccuracies, which leads to more successful searches and a seamless ordering process for your subscribers. This small but significant update means smoother transactions for your customers and fewer support requests for you. 

The post Fuzzy Search for Marketplace – A more efficient search tool! appeared first on COS Systems.

As you have surely noticed, the interest in Open Access Networks is growing by the day, but there is still some confusion about what it really is. Therefore, we have teamed up with our friends at Connected America to arrange a pre-conference day focusing exclusively on Open Access. The program starts at lunch and ends with an Open (Access) Bar close to the venue.

12 pm – 1 pm | Lunch

1 pm – 1:50 pm | Keynote 

Understanding the Increasing Popularity of Open Access and key business model considerations for success – Insights from Mikael Philipsson, CEO, COS Systems 

The future of fiber is a digital society with Everyone and Everything relying on digital infrastructure. Paired with the current trends of consolidation, more expensive build costs and a race to invest in fiber roll out – all roads lead to shared infrastructure and open access. Mikael Philipsson, former CTO and CEO at one of the largest Open Access networks globally, IP Only (now Global Connect), led this journey on a national scale in Sweden, which has a fiber penetration of 98% today. He shares his insights on why Open Access is the right choice and how to structure the business case to make Open Access a success.

2 pm – 2:50 pm | Panel Discussion I

Three Layers of an Open Access Network: A Thorough Look at Roles and Responsibilities

Moderator: Keith Ponton, Senior Practice Lead, Arcadis

Panelists:

Gregg Shepperd, Senior Engagement Leader at Fujitsu Network Communications

Beni Blell, Vice President, Head of Sales and Marketing, Hexatronic 

Gabe Gomez, VP Customer Experience, Syringa Networks

Pankaj Gulati, Head of Products and Platforms, Ubiquity 

The key characteristics of an Open Access Network are the separation of the network infrastructure, the neutral operations of the network, and the independent service providers selling their services to subscribers. This panel will explain these different roles and show that you can run an efficient fiber network by working with specialized partners without doing everything yourself.

3 pm – 3:50 pm | Panel Discussion II 

Exploring the Advantages of Open Access Networks for Internet Service Providers and Their Operations Support Requirements 

Moderator: John Zannos, Partner at Digital Ubiquity Capital

Panelists: 

Phil Roberts, Chief Executive Officer at Valo Networks

Brian Hollister, CEO and Co-Founder at Bonfire Infrastructure Group

Dan Johnson, Product Manager, Connect Fast

Aaron Hildreth, Founder, Intellipop Internet Services 

On an Open Access Network, all parties rely on each other for success. Internet Service Providers often have financial or workforce constraints limiting their ability to build fiber at a large scale. On an Open Access network, their Capex investment is minimal, and they can focus on providing high-quality services and support to their subscribers. But to be able to do this, they need a strong operator partner offering tools to efficiently sell, deliver, and troubleshoot on the shared network.

4 pm- 4:50 pm | Panel Discussion III

Navigating the Choice of Tech Stack for Open-Access Networks: Key Considerations for Success.

Moderator: Isak Finér, CRO, COS Systems 

Panelists: 

Robin Harder, Woven Product Lead at Arcadis

Sean Dundon, Director – Partner and Channel Development at VETRO FiberMap

Rob Laudati, VP – Product & Partnerships, Render Networks

Don Eben, CEO, Core Network Strategies

Despite the digital nature of fiber networks, a lot of legacy systems, technology, and manual processes are still in use. The Open Access model of sharing one infrastructure creates a whole different set of requirements and challenges that legacy technology can not solve. This panel explores the benefits of a “digital first” approach and how important integrations and automated workflows are becoming – especially in Open Access Networks.

5 pm- 6:00 pm | After-Panel Drinks and Socializing

Grab a beer and take the opportunity to grow your network of Open Access experts. Courtesy of the Open Access Day sponsors.

7 pm – 10 pm | Open (Access) Bar 

COS Systems and all other Elite Sponsors are inviting you to continue the fun and discussions at Bar Louie,  360 W Las Colinas Blvd #100, Irving, Texas 75039

The post Be Part of a Northern American Premiere and Join the First Conference Dedicated to Open Access appeared first on COS Systems.

Investing in fiber infrastructure has gained popularity among investors, resulting in many closed deals in recent years. The trend shows that there will be even more investments next year, especially in renewable energy and digital infrastructure areas.

The whitepaper presents three critical considerations for a successful fiber infrastructure investment:

– Securing Demand
– Controlling Costs
– Adapting Advanced Software Solutions

Read our whitepaper and reach out to learn more!

The post Read Our White Paper on How to Successfully Invest in FTTH Infrastructure appeared first on COS Systems.

Getting a comprehensive overview of your network and fast is essential for network operators. Our new tree view displays the statuses of different network elements in the system and helps network operators visualize, locate, and troubleshoot any issues in their network quicker and more efficiently.

Our Provisioning Dashboard shows you the total count of ONTs (Optical Network Terminal) in your network and whether they are online or offline. From there, you can easily access the tree view that opens when you click on the network element widget:

The nodes displayed in the tree are Technical Area, OLT, and port and you can see the count of how many ONTs there are on each level. 

You also see if these ONTs are online or offline – information we gather from our many hardware vendor integrations.

You can click on the different nodes in the tree to get to the corresponding entity. By using this feature, a network operator can easily see if there is a problem on a specific OLT or port.

The post Updated Network Troubleshooting Feature appeared first on COS Systems.

Whether you are operating an Open Access Network or an Internet Service Provider offering external services, billing the providers using your network infrastructure and keeping track of fees and payments might seem daunting. It doesn’t have to be! 

Our Stripe integration in Business Engine has been extended to support Stripe Connect, which is specifically designed for payments on platforms and marketplaces.

Every time a subscriber uses their preferred payment method to pay their service fee to a service provider on your network, the money is automatically transferred to the Operator’s or ISP’s Stripe account. From there, the payment, minus the fee you charge the providers on your network, is deposited into the provider’s Stripe account – all happening in the background without the subscribers even thinking about the platform’s existence.

This makes billing easier for everybody!

Learn more about the COS Subsriber Marketplace here.

The post Stripe Connect – billing made easy appeared first on COS Systems.

Tell us a little bit about yourself – who are you, and what is your background?

Hi, I am Åsa Broman. As you may guess from the strange letter in my name, I am Swedish, but  I currently live with my family in Palo Alto, California. I lived and worked in the Bay Area about 10 years ago as well, and the US feels like a second home, so it feels great to be back! For almost 25 years, I have worked in telcos and other infrastructure-related companies in a wide range of roles. The common denominator for those roles has been to connect people and bridge the gaps where teams or companies have different perspectives or competences. And no matter what my title has been, I have always been close to the customer. 

What caught your interest in COS Systems?

I was part of the big broadband and fiber rollout in Sweden, where the majority of the citizens got fiber access 10-20 years ago. Those investments have been crucial to reaching equal Internet access for everyone, including the possibility to take part in the digital transformation in all aspects of society. COS delivers a unique tool that can make this infrastructure improvement happen a lot faster and providing a better customer experience. With the current explosion of fiber rollouts in the US, I couldn’t resist joining the ride.

What are your goals for the coming months?

Full speed ahead – I am getting to know our customers through a number of implementation projects that we are running, and at the same time, getting familiar with the product and its (many) features. I am also looking forward to meeting my colleagues. We are spread out on three continents to support our customers in the best possible way. 

Why should people contact you and press the “connect with Åsa” button?

Don’t hesitate to connect with me if you are interested in broadband rollout or for any other reason connected to the experience I have from different fields.

Tell us a fun fact about yourself.
I love traveling. Many years ago, before I started a family, I went on several backpacking trips on a shoestring around the world. During those travels, I experienced many odd and memorable situations. On our honeymoon, we were backpacking in India and went on a camel safari in the desert. The starry sky was supposed to be amazing and super romantic. This particular night, it got overcast and ended up pouring for the first time in four years. Traveling is a lot like life in general – unexpected things happen that totally can change the path you anticipated from the beginning. This actually makes both living, and traveling, an exciting adventure. 

The post Our (US) team keeps growing – Meet Åsa Broman appeared first on COS Systems.