From Northern Ontario to Nashville: Key Lessons from Fiber Connect 2025

From the rugged landscapes of Canada to the digital corridors of Nashville, the future of fibre is being written, and PomeGran was actively shaping the conversation at Fiber Connect 2025. Our team joined key discussions shaping how rural and remote communities across North America access the digital economy.

Representing PomeGran were Joe Hickey (President, PomeGran Inc.; Founder & President, ROCK Networks), Christine Marion (President, Digicom, a subsidiary of PomeGran Inc.), and Jean Lamoureux (Chief Subscriber Officer, PomeGran Inc.). While Joe and Christine appeared together on a panel, and Jean spoke on a separate one, collectively they contributed to discussions on fibre deployment in remote regions, managing the end-user experience, and the real-world challenges of building networks that truly serve communities

Building Fibre Above the 49th Parallel

In the session, Key Deployment Considerations Above the 49th Parallel, Joe Hickey and Christine Marion shared lessons from deploying broadband in some of Canada’s most remote regions, where success depends as much on community trust as it does on engineering.

Joe spoke about PomeGran’s Northern Ontario Gigabit Fibre Project, which spans over 50,000 sq. km and includes 18,663 homes. “The key to building north of the 49th parallel is resilience,” he said. “It takes a flexible plan, a committed workforce, and a whole-of-community approach.”

Christine highlighted Digicom’s 720 km fibre build across 29 remote Quebec communities, where low-density and rugged terrain demanded creative solutions and deep local partnerships.  “Our work is rooted in the places we serve,” she said. “We’re not just delivering internet, we’re enabling opportunity and investing in local people.”

Managing the Customer Experience in Fibre Ecosystems

While Joe and Christine focused on infrastructure in the field, Jean Lamoureux brought the conversation back to the end user.

In the session Fiber Ecosystem: Managing the Customer Experience, Jean shared what it takes to deliver not just fast networks, but reliable, human-focused service. “A great network means nothing if the customer doesn’t feel supported,” he said. “The real success comes from alignment across teams, so the experience feels seamless from day one.” He emphasized that long-term value is built through clear communication, responsiveness, and trust. “Customers remember how you make them feel, not just the speed you promise.”

Lessons from Across the Continent

One theme came through clearly at Fiber Connect: connecting remote and rural communities requires more than technology; it takes planning, flexibility, and trust.

Speakers from across North America shared what works in some of the most challenging geographies, from island communities to vast northern regions. The consensus? Every deployment is different, but the principles remain the same: collaborate early, design with future growth in mind, and always centre the customer experience.

While emerging models like shared infrastructure were discussed, the real differentiator remains service quality and how well networks are aligned with local needs. No matter the model or the market, the message was clear: the future of fibre is built with communities, not just for them.

Looking Ahead

As conversations at Fiber Connect made clear, the future of fibre is local, inclusive, and built to last. Whether it’s addressing gaps in infrastructure or redefining how communities connect, one truth stood out: broadband isn’t a luxury, it’s essential.

At PomeGran, we see fibre not just as infrastructure, but as the foundation for equity, opportunity, and long-term resilience. Building in the most challenging geographies has taught us that lasting impact comes from deep collaboration, trust, and putting people first.

We’re proud to be part of a movement that’s not only closing the digital divide but reimagining what’s possible for rural and remote communities. And we’re just getting started.