The latest advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI) are creating revolutionary new ways to automate our workflows, solve problems, and develop insights on large datasets. However, with AI networks, addressing power, cooling, geographic placement, latency, and deployment speed become more complex compared to typical data center networks. This season of Beyond Bandwidth takes a closer look at the planning and deployment of AI network infrastructure. We host a panel discussion with industry experts and cover topics including market activity, network architecture, density, cooling, and more.
Beyond Bandwidth, Leviton Network Solutions’ first podcast series, is an exploration of the hottest topics in network technology. Take a seat at the table with Specification Engineer and Host Roy Chamberlain as he brings us in-depth discussions with thought leaders and industry experts. Sit back, relax, and let us connect your questions to their answers as we take you Beyond Bandwidth.
Season 2: AI Network Infrastructure
Episode 1 | Season Overview: AI and the Pace of Change
In this first episode of our series on artificial intelligence, host Roy Chamberlian talks to data center network expert Mike Connaughton about the larger trends in the AI space and what they hope to learn from this season. They discuss:
- How AI growth is requiring solution providers and standards bodies to keep up with rapid changes
- The range of disciplines collaborating to address AI network challenges and best practices
- What does an AI data center look like? Who is building them?
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Episode 2 | AI Panel: Jonathan Jew on AI Network Architectures
Leviton hosted an AI panel discussion during the 2025 BICSI Winter Conference, which included telecommunications industry luminary Jonathan Jew, president of J&M Consultants. In this episode, Jonathan provides an overview of the major AI chip manufacturers and their architectures for GPU networks. He also covers the GPU, storage, in-band, and out-of-band network connections in AI clusters, and explains why structured cabling is key to handling the sheer volume of fiber connecting AI networks.
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Episode 3 | AI Panel: Brooke Ford on Emerging Technologies
In a continuation of the AI panel discussion at the 2025 BICSI Winter Conference, Leviton’s Brooke Ford discusses some of the emerging fiber infrastructure solutions that address density, including very small form factor (VSFF) connectors and multicore fiber. He also outlines potential technologies that reduce power consumption, such as co-packaged optics and linear drive pluggable optics. Lastly, Brooke explains how hollow core fiber is a unique (but expensive) option for improving latency in AI networks.
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Episode 4 | AI Panel: Nick Taylor on Cooling
Our panel discussion continues as Nick Taylor from Networks Centre talks about the cooling technologies used for AI networks. Nick discusses the challenges for deploying AI clusters and high performance computing in existing data centers designed with air cooling. He also covers the latest cooling technologies, including cold aisle and hot aisle containment, rear door heat exchangers, direct to chip, and immersion cooling.
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Episode 5 | AI Panel Q&A
In the wrap-up to our 4-episode AI panel discussion, Leviton’s Mike Connaughton hosts a Q&A session with panelists Jonathan Jew, Brooke Ford, and Nick Taylor. Topics include:
- Power infrastructure for AI data centers
- Moving to very small form factor connectivity
- Structured cabling vs point-to-point cabling
- Dispelling myths around latency
- Trends in cooling distribution
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| HOST: | |||
 | Roy Chamberlain, RCDD Specification Engineer, Leviton Network Solutions As a Spec Engineer, Roy supports Leviton’s sales team, partners, and clients in all aspects of structured cabling and associated technologies. He also serves as the Director of the Skills USA Telecommunications Cabling Program for New Hampshire, where he founded this chapter in 2009. Roy is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps. | ||
| CO-HOST, SEASON 1: | |||
 | Mike Connaughton, RCDD, CDCD Senior Product Manager, Leviton Network Solutions Mike has 30+ years of experience with fiber optic cabling and is responsible for strategic data center account support and alliances at Leviton. He has received the Aegis Excellence Award from the U.S. Navy for his work on the Fiber Optic Cable Steering Committee and was a key member of the committee that developed the SMPTE 311M standard for a hybrid fiber optic HD camera cable. He has participated in standardization activities for TIA ICEA, ANSI and IEEE. | ||