Telecom

The Human Layer of the Internet

August 31, 2026

We know from speaking with network operators for our WAN Manager Survey that keeping up with the accelerating complexity of enterprise network requirements is no small task. That’s why we support network operators with what we do best: providing the industry’s most comprehensive and up-to-date intelligence.

But another key support for WAN managers begins this fall with Lightyear’s new Layer8 conference. This event focuses on tactical how-tos of what’s working in enterprise networks and connects network managers with their peers.

We’re excited to support this much needed opportunity to build community among network managers, so we’ve compiled some helpful topics to read up on before you go to get the most out of this event.

Quick info on the Layer8 conference

Layer8 is a one-day conference that’s packed with practical information for network managers and opportunities to connect with industry leaders and peers. Taking place on November 4, 2026 in New York City, this conference promises to pack as much useful content as some conferences deliver over several days, with tracks covering:

Why is it called Layer8? Lightyear says, “The OSI model has always had an unofficial Layer 8: the human operator making decisions above the stack. That layer carries some of the most complex, high-stakes work in any organization — and yet most industry events aren’t built for the people doing it.”

That’s where Layer8 comes in. This event is designed specifically for the enterprise IT and network teams responsible for keeping critical infrastructure running. Attend to get the latest insights on real-world trends and benchmarks, see what’s actually shipping, and engage in small group talks with peers facing the same challenges. View the agenda here.

Essential resources for Layer8

TeleGeography has plenty of data, analysis, and expert conversations to keep network managers in the know. Get up-to-speed before Layer8 with these resources:

The Rise of DIA Over MPLS

When SD-WAN first emerged as a networking technology in the late 2010’s, we and other market observers predicted the decline of expensive MPLS service. According to the results of our WAN Manager Survey in the Cloud and WAN Research Service, this decline has now materialized.

Internet has supplanted MPLS service as more enterprises settle on DIA as the underlay option of first choice. DIA will likely take over much of the lost revenue from MPLS going forward. Read the full market update.

Much Ado About MOFN

Traditional shared wavelengths can struggle to keep pace with increasing traffic volumes, yet building a private dark fiber network from scratch is a logistical nightmare with significant operational overhead.

To solve this, wholesale providers have introduced a “middle ground” option to the connectivity menu: MOFNs. (Managed Optical Fiber Networks, that is.)

Network Monitoring for the AI Era

The TeleGeography Explains the Internet podcast welcomes Jezzibell Gilmore, General Manager, Service Provider at Kentik. She discusses the profound impact of artificial intelligence on global network infrastructure, and how networks are evolving to handle new technological demands.

AI Adoption in Networking

Host Greg Bryan welcomes Jason Gintert back to the show. As the President of the U.S. Networking User Association (US)NUA, Jason dives into the current state of AIOps (AI for IT Operations) in network management.

The Impact of AI on the Network

In this AI-focused podcast episode of TeleGeography Explains the Internet, Seva Vayner, Product Director for Cloud Edge & AI at Gcore, joins host Greg Bryan to tackle what is perhaps the dominant topic in telecom today: the impact of AI on the network.

All About Network Resiliency

Save your spot at Layer8

If you’re a network manager, you won’t want to miss this essential one-day event. Register here for the Layer8 conference in New York. Our team will be there too!