As I approach my one-year anniversary at NJFX, I can confidently say that I am thrilled to be part of this exciting and dynamic field! I started at a significant time as pandemic restrictions were lifting; the industry returned to traveling and attending face-to-face conferences. Within the year, NJFX provided me with abundant opportunities which I summarized in 3 components that connected me to telecom.

The Moment

Joining NJFX a year ago with my marketing and graphic design background I did not know what to expect. Growing up I was not aware of this side of the industry, let alone submarine cables crossing our oceans’ seabed for communication. Discovering an interest in this field has enlightened me about a new world that physically connects us together.

Just two weeks into my new position, NJFX’s CEO, Gil Santaliz, decided the best way to learn the industry is to get fully immersed by attending a conference – Capacity LATAM 2022. This was a special time because conferences resumed after COVID. Lively conversations filled the hallways with colleagues reconnecting after months of video chat. A key takeaway that I learned; trust is the foundation to a successful partnership and social gatherings are essential for conducting business. 

One year and eight conferences later I can confidently say, WOW. The telecommunications industry has so much to offer, and I cannot be more grateful to have an amazing start at NJFX.

The Recognition

 Through various companies I have encountered this year, I have never seen an industry so supportive of one another. Through the little experience I have witnessed I have noticed the incredible recognition that organizations have on their employees and other companies. NJFX recognizes talent and encourages its team members to join committees that help revolutionize the future of telecommunications.

The telecom industry is constantly evolving, and with each new technological advancement, there is a need for fresh talent and innovative thinkers. As such, recognizing and nurturing new talent is crucial to the long-term success of the industry.

Making a name in the industry can be difficult if you do not have the correct tools or guidance. Fortunately, I was provided resources to showcase my capabilities to help NJFX and also contribute to the future of telecom. More recently, I have been recognized by the PTC Beyond committee and have joined the team of rockstars to help shape future conferences and gear them toward young thought leaders.

The People

The telecom industry is one of the largest and most complex industries in the world. There are the giants in telecommunications and also a dynamic groups of smaller companies offering services to enhance the connectivity of the digital economy. With a tightly knit community of professionals, there is great potential for collaboration and knowledge-sharing to drive innovation and technological advancement. Among those working in the industry, we are building a stronger sense of camaraderie and purpose.

The people working in the telecom industry are truly amazing! Their dedication to service, innovation, teamwork, and commitment to quality makes the industry successful. I am thrilled to be working in the telecom industry. The constant advancement of technology, the critical role the industry plays in connecting people, the collaborative environment, and the industry’s growth are just a few of the reasons why I love my job. I’m excited to see where my career in the telecom industry will take me, and I look forward to the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

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NJFX, the first and only colocation campus to sit at a cable landing station in the U.S and offer Tier 3, carrier neutral data center capabilities, announces the Second Floor Meet Me Room for our growing ecosystem of carriers.

Any customer who deploys in the second floor MMR in 1410 will not be charged a MRC on the home run cable through the remainder of 2023!

The robust NJFX campus includes:

• 35+ Network Operators
• Four subsea cable systems
• Three Meet Me Rooms
• 24/7 Security
• No recurring cross connects fees

This news comes on the heels of NJFX announcing its breakout capabilities, which offer new direct ways for global carriers, content providers and enterprises to reach the US, while eliminating traditional points of failure when providing US-Europe, US-Brazil, US-Asia connectivity.

To learn more about NJFX’s ecosystem and how to increase reliability, backhaul and security options, please contact info @njfx.net.

• How we are overcoming higher interest rates and constrained supply chains to meet demand
• The changing role of hyper-scalers, carriers and independent operators deploying new systems
• The role of open cables and supplier diversification in keeping projects on track and deploying at speed

• 15 years ago Oi celebrated a decade of owning and operating Globenet –  State of the art subsea system built by Canadian company in 2000.
• SAM 1 was still in midlife form passing traffic between 12 Countries with 16 landing.  Celebrating 13 years of life and was still considered a modern cable 5 years ago.
• In 2017 the new age of subsea cables for LATAM arrived; Seabras, Monet and Brusa
• Then the SAC cable connecting Angola and Fortaleza, Brazil & SAIL connected to Cameroon, the world’s first submarine cable systems across the South Atlantic.
• In 2021 EllaLink Connected Europe and South America continent with landing points in Sines, Portugal and Fortaleza, Brazil.
• Curie connected US to Chile, Malbec Connects Argentina to Brazil and Firmina scheduled as a 16 pair fiber system will also connect the US and LATAM

• What does Seaborn have on the horizon that will be shaking things up in the subsea world? Are we going to see 400G, Infrastructure as a Service and beyond?
• Do the folks here in LATAM understand Seaborn bypass Miami benefits with the environmental changes & growing size of frequency Hurricanes?
• TI-Sparkle also own pairs of fiber of Seabras. How do you see Seabras evolving for Sparkle? Capacity constraints? IP driven capacity growth or large Spectrum deals?
• How is Infinera uniquely supporting Seabras and the demand for increased bandwidth since its RFS in 2017?

• Sparkle is major player in LATAM on multiple systems including uniquely on Curie. Tell us about how these new cables are changing costs, reliability and how LATAM connectivity is improving.
• Has data traffic routing and network topology changed significantly from North America centric 15 years ago?
• How does Infinera support these network architecture changes?

• Interest rates have gone from 0 to 4 & 5%, how is this effecting business at Infinera?
• Is Sparkle looking at this market differently in this new interest rate environment?
• How has Seaborn investors mindset change in the last 12 months?

• Today demand is at all time high and would say that there are only two major customers on subsea projects, is that true?
• How do you navigate when there are just 2 or 3 major players managing new subsea projects? New branching units, repairs and potentially new projects?
• Does Infinera have any challenges keeping up with new demand? Have you been challenged with long lead times for new installs and replacement parts? How do your customers manage?
• What will the LATAM market look like in 5 years?  Will we see a change in topology or more redundancy options with the development of new Data Centers in Mexico or other parts of LATAM?  How does Artificial Intelligence change network designs?

Wall Township, NJ  – Mike Reverendo is celebrating his second-year anniversary at NJFX and has recently been named Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) and Controller. NJFX’s global infrastructure provides four subsea cables connecting Europe, North and South America, and the Caribbean. With over thirty-five network operators active at the NJFX facility, connectivity to our customers’ network follows strict security protocols with controlled physical access and various techniques to mitigate threats.

“NJFX has trusted me to secure access to all critical infrastructure and fiscal business operations. I look forward to maintaining the highest of security standards and working collaboratively with industry and government partners,” said Mike Reverendo, CISO & Controller, NJFX.

Mr. Reverendo has been the point person for NJFX to all its government partners. NJFX’s bolstered relationships with DHS, FBI, NJSP, MCPO, and other government entities are a testament to Mr. Reverendo’s proactive approach to establish partnerships to ensure the highest levels of both physical and network security. Over the last few years, his leadership has included voluntarily conducting DHS (Department of Homeland Security) audits for entities deemed essential in the sphere of critical infrastructure and the completion of SOC2 Certification. He has also eliminated third party security services to establish a team of professionals to ensure the highest standards for a sensitive environment.

“Aside from Mr. Reverendo’s professional contributions to our security standards, his leadership has been transformative to our culture of support and collaboration,” said Gil Santaliz, CEO, NJFX.

Today, Mr. Reverendo is working directly under the leadership of NJFX’s CFO, Jim Martini. This proactive relationship strengthens the day-to-day finances for our vendors and ensures our customers receive the highest level of support for their presence at NJFX. From studying Business Management & Marketing at The College of New Jersey and achieving a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Monmouth University, Mr. Reverendo brings a unique skill set to the organization.  

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