Meet Our Team – Quick Q&A with Emma
Tell us a little bit about yourself – who are you, and what is your background?
Hi! I’m Emma, born in Umeå in northern Sweden. I recently made a big life change—from hairdresser to software engineer. I took a two-year program in .NET System Development with AI competence, a hands-on education where we started building projects right away. It was incredibly fun and rewarding, and it really sparked my passion for development. I graduated in 2023 and have since worked at a startup, where I got to apply and grow my new skills. And now I’m thrilled to be here at a global, well-established company, continuing my journey as a Junior Software Engineer at COS.
What caught your interest in COS Systems?
Before I applied, I’d heard great things about COS from people who had worked with some of the employees here. When I walked into the office for my interview, everyone was so welcoming and warm—that feeling only grew stronger at my second interview. COS is a well-established company with a solid, well-structured system that I truly respect. The employees seem perfectly suited to their roles, and it’s clear everyone genuinely enjoys what they do.
What are your goals for the coming months?
I want to learn as much as possible about the company as a whole and grow into my role as a Junior Developer. I’m naturally curious and love understanding how things work. I’m also excited to get to know my colleagues—both here in Sweden and across other continents—and to better understand what everyone is working on at COS.
Why should people contact you and press the “connect with Emma” button?
I’m still new to the company and to my role as a Junior Developer, so I might not always be the right person for work-related questions just yet. But I do love a good chat, and if I can make someone smile, that makes my day. My hairdressing background means I’m naturally tuned in to listening and staying open to any kind of conversation. I’ve learned that when you do that, you often discover things you’d never have looked for on your own.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself.
I pick up different dialects terrifyingly fast—it honestly embarrasses me sometimes! I’ll be mid-conversation and suddenly realize I’m talking just like the person I’m with. Help!
I also lived for a year in Barcelona, and I spent some time living in Hemavan, a ski resort in northern Sweden, while working in Mo i Rana, Norway. Fun fact: the road between Hemavan and Mo i Rana is only about 10 miles, but it’s incredibly tough to drive. Some days the road completely disappeared under the snow, and once I was even chased by a moose (true story!). They’re way faster than you’d think—I had to speed off in my car to get away!
If you could swap jobs with anyone at COS Systems for a day, who would it be and why?
Since I’m still new, I haven’t learned exactly what everyone does yet. But from what I’ve seen, I’d choose Maren Buchmüller, Head of Marketing—just to try something completely different. It also seems like a lot of fun!
What’s your go-to productivity hack when things get busy?
Headphones on and 8D music—it’s magical how focused I become. I also make sure to take short breaks throughout the day; I prefer many small ones rather than one long break, and I always try to get some fresh air.
If you could instantly become an expert in one new skill, what would it be?
I’d love to instantly become an expert in more programming languages, cybersecurity, and machine learning.
What’s your favorite way to unwind after a long workday?
An audiobook while I’m driving or out for a walk is my go-to. A good workout—or a good meal paired with a great TV show—also helps me relax after a long day.
Lastly, what’s one word your friends or colleagues would use to describe you?
Welcome aboard Emma!
Meet the latest addition to our team – Emma Hjalmarsson Wahlström
Meet Our Team – Quick Q&A with Emma
Tell us a little bit about yourself – who are you, and what is your background?
Hi! I’m Emma, born in Umeå in northern Sweden. I recently made a big life change—from hairdresser to software engineer. I took a two-year program in .NET System Development with AI competence, a hands-on education where we started building projects right away. It was incredibly fun and rewarding, and it really sparked my passion for development. I graduated in 2023 and have since worked at a startup, where I got to apply and grow my new skills. And now I’m thrilled to be here at a global, well-established company, continuing my journey as a Junior Software Engineer at COS.
What caught your interest in COS Systems?
Before I applied, I’d heard great things about COS from people who had worked with some of the employees here. When I walked into the office for my interview, everyone was so welcoming and warm—that feeling only grew stronger at my second interview. COS is a well-established company with a solid, well-structured system that I truly respect. The employees seem perfectly suited to their roles, and it’s clear everyone genuinely enjoys what they do.
What are your goals for the coming months?
I want to learn as much as possible about the company as a whole and grow into my role as a Junior Developer. I’m naturally curious and love understanding how things work. I’m also excited to get to know my colleagues—both here in Sweden and across other continents—and to better understand what everyone is working on at COS.
Why should people contact you and press the “connect with Emma” button?
I’m still new to the company and to my role as a Junior Developer, so I might not always be the right person for work-related questions just yet. But I do love a good chat, and if I can make someone smile, that makes my day. My hairdressing background means I’m naturally tuned in to listening and staying open to any kind of conversation. I’ve learned that when you do that, you often discover things you’d never have looked for on your own.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself.
I pick up different dialects terrifyingly fast—it honestly embarrasses me sometimes! I’ll be mid-conversation and suddenly realize I’m talking just like the person I’m with. Help!
I also lived for a year in Barcelona, and I spent some time living in Hemavan, a ski resort in northern Sweden, while working in Mo i Rana, Norway. Fun fact: the road between Hemavan and Mo i Rana is only about 10 miles, but it’s incredibly tough to drive. Some days the road completely disappeared under the snow, and once I was even chased by a moose (true story!). They’re way faster than you’d think—I had to speed off in my car to get away!
If you could swap jobs with anyone at COS Systems for a day, who would it be and why?
Since I’m still new, I haven’t learned exactly what everyone does yet. But from what I’ve seen, I’d choose Maren Buchmüller, Head of Marketing—just to try something completely different. It also seems like a lot of fun!
What’s your go-to productivity hack when things get busy?
Headphones on and 8D music—it’s magical how focused I become. I also make sure to take short breaks throughout the day; I prefer many small ones rather than one long break, and I always try to get some fresh air.
If you could instantly become an expert in one new skill, what would it be?
I’d love to instantly become an expert in more programming languages, cybersecurity, and machine learning.
What’s your favorite way to unwind after a long workday?
An audiobook while I’m driving or out for a walk is my go-to. A good workout—or a good meal paired with a great TV show—also helps me relax after a long day.
Lastly, what’s one word your friends or colleagues would use to describe you?
Welcome aboard Emma!
Fiber Minute: New in Q3 Release Notes Recap
Case Study: Empowering Rural Alberta with an Open Access FTTH Network
New: Promo Codes at Chechout
Neutral Host Network: The Future of Shared Connectivity
What is a Neutral Host Network?
Ever wonder why some areas have only one internet provider while others have more choice?
That’s where a neutral host network comes in. It’s a broadband network built to be open to multiple service providers. Think of it like a highway that anyone can drive on instead of private access roads.
The network owner focuses on building and delivering the infrastructure. Providers focus on providing their services on top of that shared infrastructure. Communities get choice, competition, and coverage.
Why Communities and Providers Care
A neutral host network checks all three boxes. It’s built for scale, flexibility, and shared use. That’s why more local governments, utilities, and private partners are looking at this model.
The Problems Neutral Host Networks Solve
Neutral host networks help overcome each of these.
How Neutral Host Networks Work in Practice
Here’s the simple version:
It’s not theory—it’s already happening in the U.S. and abroad.
Benefits for Providers, Communities, and End Users
For providers:
For communities:
For end users:
Funding and Sustainability: Making it Real
Federal programs like BEAD, ARPA, and CPF are pouring billions into broadband. But money alone doesn’t solve sustainability.
Here’s what makes a neutral host network last:
Without these, even funded projects risk stalling.
Stories from the Field
When I worked with state broadband offices, one pattern stood out: Projects controlled by a single provider often ran into roadblocks—slower builds, higher costs, and limited competition. But when communities adopted open access or neutral host models, progress accelerated.
Take Kitsap Public Utility District in Washington State.
Operating a fully open-access fiber network since 2016 and powered by COS Systems, Kitsap PUD has become a leading example of how neutral host models can drive digital equity in rural and underserved areas.
By leveraging COS Business Engine to automate service provisioning, manage multi-ISP workflows, and streamline customer support through the customer portal, Kitsap PUD reduced operational complexity and enabled faster onboarding of ISPs. The result? Competitive pressure that improved service offerings and reduced costs for residents—without duplicating infrastructure.
This isn’t a theoretical model—it’s a functioning, scalable, and sustainable network that’s helping close the digital divide one community at a time.
That’s the power of the neutral host model in action.
What to Watch for Next
The neutral host network isn’t just a trend—it’s becoming the backbone of digital equity. Expect to see:
The future isn’t about one provider owning the road. It’s about building the road together—and letting everyone drive on it.
— Adam Puckett, VP Sales Americas @ COS Systems
Do you want to learn more or to explore how COS Systems can help you launch or optimize a neutral host fiber network?
Contact Adam today!
The Rise of Neutral Hosts in the Digital Infrastructure Value Chain
A Turning Point for Broadband: Ownership, Access, and Innovation
The global telecommunications and broadband infrastructure landscape is undergoing a pivotal transformation. As capital demands for building and upgrading high-capacity networks continue to surge, traditional models of vertically integrated ownership are proving economically unsustainable.
Enter the neutral host: a scalable, cost-efficient model that is now redefining how broadband infrastructure is deployed, financed, and utilized.
The Evolution of the Neutral Host Model
Since the early 2000s, operators have taken incremental steps toward infrastructure sharing, initially through joint ventures and structural separations (e.g., InfraCos and ServiceCos). What began as tower-sharing has now expanded into a robust ecosystem of neutral hosts covering:
Notably, models like Australia’s National Broadband Network (NBN) and Malaysia’s Multi-Operator Core Network (MOCN) show how public-private collaboration can successfully catalyze the neutral host model. However, it is the expansion of open access fiber networks, often underpinned by software-driven operational platforms like COS Business Engine, that has brought neutrality from niche to necessity.
COS Systems’ Role: Enabling Open Access at Scale
At COS Systems, we specialize in enabling neutral open access fiber networks through our end-to-end SaaS platform. The COS Business Engine provides the automation, service orchestration, and financial transparency necessary for infrastructure owners to lease wholesale access to multiple ISPs—without sacrificing neutrality, performance, or customer experience.
This software-driven neutrality supports everything from service catalog integration and SLA management to automated billing and provisioning—drastically reducing operational overhead while maximizing service diversity and tenant revenue.
Market Forces Driving Neutral Hosts Forward
Several macroeconomic and technological forces are accelerating this shift:
Legal and Commercial Considerations: Navigating the Complexity
For ISPs and Service Providers:
For Neutral Host Owners:
Regulatory Dynamics: Global Variability, Shared Uncertainty
Regulation of neutral hosts varies significantly across regions. In some jurisdictions, they are regulated as carriers or critical infrastructure providers. Others are still defining appropriate legal and operational frameworks.
COS Systems supports stakeholders in navigating this uncertainty through proven deployment strategies that comply with regional telecom, privacy, and infrastructure standards.
Conclusion: Neutrality as an Innovation Driver
The rise of neutral hosts marks a foundational shift in how broadband infrastructure is owned, operated, and monetized. Enabled by platforms like COS Business Engine, this model allows fiber owners to scale infrastructure investments while enabling a competitive and innovative retail ecosystem.
As demand for high-speed, reliable connectivity increases—especially in underserved and rural regions—the neutral host model emerges not only as a viable solution but a critical enabler of digital equity, economic development, and service innovation.
With COS Systems, infrastructure owners and operators gain the tools to deploy and manage neutral, automated, and future-proof broadband networks that deliver on both financial and societal ROI.
Related COS Capabilities
For more information or to explore how COS Systems can help you launch or optimize a neutral host fiber network, get in touch with our team.
Case Study: How the City of Superior Built an Open Access Fiber Network with COS Business Engine
Customer Spotlight – City of Superior
What is a Neutral Host Network?
Neutral Host Network: The Future of Shared Connectivity
What is a Neutral Host Network?
Ever wonder why some areas have only one internet provider while others have more choice?
That’s where a neutral host network comes in.
It’s a broadband network built to be open to multiple service providers.
Think of it like a highway that anyone can drive on instead of private toll roads.
The network owner focuses on infrastructure.
Providers focus on services.
Communities get choice, competition, and coverage.
Why Communities and Providers Care
Cities want affordable, reliable broadband.
Providers want to expand without crushing infrastructure costs.
Residents want options—not just one ISP.
A neutral host network checks all three boxes.
It’s built for scale, flexibility, and shared use.
That’s why more local governments and private partners are looking at this model.
The Problems Neutral Host Networks Solve
Broadband expansion has some real challenges:
Neutral host networks help overcome each of these.
How Neutral Host Networks Work in Practice
Here’s the simple version:
It’s not theory—it’s already happening in the U.S. and abroad.
Benefits for Providers, Cities, and End Users
For providers:
For cities:
For end users:
Funding and Sustainability: Making it Real
Federal programs like BEAD, ARPA, and CPF are pouring billions into broadband.
But money alone doesn’t solve sustainability.
Here’s what makes a neutral host network last:
Stories from the Field
When I worked with state broadband offices, one pattern stood out.
Projects with single-provider control often hit roadblocks.
But when communities set up open access or neutral host models, things moved faster.
Example: A small Midwest city used federal funds to build shared fiber.
Within months, three ISPs signed on.
Competition drove prices down by 20%.
That’s the power of the model.
What to Watch for Next
The neutral host network isn’t just a trend—it’s becoming the backbone of digital equity.
Expect to see:
The future isn’t about one provider owning the road.
It’s about building the road together—and letting everyone drive on it.
Learn more
Open Access Broadband Solutions
COS Business Engine
NTIA BEAD Program
FCC Broadband Data
Seamless Fiber Network Management: COS Business Engine and Calix Integration in Action!