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!
COS Advent Calendar 2025
Don’t miss this year’s edition of our popular COS Advent Calendar!
Discover the magic of the COS Advent Calendar. Each day reveals a new surprise, making the holiday season even more special, with best practices, new features, case studies, white papers, and how-tos!
How modern broadband turns “somewhere else” to “right here”
The gap we have to close
Too many areas still run on legacy networks and patchwork builds. Today’s life needs reliable, low-latency, symmetrical capacity. Only fiber scales for decades—not just product cycles.
Why rural communities get left behind—and what changes that
Traditional ROI favors dense metros. Rural means longer drops, fewer passings, thinner margins—the result being “have” vs “have-not” neighbourhoods. Communities are responding with public-private models: keep the physical network local, let private operators do what they do best, and share the upside as adoption grows—without the city having to “be the ISP”.
Open Access: the go-to model for turning demand into durable economics
Open Access separates the network into three layers—infrastructure (fiber/conduit), operations (active electronics), and services (ISPs and applications).One entity builds and maintains the fiber; many providers compete over it. Think airport + airlines: one shared, capital-intensive infrastructure; many consumer choices riding on top. This structure lifts take-rates (more choice → more buyers), reduces overbuild waste, and makes rural deployments cash-flow positive/ROI-positive on realistic timelines. It’s also future-proof: you can invite new providers or new classes of services (tele-health, smart ag, security) without touching the glass.
Two practical truths make Open Access work in the real world:
→ fun fact, one of our customers runs their network with a team of two
The COS Systems piece (move fast, stay efficient)
Proof in the wild
City of Superior, WI: stood up a marketplace where residents compare providers, order, and manage accounts—fast path from concept to day-one take-rate.
Clearwater County, Alberta, Canada: Arcadis + Calix + COS—shared fiber platform serving multiple last-mile technologies with a consumer-friendly marketplace.
Kitsap PUD, WA: community-owned, open access; thousands of passings, 6+ ISPs, automated sign-ups to settlements—scaling without extra headcount.
How modern broadband turns “nowheres into “somewheres”
Own the long-lived fiber infrastructure, invite competition through more customer choice, and automate the journey. You get higher take-rates, lower churn, healthier unit economics—and real options for people who were told to “move for opportunity.”
If you’re exploring how to take your “nowhere” to “somewhere,” let’s map demand, choose the right Open Access model, and stand up a marketplace your residents will actually use. That first flawless click on Join is closer than you think.
Contact Adam today!
Meet the latest addition to our team – Björn Sandman
Meet Our Team – Quick Q&A with Björn
Tell us a little bit about yourself – who are you, and what is your background?
I am 44 years old and was born and raised a little bit outside of Umeå. I have an education in computer science at Umeå University.
What caught your interest in COS Systems?
I worked at COS for nine years, then moved to the audiobook industry, where I’ve worked for seven years to expand my views. Now I feel it’s a good time to come back and bring new experience and perspectives.
What are your goals for the coming months?
Getting back up to speed and bringing some good practices to improve our processes.
Why should people contact you and press the “connect with Björn” button?
I am always up for conversations about pretty much anything!
Tell us a fun fact about yourself.
I have an exceptionally acute sense of smell. While it offers little practical benefit, the drawback is that it makes me acutely aware of unpleasant smells.
If you could swap jobs with anyone at COS Systems for a day, who would it be and why?
Björn Wännman, it would be interesting to see things from the sales side.
What’s your go-to productivity hack when things get busy?
Not really a hack, but focus on a task at the time and try to ignore other things.
If you could instantly become an expert in one new skill, what would it be?
I’ve worked on both front-end and back-end development, but I’ve often relied on others for the visual design. If my design skills were stronger, I’d be more independent.”
What’s your favorite way to unwind after a long workday?
Usually, any form of exercise does the trick. Either a run, a long walk, or maybe a visit to the gym
Lastly, what’s one word your friends or colleagues would use to describe you?
Energetic
Welcome back Björn!
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