Fiber Development Index Analysis – 2025

Michael Philpott

Senior Research Director, Service Provider Consumer & Markets

With 25 years of experience in the telecommunications and digital media markets, Michael Philpott is Omdia's leading analyst in the connected home area. As Research Director for service provider consumer, he delivers thought leadership to Omdia’s clients on digital home go-to-market strategy. 

At Omdia, Michael produces reports, case studies, and forecasts in the areas of smart home, smart Wi-Fi and connected home, and broadband access strategy. He joined Omdia (formerly Ovum) in 2000 as a consultant in the networks and Infrastructure team, before moving to the analyst side of the business establishing and leading Ovum’s broadband, telco media, and smart home analyst services. 

Before joining Omdia, he worked at BT’s research and development (R&D) laboratory, Adastral Park, designing xDSL and fibre optic access networks.  

Alzbeta Fellenbaum

Practice Leader, Service Provider - Consumer

Alzbeta Fellenbaum is the Practice Leader for Omdia’s Service Provider – Consumer research covering consumer broadband data and bundling trends as well as monetization strategies for telco digital retail services.

Alzbeta has over a decade of experience in the telecoms sector, delivering strategic research and consulting projects such as the Broadband Coverage in Europe project for the European Commission. Previously, Alzbeta was a principal analyst and research manager at IHS Markit and a member of the service providers and platforms team. Prior to joining IHS Markit in 2012, Alzbeta was an audience research and market insights coordinator for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty in Prague, Czech Republic. Alzbeta holds a Master of Arts in international relations and American studies from Charles University in Prague and has studied at the University of Miami and Georgetown University.

Sarah McBride

Principal Analyst, Regulation

As part of Omdia’s service provider markets regulation team, Sarah is a principal analyst who analyzes telecom regulation and policies at the national and cross-country levels. She covers regulatory developments affecting 5G and 6G deployment, AI, IoT, and privacy and data protection. Other focus areas include next-generation access, platforms and hyperscalers, national broadband plans, spectrum awards, universal service, net neutrality, wholesale fixed and mobile access, and consumer protection.

Sarah produces various reports, trackers, and benchmarks, such as Omdia’s country regulation overviews and spectrum, national broadband, and fixed access trackers. Before joining Omdia (formerly Ovum) in 2015, Sarah was a senior researcher at Pearlfinders who analyzed and advised on IT, telecom, and technology market trends. She holds a degree in natural sciences from Durham University (UK).