Latest news with #JeremyHarris
IOL News
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Reviving radio: Nigel Pierce's energetic comeback on Heart 104. 9 FM
The Nigel Pierce Show features Jamie-Lee Domburg (Traffic) and Jeremy Harris (Sport) and brings you home with power and personality. Image: Supplied. Nigel Pierce, veteran radio Jock and broadcaster is back on radio after a hiatus of six years and he is already making his presence felt with pulsating sounds and sharp tongue comments that has his fans in a frenzy and distractors holding their breaths. He hosts the Monday to Friday afternoon Drive Show on Heart 104.9 FM with Jamie-Lee Domburg, on traffic, and Jeremy Harris, on sport. Weekend Argus reporter Edwin Lombard asked him a few questions on his new show. You bring so much energy to your new show, you remind me of a solar panel (Lol). Is that the idea with the show: to be fast paced, energetic and pack a punch? Radio hasn't felt alive in this town for years - it's been on pause, just playing in the background. But real life isn't background noise. It's messy, emotional, and urgent. We're here to bring it back to the forefront, to start conversations that matter, and to talk honestly about what's keeping our listeners up at night. No filters, no fluff - just real voices and real issues. Tell me about the new Nigel Pierce. What else is there to know about Brand Nigel Pierce? I've been through the pain, sat with it, and let it teach me. I'm not the same - I'm more aware, more grounded, and more in tune with myself and others. It hasn't been easy, but every difficult moment shaped me. Growth hurts, but when you take the time to reflect, that's when real progress happens. On a Friday you keep to the theme of 80s disco music. Is the show about nostalgia for those who were doing the disco scene 40 years ago, or is it also an attempt to bring younger listeners (Gen Z) to like 80's music? From Monday to Thursday, we're here for everyone - whether you're just starting out in life or you've seen it all. We keep it real, relevant, and welcoming. But Fridays? That's when we let loose. We turn up the energy, turn down the stress, and create a space where our older listeners can cruise into the weekend smiling, and the younger crowd can start the party early. It's more than music - it's a feeling. And on Fridays, that feeling belongs to all of us. You seem to have effectively and cleverly combined social media and radio (congratulations on 21 million likes) Is the strategy to broaden listenership across borders and age boundaries? That's the goal - bringing both platforms together in a way that makes sense. They're stronger when they work side-by-side. You keep referencing the fact you're listening to radio stations across the globe. Is that the end-game - to be not only national, but international, what does the landscape look like in terms of your and HeartFM's competition? If we want to be great, we have to learn from the best. I've been lucky enough to attend radio conferences around the world, and every time I've walked away inspired - with ideas I never would've come across otherwise. I also constantly listen to stations from all over just to stay sharp and keep evolving. Honestly, I believe this show has what it takes to stand shoulder to shoulder with the best out there. Why not us? You got in a spot of bother in the past with your utterances and antics on radio. How aware are you of what you say on your new show as not to offend anyone, and are you given feedback by management if you might have tread on some sensitive toes? I try not to let fear guide my choices. If something's right, I'll back it — I trust my experience, and I know I'll land on my feet. I know that you have some legal background and dabbled into property investment. What other pursuits do you have that is away from radio that keeps you relaxed? I help people feel more confident when they speak - whether it's in a boardroom or just having a tough conversation. Through corporate training, I guide teams to become better communicators, so they connect more clearly and work better together. Do radio DJ's ever retire or do they just run out of steam and things to say? Retirement is not on my radar. I've had the break I needed, and now I'm back with more energy than ever. Honestly, I feel more fired up than I did at 18, and the passion I have for this work hasn't faded one bit. If anything, it's only grown. You have been in radio for a long time, what lessons have you learned and what advice do you have for up-and-coming radio DJ's? Be brave enough to be yourself, even when it's uncomfortable. Speak up for what you believe in, even if it means taking a risk. It's not about picking fights, it's about making people think. Do it with respect, but don't water yourself down. Your honesty, your flaws, your realness — that's what people connect with. Share the lessons from your mistakes.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
eCommunity™ Fiber drives smart city infrastructure with Adtran's open fiber access solution
News summary: eCommunity™ Fiber needed a scalable, open broadband network to support municipal services and businesses in the City of Morrow Smart city initiative is powered by Adtran's fiber access technology for GPON connectivity with future XGS-PON expansion Network improves public services, enhances safety infrastructure and provides businesses and residents with choice in connectivity options MORROW, Ga., May 08, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Adtran today announced that eCommunity™ Fiber is leveraging its fiber access platform to power the City of Morrow's smart city initiative. This open-access deployment provides high-speed connectivity to municipal services, businesses and residents, enabling advanced public safety applications and future-ready broadband services. By leveraging Adtran's technology, eCommunity™ Fiber is ensuring that the city benefits from a robust and scalable closed-loop broadband infrastructure. The deployment will also support government operations and create a foundation for additional smart city services, improving overall efficiency and accessibility for the community. "Our partnership with Adtran is central to our vision of delivering next-generation infrastructure to the City of Morrow," said Rodney Gray, CTO of eCommunity™ Fiber. "Adtran's fiber access solution enables us to support both municipal WAN applications and enterprise-class connectivity while also laying the groundwork for future broadband expansion. This network gives Morrow the flexibility to adapt as connectivity demands grow, ensuring businesses and residents have reliable, high-speed options. By embracing open-access fiber, we're supporting competition among service providers, which leads to better pricing and improved service quality for everyone in the community." The carrier-neutral solution provides the connectivity backbone for a range of smart city services to enhance Morrow's public safety and accessibility. High-speed GPON connectivity is being delivered to key municipal sites, including libraries, civic centers and other community spaces. This supports services such as public Wi-Fi and advanced surveillance systems while also enabling Ethernet connectivity for local business operations. Designed with future growth in mind, the network can scale to meet rising bandwidth demands through a planned upgrade path to XGS-PON, helping Morrow stay ahead as technology needs evolve across public services, education and local enterprise. "eCommunity™ Fiber's smart city initiative in Morrow is a testament to the power of open fiber networks," commented Jeremy Harris, VP of North America sales at Adtran. "With our platform, eCommunity™ Fiber is delivering flexible, future-ready broadband that supports everything from public safety to digital transformation for local businesses. Our technology ensures a smooth transition to next-generation services, enabling the city to remain at the forefront of connectivity advancements. Unlike many municipal broadband projects, Morrow's smart city network is privately funded, ensuring long-term sustainability and adaptability. With Adtran's technology, eCommunity™ Fiber is establishing a robust infrastructure that will improve public services and drive economic growth across the region, creating a blueprint for other cities looking to modernize their digital infrastructure." About Adtran ADTRAN Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: ADTN and FSE: QH9) is the parent company of Adtran, Inc., a leading global provider of open, disaggregated networking and communications solutions that enable voice, data, video and internet communications across any network infrastructure. From the cloud edge to the subscriber edge, Adtran empowers communications service providers around the world to manage and scale services that connect people, places and things. Adtran solutions are used by service providers, private enterprises, government organizations and millions of individual users worldwide. ADTRAN Holdings, Inc. is also the majority shareholder of Adtran Networks SE, formerly ADVA Optical Networking SE. Find more at Adtran, LinkedIn and X. Published byADTRAN Holdings, View source version on Contacts For media Gareth Spence+44 1904 699 For investors Peter Schuman+1 256 963 Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
eCommunity™ Fiber drives smart city infrastructure with Adtran's open fiber access solution
News summary: eCommunity™ Fiber needed a scalable, open broadband network to support municipal services and businesses in the City of Morrow Smart city initiative is powered by Adtran's fiber access technology for GPON connectivity with future XGS-PON expansion Network improves public services, enhances safety infrastructure and provides businesses and residents with choice in connectivity options MORROW, Ga., May 08, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Adtran today announced that eCommunity™ Fiber is leveraging its fiber access platform to power the City of Morrow's smart city initiative. This open-access deployment provides high-speed connectivity to municipal services, businesses and residents, enabling advanced public safety applications and future-ready broadband services. By leveraging Adtran's technology, eCommunity™ Fiber is ensuring that the city benefits from a robust and scalable closed-loop broadband infrastructure. The deployment will also support government operations and create a foundation for additional smart city services, improving overall efficiency and accessibility for the community. "Our partnership with Adtran is central to our vision of delivering next-generation infrastructure to the City of Morrow," said Rodney Gray, CTO of eCommunity™ Fiber. "Adtran's fiber access solution enables us to support both municipal WAN applications and enterprise-class connectivity while also laying the groundwork for future broadband expansion. This network gives Morrow the flexibility to adapt as connectivity demands grow, ensuring businesses and residents have reliable, high-speed options. By embracing open-access fiber, we're supporting competition among service providers, which leads to better pricing and improved service quality for everyone in the community." The carrier-neutral solution provides the connectivity backbone for a range of smart city services to enhance Morrow's public safety and accessibility. High-speed GPON connectivity is being delivered to key municipal sites, including libraries, civic centers and other community spaces. This supports services such as public Wi-Fi and advanced surveillance systems while also enabling Ethernet connectivity for local business operations. Designed with future growth in mind, the network can scale to meet rising bandwidth demands through a planned upgrade path to XGS-PON, helping Morrow stay ahead as technology needs evolve across public services, education and local enterprise. "eCommunity™ Fiber's smart city initiative in Morrow is a testament to the power of open fiber networks," commented Jeremy Harris, VP of North America sales at Adtran. "With our platform, eCommunity™ Fiber is delivering flexible, future-ready broadband that supports everything from public safety to digital transformation for local businesses. Our technology ensures a smooth transition to next-generation services, enabling the city to remain at the forefront of connectivity advancements. Unlike many municipal broadband projects, Morrow's smart city network is privately funded, ensuring long-term sustainability and adaptability. With Adtran's technology, eCommunity™ Fiber is establishing a robust infrastructure that will improve public services and drive economic growth across the region, creating a blueprint for other cities looking to modernize their digital infrastructure." About Adtran ADTRAN Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: ADTN and FSE: QH9) is the parent company of Adtran, Inc., a leading global provider of open, disaggregated networking and communications solutions that enable voice, data, video and internet communications across any network infrastructure. From the cloud edge to the subscriber edge, Adtran empowers communications service providers around the world to manage and scale services that connect people, places and things. Adtran solutions are used by service providers, private enterprises, government organizations and millions of individual users worldwide. ADTRAN Holdings, Inc. is also the majority shareholder of Adtran Networks SE, formerly ADVA Optical Networking SE. Find more at Adtran, LinkedIn and X. Published byADTRAN Holdings, View source version on Contacts For media Gareth Spence+44 1904 699 For investors Peter Schuman+1 256 963
Business Wire
08-05-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
eCommunity ™ Fiber drives smart city infrastructure with Adtran's open fiber access solution
MORROW, Ga.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Adtran today announced that eCommunity ™ Fiber is leveraging its fiber access platform to power the City of Morrow's smart city initiative. This open-access deployment provides high-speed connectivity to municipal services, businesses and residents, enabling advanced public safety applications and future-ready broadband services. By leveraging Adtran's technology, eCommunity ™ Fiber is ensuring that the city benefits from a robust and scalable closed-loop broadband infrastructure. The deployment will also support government operations and create a foundation for additional smart city services, improving overall efficiency and accessibility for the community. Our partnership with Adtran is central to our vision of delivering next-generation infrastructure to the City of Morrow. 'Our partnership with Adtran is central to our vision of delivering next-generation infrastructure to the City of Morrow,' said Rodney Gray, CTO of eCommunity ™ Fiber. 'Adtran's fiber access solution enables us to support both municipal WAN applications and enterprise-class connectivity while also laying the groundwork for future broadband expansion. This network gives Morrow the flexibility to adapt as connectivity demands grow, ensuring businesses and residents have reliable, high-speed options. By embracing open-access fiber, we're supporting competition among service providers, which leads to better pricing and improved service quality for everyone in the community.' The carrier-neutral solution provides the connectivity backbone for a range of smart city services to enhance Morrow's public safety and accessibility. High-speed GPON connectivity is being delivered to key municipal sites, including libraries, civic centers and other community spaces. This supports services such as public Wi-Fi and advanced surveillance systems while also enabling Ethernet connectivity for local business operations. Designed with future growth in mind, the network can scale to meet rising bandwidth demands through a planned upgrade path to XGS-PON, helping Morrow stay ahead as technology needs evolve across public services, education and local enterprise. 'eCommunity ™ Fiber's smart city initiative in Morrow is a testament to the power of open fiber networks,' commented Jeremy Harris, VP of North America sales at Adtran. 'With our platform, eCommunity ™ Fiber is delivering flexible, future-ready broadband that supports everything from public safety to digital transformation for local businesses. Our technology ensures a smooth transition to next-generation services, enabling the city to remain at the forefront of connectivity advancements. Unlike many municipal broadband projects, Morrow's smart city network is privately funded, ensuring long-term sustainability and adaptability. With Adtran's technology, eCommunity ™ Fiber is establishing a robust infrastructure that will improve public services and drive economic growth across the region, creating a blueprint for other cities looking to modernize their digital infrastructure.' About Adtran ADTRAN Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: ADTN and FSE: QH9) is the parent company of Adtran, Inc., a leading global provider of open, disaggregated networking and communications solutions that enable voice, data, video and internet communications across any network infrastructure. From the cloud edge to the subscriber edge, Adtran empowers communications service providers around the world to manage and scale services that connect people, places and things. Adtran solutions are used by service providers, private enterprises, government organizations and millions of individual users worldwide. ADTRAN Holdings, Inc. is also the majority shareholder of Adtran Networks SE, formerly ADVA Optical Networking SE. Find more at Adtran, LinkedIn and X.
IOL News
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Don't miss the beat: jazz up your weekend at Cape Town International Jazz Festival
The talented Andrea Fortuin who graced the CTIJF free concert stage. Image: Armand Hough/Independent Newspapers Cape Town is buzzing with jazzgoers as the Cape Town International Jazz Festival (CTIJF) takes centre stage in the city this weekend. Known as the home of jazz, locals will be flocking to the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC), which opens its doors today at 5.45pm. The festivities began on a high note last night at Greenmarket Square, where the usually bustling market was reimagined as an outdoor concert venue. Attendees relished the free concert, which served as a prelude to the weekend's grand festivities. Heart FM's sports presenter Jeremy Harris, who took part in the evening's events, was thrilled with the line-up and the atmosphere. 'Jazz lovers are going to have the best time over the next few days," he remarked. 'I love the quality of the artists that are performing. Ask me to pick a favourite and I can't.' Reflecting on the evolution of the CTIJF over the years, Harris noted the impressive increase in the quality of jazz showcased at the festival. 'My first jazz festival feels like when dinosaurs still roamed the Earth! Every year, the quality has increased,' he added. Heart FM's sports presenter Jeremy Harris. Image: Instagram The role of media in enhancing the jazz festival experience cannot be overlooked. Harris elaborated on the collaborative efforts with festival organisers and other stakeholders to create an engaging atmosphere. 'We work closely with the organisers, the city, and various other organisations. We have to put our radio station in Greenmarket Square or at the CTICC when business really gets cracking,' he explained. 'There are a lot of people, conversations, and logistics involved, but somehow we make it work.' Harris also highlighted the festival's role in advancing music in South Africa, noting its ability to integrate jazz with other genres. 'The jazz festival does spread its appeal and is no longer a hardcore jazz event. That is also what is so beautiful about the event - it allows jazz to flow into other genres. You see all the smiling faces out there,' he said. As the jazz festival has developed and grown over the years, many jazz purists have voiced their opinions that the festival has moved away from its core values. Harris, however, sees it quite differently. 'I don't think that they are necessarily wrong. I think you would find a lot of jazz purists who will come away from this and say this was amazing. I think bands like Incognito will capture a lot of people's attention. There will be something that will please everybody," he said. As we reached the end of our discussion, Harris offered a word of advice to upcoming artists who want to perform at events like the CTIJF. 'I know that there are only so many days of the jazz festival, therefore there can only be so many artists performing. But somehow you have to hold your hand higher than the rest of them and get yourself on this type of stage." "On the two days that are paid for, it is almost sold out - it's an environment that you want to place yourself in. If you are just getting into this space, then you have to shout as loud as possible so we can see you!'
