The Fiber Broadband Association (FBA) has opened registration for Fiber Connect 2026 (FC26), the world’s largest fiber broadband event, set for May 17-20 at Gaylord Palms Resort in Orlando, Florida. This gathering of over 5,000 attendees from the fiber ecosystem arrives as networks evolve to support AI, edge computing, and sectors like healthcare and agriculture. It signals fiber broadband’s pivot from deployment to powering the digital economy.
The Core Development
Fiber Connect 2026 carries the theme “Light Years Ahead,” emphasizing fiber’s role in modern infrastructure and innovation. The event spans four days, starting with hands-on workshops on Sunday for operators, vendors, and partners to build and scale networks.
General sessions on Monday and Tuesday will feature executives, operators, innovators, and policymakers discussing deployment scaling, growth management, and network preparation for rising demands. Operator Light Talks will showcase presentations from Mohawk Networks, Telus, and Tombigbee Fiber.
Wednesday includes FBA’s inaugural AI and Emerging Tech Infrastructure Summit, with a keynote and fireside chat by physicist Dr. Michio Kaku. The agenda also covers Tech Perspectives with Broadband Forum, Connected Community Theatre, C Suite Forum, Broadband Policy Upload, an expo with over 300 exhibitors, Proof-of-Concept demos, the OpTIC Path™ Fiber Optic Technician Rodeo, and tracks on Tribal Networks, Precision Ag, Streaming and Gaming, Telehealth, and Hyperscale Data Centers.
Market Context & Strategic Impact
Fiber broadband conferences like FC26 emerge at a tipping point: networks shift from expansion to sustaining AI-driven applications, edge computing, healthcare, agriculture, and scaled digital economies. This timing addresses accelerating network demands, where fiber underpins daily life, work, learning, and connectivity.
FBA Conference Committee Chair Jessica Koch highlights the event’s focus on ideas and leaders advancing the industry. By convening the full ecosystem, FC26 positions fiber operators to manage growth and adapt to emerging tech, influencing broadband policy, vendor strategies, and community deployments amid competitive pressures.
Key Features & Technical Details
- Pre-conference Workshops (May 17): Hands-on sessions for building, launching, and scaling fiber networks.
- General Sessions (May 18-19): Discussions on deployment scaling, growth management, and emerging network demands.
- Operator Light Talks: Presentations by Mohawk Networks, Telus, and Tombigbee Fiber.
- AI and Emerging Tech Summit (May 20): Keynote and fireside chat with Dr. Michio Kaku.
- Expo and Demos: Over 300 exhibitors, Proof-of-Concept demonstrations, OpTIC Path™ Technician Rodeo.
- Specialized Tracks: Tribal Networks, Precision Ag, Streaming/Gaming, Telehealth, Hyperscale Data Centers/Edge.
- Networking Forums: Tech Perspectives (Broadband Forum), Connected Community Theatre, C Suite Forum, Broadband Policy Upload.
FC26 equips fiber leaders to accelerate innovation and maintain competitiveness in an AI-fueled landscape, fostering long-term infrastructure resilience and ecosystem collaboration.
About the Fiber Broadband Association
The Fiber Broadband Association (FBA) is the voice of fiber, helping providers, policy makers, and communities make informed decisions about how, where, and why to build better fiber broadband networks. FBA is the largest and only trade association that represents the complete fiber ecosystem of service providers, manufacturers, industry experts, and deployment specialists. Since 2001, FBA and its members have worked to advance fiber broadband deployment to accelerate innovation and increase quality of life by enabling every community to leverage the economic and societal benefits that only fiber can deliver. The Fiber Broadband Association is part of the Fibre Council Global Alliance, which is a platform of six global FTTH Councils in North America, LATAM, Europe, MENA, APAC, and South Africa. Learn more at fiberbroadband.org.
