What Dealers Should Know About Broadband Nation Expo 2026 (BBNE)

GET MORE NEWS HERE

Dealer takeaway: Even if you’re not a fiber builder, BBNE is a signal event for where connectivity is heading: hybrid networks, infrastructure that lasts, and AI-driven demand that will push more investment into broadband, data centers, and end-to-end connectivity. Dealers who sell business internet, failover, managed Wi-Fi, or IoT should pay attention.

When and where is Broadband Nation Expo 2026?

Broadband Nation Expo is heading to New Orleans on Nov. 18–20, 2026.

According to Fierce Network, the event is centered on a key industry challenge: turning today’s wave of infrastructure investment into lasting economic, technological, and community impact.

Theme and program tracks

This year’s theme is:

“Broadband & Beyond: The Next Era of End-to-End Connectivity.”

The program is organized around three tracks:

• Hybrid Horizons

• Built to Last

• No AI Without Broadband

Across these tracks, speakers will address topics like:

• Infrastructure longevity

• Workforce development

• Converged networks

• AI-driven demand growth

• How broadband and data center developers work with the communities they serve

Speaker lineup (early list)

The speaker lineup already includes:

• Rob Ward, SVP of global network engineering at Lumen Technologies

• Justin Colwell, EVP of technology strategy and innovation at Charter Communications

• Phil Read, senior director of global colocation product management at Equinix

• Gino Tozzi, global head of data center infrastructure quality at Google

New in 2026: Data Center Excellence Summit

A major addition this year is the co-located Data Center Excellence Summit, themed:

“Scaling the Infrastructure Behind the AI Economy.”

The summit is designed to bring data center operators, hyperscalers, and other digital infrastructure leaders into the broadband conversation as AI increases demand for:

• Fiber

• Power

• Cooling

• Connectivity

Note: One pass provides access to both programs.

New in 2026: Fierce Network Innovation Awards (live)

Also new: the Fierce Network Innovation Awards will be presented live for the first time during Broadband Nation Expo on Nov. 19.

The updated awards program will recognize advances across:

• Broadband

• Wireless

• Cloud

• AI

• Digital infrastructure

Who’s this event built for?

Fierce Network describes the combined event as bringing together:

• Broadband providers

• Government leaders

• Data center operators

• Hyperscalers

• Utilities

• Investors

• Technology companies

In other words: the groups now facing the same questions about how networks get funded, built, powered, and scaled.

Dealer playbook: how to turn “BBNE” into revenue

1) Sell “end-to-end connectivity,” not just a line

• Primary internet + failover (5G router/hotspot)

• Managed Wi-Fi + network health checks

• Security basics (guest Wi-Fi segmentation, device management)

2) Use AI demand as a reason to upgrade business connectivity

• “If you’re using AI tools, your upload + reliability matters more than ever.”

• Push better routers, mesh, and business-grade setups

3) Build relationships with local ISPs, integrators, and IT providers

• Co-sell installs

• Referral agreements

• Bundle onboarding and support