Our team just wrapped up an energizing few days at Fiber Connect 2026, where industry leaders came together to discuss the future of broadband and the evolving role of fiber. From packed keynote sessions to in-depth technical discussions, this year's event made one thing clear: fiber is no longer just about connectivity; it's becoming the foundation for everything that comes next. From AI to quantum computing to open-access models, the conversations this year signalled a market shift from building networks to what those networks now need to support.
In this recap, we'll break down the biggest trends shaping the fiber industry today, highlight key takeaways from the event, and explore what it all means for operators navigating the next phase of broadband growth.
The pre-conference Open Access sessions highlighted both momentum and complexity.
On one hand, the industry is making real progress. Organizations such as ATIS, TM Forum, and the Broadband Forum are driving standardization efforts to improve interoperability between open access providers and internet service providers (ISPs).
On the other hand, the biggest challenges aren't technical—they're operational and organizational. Questions like who owns the customer, who dispatches field technicians, and how business processes align across organizations remain unresolved. Even something as fundamental as address standardization remains a barrier.
There's also an economic tension at play. Open access models can accelerate growth and improve infrastructure utilization, but they also risk cannibalizing traditional retail revenue streams. For infrastructure investors, operational efficiency is critical—high OPEX is a non-starter.
The takeaway was clear: open access will continue to evolve, but its success will depend just as much on people and business alignment as it will on APIs and standards.
The keynotes set the tone quickly. Billions of dollars continue to be poured into fiber investment, but the "why" behind those investments is evolving. AI is the new driver.
Low latency, massive bandwidth, real-time data processing—these are no longer aspirational requirements. They're table stakes for supporting large language models (LLMs) and AI-driven applications at scale. As Gary Bolton put it, "without fiber, AI fails."
That statement resonated throughout the day. AI is not just another workload; it's forcing operators to rethink how networks are designed and operated. Silos are becoming unsustainable. The future points toward converged, centralized systems that can support automation and real-time decision-making.
This is where things get interesting: fiber is no longer just access infrastructure; it's becoming part of a broader intelligent, synchronized compute fabric.
One of the more unexpected but compelling themes was how quickly quantum is entering the conversation.
What used to feel academic is now starting to show up in real deployments and partnerships. Concepts like superposition, interference, and entanglement were framed not just as physics principles—but as building blocks for next-generation networks.
The implications are significant. Quantum technologies are expected to reshape areas like encryption, sensing, and timing—especially for critical infrastructure sectors such as banking, utilities, and defence. With current RSA-based security models under long-term threat, operators are already exploring quantum-safe approaches.
We're also starting to see early ecosystem development. EPB, for example, is leveraging its fiber network to explore quantum capabilities, positioning itself for future use cases tied to grid infrastructure and government services.
But it's still early. One speaker described the space as "the wild west"—no dominant players, no defined Silicon Valley equivalent, and a massive opportunity ahead. The constraints are less about technology and more about skills, ecosystem readiness, and standardization, with heavy reliance on government and academic partnerships to close those gaps.
Another thread running through multiple sessions was the evolving relationship between fiber and fixed wireless access (FWA). Historically framed as competitors, they're increasingly being seen as complementary. Fiber offers deterministic, predictable performance. FWA, by contrast, is inherently probabilistic but flexible and fast to deploy.
Operators are leaning into that distinction. By 2030, one operator plans to roll out tens of thousands of FWA sites, not as a replacement for fiber but as an extension of it. Even more telling, data suggests that a small but meaningful portion of customers—ranging from 5% to 25%—may remain on FWA even when fiber becomes available.
In rural and underserved markets, the use cases are already compelling: agricultural telemetry, remote healthcare applications, and connected education environments.
Increasingly, the emerging model is clear: fiber as primary, FWA as complementary—or even as backup connectivity.
If there was one consistent theme across operators, it was this: the hardest problems are no longer about building networks—they're about running them.
Operators are dealing with growing complexity across fiber, DOCSIS, and wireless environments, often layered on top of fragmented systems and inconsistent data models. The result is inefficiency in provisioning, troubleshooting, and workforce management.
Schurz, operating across nine states and multiple access technologies, articulated this challenge well. Like many, they are navigating issues like stranded equipment, inconsistent customer data, and a lack of a unified operational view.
Their focus—and that of many others—is shifting toward closed-loop automation, BSS transformation, and the establishment of a true single source of truth.
Interestingly, there's also a mindset shift happening. Flexibility and modularity are being prioritized over tightly integrated, monolithic systems. Operators want the freedom to evolve without being locked into rigid architectures.
For all the talk of AI and quantum, one thing hasn't changed: customer experience is still the primary driver of churn.
What did stand out, however, was how clearly operators are linking operational processes to customer outcomes. The first 30 to 60 days after installation remain the most critical window. Poor communication, missed appointments, or subpar installation experiences can quickly lead to churn—regardless of network quality.
The leading operators are approaching this differently. The installation process is being reframed as a customer journey that spans marketing, field operations, and customer care. Field technicians, in particular, are being repositioned as brand ambassadors rather than just installers. Tools that provide visibility—like real-time "where's my tech" tracking—are helping to set expectations and reduce friction.
Some operators are even "certifying" installs by validating Wi-Fi performance and capturing immediate customer feedback. Others are achieving near-perfect on-time arrival rates by better integrating field operations into their broader systems.
There was also a strong reminder that internal alignment matters just as much as external experience. As one speaker noted, better employee experience directly translates into better customer outcomes.
After attending Fiber Connect this year, I'm left with a strong sense that the industry is entering its next phase. Fiber remains at the center—but the conversation has shifted. It's now about enabling AI, preparing for quantum, supporting multi-access environments, and operating networks in a way that delivers consistent, high-quality experiences.
The build phase isn't over—but the real differentiation is increasingly happening above the network—and that's where the next wave of innovation and competition will be decided.