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Your Network Strategy Can't Wait Until Next Year
Get the talking points, business value, and manager letter you need to request approval.
ISE EXPO 2026 takes place August 18–20 at the Music City Center in Nashville, TN. ISE EXPO brings together network engineers, operations leaders, 5G and edge strategists, broadband program managers, contractors, utility professionals, and municipalities—all under one roof for technical education, peer networking, hands-on learning, and practical problem-solving that drives real results back at the office.
Use this page to make the case for attending, and download a manager letter template to request approval.
“ISE EXPO is a good blend of telecom and IT. You get to see and touch everything, end to end.” – ISE EXPO Attendee
How ISE EXPO 2026 Can Benefit Your Organization
Attending ISE EXPO can help your team:
1. Stay ahead of network convergence
The pace of change across fiber, 5G, edge, and AI-driven infrastructure is accelerating. Attending sessions on convergence strategy, technology-neutral deployment, and emerging network architectures can help your team make better-informed decisions about where to invest and how to evolve.
2. Reduce operational costs and improve efficiency
Rising OpEx and stretched teams are challenges every network operator faces. ISE EXPO's education track on AI and automation provides practical frameworks for cutting truck rolls, moving from reactive to predictive operations, and doing more with existing resources.
3. Learn from peer operators and field leaders
The majority of ISE EXPO sessions are led by broadband service providers sharing what's actually working in the field—not vendor pitches or analyst projections. Learning from peers who are solving the same problems can help your team avoid costly mistakes and accelerate better decision-making.
4. Support professional development across roles
Network infrastructure responsibilities are increasingly technical and cross-functional—spanning engineering, operations, strategy, and policy. ISE EXPO provides focused education directly relevant to the day-to-day work of engineers, ops leaders, 5G strategists, and broadband program managers alike.
5. Evaluate technologies, vendors, and solutions
With 130+ vendors on the exhibit floor and the new Convergence Central Theater bringing live sessions directly into the exhibit experience, ISE EXPO makes it easy to compare technologies, evaluate new tools, and connect with solution providers across the full network stack—all in one place.
6. Navigate BEAD funding and broadband policy
For teams executing or planning BEAD-funded projects, ISE EXPO's leadership track addresses implementation challenges, long-term sustainability, technology-neutral deployment strategies, and the decisions that will determine whether federally funded networks remain viable for decades to come.
7. Bring back insights for colleagues who cannot attend
One attendee can return with session notes, vendor contacts, presentation takeaways, and actionable recommendations that benefit the entire team—making ISE EXPO an investment that extends well beyond the individual who attends.
"The network doesn't know what industry it belongs to, and it just needs to work. ISE EXPO is where the people who make networks happen get to be in the same room, regardless of what their arena is."
Randall René, Content Ambassador, ISE EXPO
Find Value Based on Your Role
Whether you engineer network infrastructure, lead operations, drive 5G and edge strategy, or build broadband for the communities that need it most, ISE EXPO 2026 offers sessions and conversations directly relevant to your work.
| If you are a.... | ISE EXPO 2026 will help with... |
|---|---|
Network Engineer or OSP Leader |
Fiber deployment, AI-driven network readiness, supply chain strategy, digital twin automation, technology-neutral OSP design, first-time-right installation |
Network Operations or Field Ops Leader |
OpEx reduction, truck roll elimination, NOC automation, predictive maintenance, AI-driven fault detection, zero-touch provisioning, workforce modernization |
5G & Edge Strategist |
Fixed/mobile convergence, 5G Advanced planning, RAN densification, edge compute infrastructure, AI data center demand, technology investment alignment |
Community Broadband or BEAD Leader |
BEAD funding execution, long-term network sustainability, technology-neutral deployment, procurement strategy, stranded asset avoidance, rural/suburban OSP frameworks |
Contractor or Construction Professional |
Deployment execution, cross-training between engineering and field crews, supply chain coordination, workforce development, project efficiency |
Utility or Municipal Network Leader |
Converged infrastructure planning, community broadband strategy, public-private partnerships, cross-sector connectivity, network life cycle management |
What You'll Bring Back to Your Team
After ISE EXPO, you'll be able to share:
- Key takeaways from operator-led sessions across fiber, 5G, edge, AI, and network operations
- Practical strategies for reducing OpEx, improving deployment efficiency, and modernizing network operations
- Peer examples from broadband service providers, contractors, utilities, and municipalities solving the same challenges we face
- Vendor and technology insights from 130+ exhibitors across the full network infrastructure stack
- Notes on AI and automation applications, technology-neutral deployment frameworks, BEAD execution, and convergence strategy
- Recommended next steps our team can evaluate and apply to our own network priorities
Copy, Paste, and Customize This Email
Need approval to attend ISE EXPO 2026?
Use the manager approval letter below to help make the case to your manager. Personalize it with your organization’s priorities, the sessions you plan to attend, and the specific takeaways you hope to bring back.
Before You Send It
Customize the email by adding:
- The ISE EXPO sessions or topics most relevant to your work
- Current projects, programs, or compliance priorities your team is focused on
- Specific questions you hope to answer at the event
- A commitment to share takeaways with your team after attending
