Here's Why ISE EXPO 2024 Was a Stellar Show

ISE EXPO 2024 in Dallas was a huge success.

The show had a 10% increase in attendance this year, and telecom professionals from all 50 states and 28 countries were at the show.

We also had a completely sold-out exhibition floor and offered 45 sessions with a total of 77 speakers.

If you were there, then you probably felt the genuinely good vibes all around. The warm, Dallas sun was shining on the telecom industry that week, as friendly faces felt the optimism of an industry that’s seeing rays of sunlight peeking in on an industry that’s been recalibrating and evolving.

Oh, and a great round of golf!

Frontier’s Scott Mispagel led a keynote that reinforced the fundamental importance of building out the fiber network with an entire technological revolution depending on it. A new age that’s only beginning.

Janice Oliva led an executive session that addressed what’s top of mind for telecom executives in this exciting new era of AI and grant-funded rural broadband initiatives.

Speaking of BEAD, I was delighted to lead the “Building to BEAD” session that featured our very own research in the form of a BEAD readiness survey. The three panelists that joined me had keen insights on how folks responded, and what it means for the whole industry.

Education sessions were well attended and topics included:

• Supply chain management
• Artificial intelligence
• BABA guidelines
• Public/private partnerships
• Smart cities
• Construction and engineering for the future
• Middle mile trends
• The customer journey
• And so, so much more…

ISE EXPO - a Symposium for the Future of the Network

With a panacea of opportunities to learn, network, make deals, and find out what’s really on the minds of your customers, ISE EXPO is a unique, annual opportunity to really dig into issues such as how to maximize effinciency in your fiber build, workforce challenges, and what AI can actually do for BSPs and their vendors.

With everyone in one place to talk comfortably and candidly about these things, maybe over lunch or a cocktail, opportunities and solutions suddenly appear, like magic. And we take this inspiration home with us and we start solving the future of the network with renewed focus and enthusiasm.

For example, our Women in Telecom panel gives women an opportunity to talk openly about telecom leadership with and for each other, bouncing ideas off and creating conversations that move the industry and its leadership to new heights with new perspectives.

Let me extend my warm gratitude to all of you attendees that made this show such a joy, and for bringing your perspectives to the industry.

We could not have done it without you.

New Orleans in 2025

Mark your calendars for July 29th next year, because we're going to be in New Orleans! I hope to see you there. New Orleans is a fun city, and we couldn't be more excited to set up EXPO in the Big Easy.

I look forward to seeing you there!