Fiber Broadband Association Announces Inaugural AI & Emerging Technology Infrastructure Summit at Fiber Connect 2026

Fiber Broadband Association Announces Inaugural AI & Emerging Technology Infrastructure Summit at Fiber Connect 2026  

Featuring keynote by Dr. Michio Kaku, new program highlights the critical role of fiber in scaling AI, quantum networking, and next-generation digital infrastructure  

WASHINGTON, D.C.—(March 10, 2026)—The Fiber Broadband Association (FBA) today announced the first AI & Emerging Technology Infrastructure Summit at Fiber Connect 2026. With the growth in AI applications and services, Quantum Networking and Compute, and the rise in Hyperscale data centers, the need for deeper conversation on the infrastructure implications was clear.    

Fiber’s near-limitless bandwidth, exceptionally low latency, symmetrical upload and download speeds, and proven reliability position it as the critical backbone for AI workloads, hyperscale data centers, and emerging quantum technologies. Fiber is the only broadband infrastructure that can provide the fast, precise data transmission and infrastructure that can scale for decades to come, as explained in FBA’s recent paper, Infrastructure Foundations for AI and Quantum Computing These advancements set the stage for the AI & Emerging Technology Infrastructure Summit, where industry leaders will explore how fiber enables the AI and quantum networks of the future. 

Visionary physicist and bestselling author Dr. Michio Kaku will headline the summit with a future-focused keynote exploring the evolution from today’s classical networks to an AI-native, quantum-enabled future. A fireside chat will follow, connecting long-term innovation trends with practical implications for operators and enterprises building infrastructure today.  

“AI is driving a fundamental shift in how we think about networks — from capacity and latency to energy and efficiency,” said Gary Bolton, President and CEO of the Fiber Broadband Association. “Fiber is the infrastructure that makes any of this possible. This summit is about helping industry leaders understand what’s coming and how to prepare.” 

The AI & Emerging Tech Infrastructure Summit will deliver practical guidance across the technology stack, including: 

• Interconnect Insights on the Photonics Enabling AI Factory Scale and Multi-Data Center Future– Panel moderated by Open Compute Project on photonics, AI pod scale-up, and high-speed data movement. 

• Ready Player One: Capacity and Energy Requirements to Scale AI– Exploring the intersection of fiber and power to efficiently support AI, edge computing and data centers. 

• To Infinity and Beyond: AI, Quantum, and Telecom – Panel examining how fiber enables AI, quantum networking, and advanced digital services.  

• Fireside chats with Oracle, Meta and Lumen. 

The summit will bring together industry leaders, network operators, researchers, and technology innovators to explore how fiber infrastructure is enabling the next wave of artificial intelligence (AI), quantum networking, immersive technologies, and high-performance computing. It is included for all Fiber Connect attendees or can be selected as a one-day conference option, and is designed for executives, network operators, infrastructure providers, product and strategy teams, policymakers, and innovators working across AI, cloud, connectivity, and cutting-edge digital services. 

Fiber Connect 2026 takes place May 17-20 in Orlando, Florida, bringing together global leaders focused on advancing fiber deployment and innovation. For more information and registration details, visit here. Subscribe to FBA’s Fiber Forward Weekly newsletter here. 

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.