Take a look at the returning fan-favorite keynote sessions, expert panels, community meetups and
brand new content stages confirmed for Metro Connect USA 2027.

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Download a PDF of the 2027 Agenda at a Glance (opens in a new tab)

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12:30
  1. Fiber Leaders Lunch (Spouses & Family Welcome)
    Diplomat Florida
    90 mins
14:00
  1. Fiber Leaders' Forum
    Diplomat Florida
    180 mins
17:00
  1. Digital Infra Leaders' Dinner
    Diplomat Florida
    180 mins
  2. Welcome Drinks Reception (open to all)
    Diplomat Florida
    90 mins
08:30
  1. Event tour
    Keynote stage
    30 mins
09:00
  1. Opening Keynote address
    Keynote stage
    30 mins
09:30
  1. Keynote address
    Keynote stage
    30 mins
    Speakers
    Speaker image for Marc Ganzi
    Marc Ganzi, Chief Executive Officer - DigitalBridge
10:00
  1. Keynote: State of the Market Address
    Keynote stage
    30 mins
    Speakers
    Speaker image for Greg Williams
    Greg Williams, Director, Equity Research - TD SECURITIES
10:30
  1. The CEO panel: How are network operators evolving in the AI age?
    Keynote stage
    50 mins
    Chairperson
    Speaker image for Adrian Sullesta
    Adrian Sullesta, Senior MD - FTI Consulting
    Speakers
    Speaker image for Sowmyanarayan Sampath
    Sowmyanarayan Sampath, CEO - Zayo Group, LLC
    Speaker image for Kenny Gunderman
    Kenny Gunderman, President & CEO - Uniti Group Inc.
11:20
  1. Keynote Fireside
    Keynote stage
    20 mins
    Speakers
    Speaker image for Brad Moline
    Brad Moline, Founder & President - Allo Communications
    Speaker image for Mike Wittrock
    Mike Wittrock, COO - Directv
11:40
  1. The Investor Panel: Who Captures the Next $500 Billion of Digital Infrastructure Value?
    Keynote stage
    50 mins
    Chairperson
    Speaker image for Brandon Howald
    Brandon Howald, Partner - ROPES & GRAY LLP
    Speakers
    Speaker image for Josh Pang
    Josh Pang, Head of Digital Infrastructure AIF - Apollo
    Speaker image for Jason Hill
    Jason Hill, Managing Director & Co-Head of U.S. Technology, Global Head of Digital Infrastructure - HOULIHAN LOKEY
12:25
  1. Networking lunch
    Diplomat Florida
    95 mins
12:30
  1. FTTH Meetup
    Last Mile Stage
    90 mins
  2. Data Center Fiber Lunch Meetup
    Core Networks Stage
    90 mins
  3. Community Engagement Workshop & Lunch (invitation only)
    Data Center Stage
    90 mins
  4. Data center power meetup
    Diplomat Florida
    90 mins
14:00
  1. Network Monetization and Operations Summit 
    Bespoke session - reserved
    Last Mile Stage
    45 mins
  2.  Data Center Fiber Summit
    Panel: The AI Backbone - How data center networks must evolve for the next wave of AI demand
    Core Networks Stage
    45 mins
    Speakers
    Speaker image for Dan Davis
    Dan Davis, CEO - ARCADIAN INFRACOM
    Speaker image for Robert Worden
    Robert Worden, Chief Executive Officer - VISION NET, INC.
    Speaker image for Tad Deriso
    Tad Deriso, President & CEO - MBC

  3.  Community Engagement Summit

    Panel: The Community Risk Premium - How Public Acceptance Is Shaping Investment Decisions in Digital Infrastructure
    Data Center Stage
    45 mins

  4.  Fiber Investment Summit

    Panel: How is consolidation evolving in fiber- the rise of JVs and cashless mergers?
    Investment and Finance Stage
    45 mins
    Speakers
    Speaker image for Todd Holder
    Todd Holder, Managing Director - TD SECURITIES (USA) LLC
    Speaker image for Emmanuel Gionakis
    Emmanuel Gionakis, Managing Director - Wren House
    Speaker image for Chad Crank
    Chad Crank, Managing Director - Grain Management, LLC
14:45
  1. Panel: How are FTTH operators scaling their operations?
    Last Mile Stage
    45 mins
    Speakers
    Speaker image for Kerry Haughan
    Kerry Haughan, Sr Vice President Commercial Strategy - CALIX
    Speaker image for Justin Lampman
    Justin Lampman, COO - 123NET
  2. Panel: Picking Partners - How do data centers engage with carrier partners effectively?
    Core Networks Stage
    45 mins
    Chairperson
    Speaker image for Greg Bryan
    Greg Bryan, Senior Manager - Telegeography
    Speakers
    Speaker image for Justin Forte
    Justin Forte, CEO - INDATEL SERVICES
    Speaker image for Tom Spackman
    Tom Spackman, CEO - Gigabit Fiber, LLC
    Speaker image for Allen Meeks
    Allen Meeks, Chief Executive Officer - MOX NETWORKS, LLC
  3. Panel: The Social Licence to Grow - Addressing Communities’ Biggest Concerns on Power and Water
    Data Center Stage
    45 mins
  4. Panel: What Makes a Fiber Asset Investable in the AI Era?
    Investment and Finance Stage
    45 mins
    Speakers
    Speaker image for Alex Kozak
    Alex Kozak, Managing Director - Guggenheim Securites
15:30
  1. Networking Break
    Last Mile Stage
    30 mins
  2. Networking Break
    Core Networks Stage
    30 mins
  3. Networking Break
    Data Center Stage
    30 mins
  4. Networking Break
    Investment and Finance Stage
    30 mins
16:00
  1. Bespoke session - reserved
    Last Mile Stage
    45 mins
  2. Panel: From Meet-Me Room to Metro Fabric – Building the interconnection ecosystem for the AI era
    Core Networks Stage
    45 mins
    Speakers
    Speaker image for Hunter Newby
    Hunter Newby, CEO - Newby Ventures
  3. Panel: From Consultation to Consent - Building Public Trust for Digital Infrastructure Growth
    Data Center Stage
    45 mins
  4. Panel: Is enterprise fiber the new favourite asset class?
    Investment and Finance Stage
    45 mins
    Speakers
    Speaker image for Benjamin Desmarais
    Benjamin Desmarais, Partner - NOVACAP MANAGEMENT INC
16:45
  1. Panel: How are operators driving ROI on FTTX networks?
    Last Mile Stage
    45 mins
    Speakers
    Speaker image for Glenn Goad
    Glenn Goad, CEO - Earthlink
    Speaker image for Bob Thompson
    Bob Thompson, Founder & CEO - UNDERLINE INFRASTRUCTURE
    Speaker image for Gavin Keirans
    Gavin Keirans, CEO - Blue Stream Fiber
  2. Panel: First Things First - Designing connectivity before the data center opens
    Core Networks Stage
    45 mins
    Speakers
    Speaker image for James Tindall
    James Tindall, Senior Vice President, Hyperscale and AI Cloud Infrastructure - NOKIA
    Speaker image for Stephen Rose
    Stephen Rose, CEO - RENDER NETWORKS
    Speaker image for John White
    John White, Chief Operating Officer - US SIGNAL COMPANY LLC
  3. Panel: Permitting, Policy and Progress ' The regulatory roadmap for digital infrastructure
    Data Center Stage
    45 mins
    Chairperson
    Speaker image for Maria Browne
    Maria Browne, Partner - DAVIS WRIGHT TREMAINE LLP
  4. Panel: What are the most effective capital-raising strategies for fiber operators?
    Investment and Finance Stage
    45 mins
17:30
  1. Happy hour reception
    Last Mile Stage
    45 mins
  2. Happy hour reception
    Core Networks Stage
    45 mins
  3. Happy hour reception
    Data Center Stage
    45 mins
  4. Happy hour reception
    Investment and Finance Stage
    45 mins
18:00
  1. Evening drinks reception
    Diplomat Florida
    60 mins
09:00
  1. Government/Policy Keynote
    Keynote stage
    20 mins
09:20
  1. Keynote Address
    Keynote stage
    20 mins
09:40
  1. Panel: Community Solutions - Mending the fence with local communities
    Keynote stage
    50 mins
    Speakers
    Speaker image for Doug Recker
    Doug Recker, CEO - Duos Edge AI
10:30
  1. Panel: Energy lynchpin - Why power is the key to infrastructure investment
    Keynote stage
    50 mins
11:20
  1. Panel: The Inference Economy - Who wins in the next phase of AI infrastructure investment?
    Keynote stage
    50 mins
    Speakers
    Speaker image for Jeffrey Moerdler
    Jeffrey Moerdler, Chair, Data Center and Digital Infrastructure Practice - HAYNES BOONE
12:10
  1. Panel: The Human Bottleneck - Solving the human capital challenge behind AI infrastructure
    Keynote stage
    35 mins
12:25
  1. Networking lunch
    Diplomat Florida
    95 mins
12:30
  1. State Broadband Office Lunch Meetup
    Last Mile Stage
    90 mins
  2. Nuclear for AI Lunch Meetup
    Data Center Stage
    90 mins
14:00
  1.  BEAD Delivery Summit
    Panel: What is needed to support the smooth delivery of BEAD?
    Last Mile Stage
    45 mins

  2.  Design and Construction Summit

    Panel: The New Economics of Network Construction - Why every build model is being rewritten
    Core Networks Stage
    45 mins
    Speakers
    Speaker image for Jim Anetsberger
    Jim Anetsberger, Chief Revenue Officer - MILLENNIUM
    Speaker image for Wyatt Wisnefske
    Wyatt Wisnefske, President - RADD NETWORK SOLUTIONS, INC.
    Speaker image for Troy Lupe
    Troy Lupe, CTO - Zayo Group, LLC

  3.  Power and Energy Summit

    Panel: Pace of Power - How can the grid expand to meet AI demand in time?
    Data Center Stage
    45 mins

  4.  Investment and Finance Stage

    Panel: Build vs Buy - Where Is the Best Risk-Adjusted Return in Data Centers?
    Investment and Finance Stage
    45 mins
14:45
  1. Panel: How can we ensure the long-term economic viability of publicly funded networks?
    Last Mile Stage
    45 mins
    Speakers
    Speaker image for Elizabeth Bowles
    Elizabeth Bowles, CEO - Aristotle Unified Communications Inc.
  2. Panel: Permits Progress - Navigating the biggest bottleneck facing capital, customers, and contractors
    Core Networks Stage
    45 mins
    Speakers
    Speaker image for Brian Riley
    Brian Riley, CEO - HEXATRONIC
  3. Panel: Beyond Megawatts - Solving bottlenecks in generation, transmission, and distribution
    Data Center Stage
    45 mins
    Speakers
    Speaker image for John Chesser
    John Chesser, CEO - QUANTICA INFRASTRUCTURE, LLC
  4. Panel: The Data Center Capital Stack - Evolving finance structures to meet increasing complexity head on
    Investment and Finance Stage
    45 mins
    Chairperson
    Speaker image for Sean McDevitt
    Sean McDevitt, Partner - Arthur D. Little LLC
    Speakers
    Speaker image for Pim Rothweiler
    Pim Rothweiler, Head of Telecoms & Tech - Natixis Corporate & Investment Banking
    Speaker image for Raghav Nayar
    Raghav Nayar, Managing Director - Grain Management, LLC
    Speaker image for Jesse Burros
    Jesse Burros, Chief Investment Officer - SWITCH, LTD.
15:30
  1. Networking break
    Last Mile Stage
    30 mins
  2. Networking Break
    Core Networks Stage
    30 mins
  3. Networking Break
    Data Center Stage
    30 mins
  4. Networking Break
    Investment and Finance Stage
    30 mins
16:00
  1. State roundtables
    Last Mile Stage
    45 mins
  2. Panel: AI-First Networks - How do new AI data centers transform network design?
    Core Networks Stage
    45 mins
  3. Bespoke session
    Data Center Stage
    45 mins
  4. Panel: Data Center Credit Quality - Who are investors really underwriting?
    Investment and Finance Stage
    45 mins
16:45
  1. Workshop: Capitalising on the future of public funding
    Last Mile Stage
    45 mins
  2. Panel: AI Factory Construction 101 - How do multi-gigawatt scale campuses get built?
    Core Networks Stage
    45 mins
  3. Panel: Behind the Meter Impacts - How do new power dynamics affect data center development?
    Data Center Stage
    45 mins
  4. Panel: Taking the Reins - How direct investors are entering the data center funding model
    Investment and Finance Stage
    45 mins
17:30
  1. Happy hour reception
    Diplomat Florida
    45 mins
  2. Happy hour
    Last Mile Stage
    45 mins
  3. Happy hour
    Data Center Stage
    45 mins
  4. Happy hour
    Core Networks Stage
    45 mins
18:00
  1. Evening drinks reception
    Diplomat Florida
    90 mins
    Sponsored by:
    Image


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09:30
  1. Tower and Wireless Summit
    Panel: Broadband & Network Convergence: Fiber, Wireless or Hybrid?
    Last Mile Stage
    45 mins
    Speakers
    Speaker image for Sanyogita Shamsunder
    Sanyogita Shamsunder, CTO - GEOLINKS

  2.  Latam Summit

    Panel: Exploring investment opportunities across Latin America
    Core Networks Stage
    45 mins
  3. Neocloud Summit
    Panel: Beyond the Big Four - Understanding the new buyers of digital infrastructure
    Data Center Stage
    45 mins
  4. Space Investment Summit
    Panel: Space as the next digital infrastructure asset class
    Investment and Finance Stage
    45 mins
10:15
  1. Bespoke session
    Last Mile Stage
    45 mins
  2. Panel: Spotlight on Mexico - Building the future of cross-border connectivity
    Core Networks Stage
    45 mins
  3. Panel: New Buyers, More Fiber - How AI-first infrastructure is reshaping network demand
    Data Center Stage
    45 mins
    Speakers
    Speaker image for Gabe Gomez
    Gabe Gomez, VP Wholesale Product Segment - LUMEN TECHNOLOGIES
  4. Panel: Asset class in focus - Satellite Connectivity Infrastructure
    Investment and Finance Stage
    45 mins
11:00
  1. Panel: Making Towers Sexy Again: Why Investors May Be Missing the Next Infrastructure Opportunity
    Last Mile Stage
    45 mins
    Speakers
    Speaker image for Ron Bizick
    Ron Bizick, President & Chief Executive Officer - Vertical Bridge
    Speaker image for Yannis Macheras
    Yannis Macheras, CEO - Harmoni Towers
  2. Panel: Spotlight on Brazil - A potential global AI hub?
    Core Networks Stage
    45 mins
    Speakers
    Speaker image for Jeff Ferry
    Jeff Ferry, Partner, Investments and Head of Digital Infrastructure - Safanad capital
  3. Panel: The Neocloud Capital Bet - Can traditional finance models support AI-native infrastructure expansion?
    Data Center Stage
    45 mins
  4. Panel: Asset Class in Focus - Space Compute Infrastructure
    Investment and Finance Stage
    45 mins
11:45
  1. Panel: The Next Tower Deal: M&A Strategies Shaping Wireless Infrastructure Ownership
    Last Mile Stage
    45 mins
    Speakers
    Speaker image for Peter Appel
    Peter Appel, SVP International Mergers & Acquisitions - Phoenix Tower International
    Speaker image for Sean Yajnik
    Sean Yajnik, MD, Head of Digital Infrastructure Advisory - Americas - Macquarie Capital (USA) Inc.
    Speaker image for Ed Farscht
    Ed Farscht, Chief Executive Officer - Diamond Communications
  2. Spotlight on Colombia ' Unlocking the Next Phase of Digital Infrastructure Growth
    Core Networks Stage
    45 mins
  3. Panel: Consolidation or Competition - How will future neocloud market dynamics play out?
    Data Center Stage
    45 mins
  4. Closing Debate: CapEx Rocket - Will space-based digital infrastucture hit escape velocity or crash to Earth?
    Investment and Finance Stage
    45 mins
12:30
  1. Networking lunch
    Diplomat Florida
    90 mins
  2. Networking and refreshments
    Last Mile Stage
    90 mins
  3. Networking and refreshments
    Core Networks Stage
    90 mins
  4. Networking and refreshments
    Data Center Stage
    90 mins
  5. Networking and refreshments
    Investment and Finance Stage
    90 mins