The conference brings together over 4,000+ executives across digital infrastructure and finance, for three days of strategic insights, networking and deal-making at the Fort Lauderdale Marriott Harbor Beach Resort & Spa on 23 – 25 February 2026.

Why the event matters

Metro Connect USA is designed for senior decision-makers and influencers in digital infrastructure.

Attendees will explore market trends, investment opportunities, fibre expansion strategies, AI-driven networks and next-generation data centre deployment.

The conference offers a platform to forge partnerships, shape strategy and stay ahead of industry change.

According to Metro Connect USA, keynote speaker Marc Ganzi: “Metro Connect started as a niche gathering for carriers and fibre operators.  

“It has evolved into the premier strategy event for the entire digital infrastructure value chain- and has done so against a backdrop in which digital infrastructure increasingly underpins economic competitiveness and technological innovation on a global scale.

“Today, hyperscalers, private equity, infrastructure funds, credit investors, tower and data centre operators and policy leaders are all in the same room,” he says.

“The content has evolved as well, moving from bilateral deals and route maps to discussions around AI workloads, power markets, securitisation, ESG, and now the geopolitics of connectivity. It has become the place where the industry takes stock of the year and sets the agenda for what comes next,” Ganzi adds.

Core themes to watch

One of the most closely watched trends this year is market consolidation and M&A, with industry leaders exploring how mergers, acquisitions and strategic partnerships are reshaping the fibre industry.

Fibre and FTTH growth also remains a central focus, with operators sharing strategies to expand last-mile connectivity. As a result, panels and roundtables will dive into the practical challenges and opportunities of scaling fibre networks while maintaining quality and profitability.

Alongside this, the conference will highlight how companies are using AI to modernise networks to reduce downtime, streamline processes and automate fault detection, whilst also addressing concerns about skills gaps, policies and data governance.

With AI increasingly influencing strategic decision-making in multiple industry sectors, major companies have begun using the tool in its core business and network strategies.

Meanwhile, the continued expansion of the data centre market will form another pillar of the agenda for Metro Connect 2026.

AI workloads and content delivery drive rapid growth, discussions will look at how facilities are funded, built and scaled. Topics will include site selection, power supply, sustainability goals and the role of edge and regional data centres.

Investment and regulation will round out the agenda. Sessions will examine funding models, public-private partnerships and the policies that influence where and how networks are built – including spectrum rules, planning reforms, rural connectivity incentives and sustainability requirements.

Where deal-making happens

​Networking and community building remain at the heart of the event.

Exclusive meetups, social events and informal gatherings offer opportunities for collaboration, relationship-building and deal-making beyond the conference sessions themselves.

These gatherings complement the formal sessions, providing opportunities for deal-making and industry collaboration outside of the conference.

What keynotes to expect

Keynote Address – Seizing the AI Gold Rush

Speaker:

• Marc Ganzi, CEO, DigitalBridge

Keynote Address – Metro Connect USA 2026, State of the Market

Speaker:

• Greg Williams, director, Equity Research – TD Securities

The CEO Panel: Capital, Competition and Growth

• Jiva Jagtap, senior managing director – FTI Consulting
• Kenny Gunderman, CEO – Uniti
• Steve Smith, CEO – Zayo
• Chris Morley, CEO – Lightpath

The M&A Panel: Welcome to the Next Wave of Consolidation

Speakers:

• Brandon Howald, partner – Ropes & Gray
• Anton Moldan, senior managing director – Macquarie
• Jason Hill, managing director, global head digital infrastructure; Co-Head US Technology – Houlihan Lokey
• Todd Holder, managing director – TD SECURITIES
• Valtin Gallani, head of TMT finance and advisory, Americas – Societe Generale

Keynote Address – From Fibre to Quantum: The Bandwidth Story and the Future of AI Infrastructure

Speaker:

• Dan Caruso, founder – Caruso Ventures

Keynote Panel – Structured to Scale: ABS as a Growth Engine in Digital Infra

Speaker:

• Kelly Mellecker, partner – Kirkland & Ellis
• Madonna Park, CFO – Switch
• Santhosh Rao, managing director, TMT Investment Banking – MUFG
• Alexander Kozak, managing director – Guggenheim Partners
• Alex Shapiro, director – Riverside Risk Advisors