ISE EXPO 2025 Recap

This year, ISE EXPO brought the telecom industry to New Orleans for three days of collaboration, learning and innovation. Attendees explored a bustling exhibit floor, joined targeted education sessions, and connected at networking events, including the annual golf tournament.

The program opened with a keynote on building disaster-resilient communities, where Julie Slattery, Senior Vice President of Core Engineering & Operations at Verizon, underscored how technology and partnerships strengthen preparedness and response in critical situations.

Panels and sessions throughout the week examined key industry priorities like converged and hybrid networks, BEAD program realities, bridging the digital divide and managing fiber capacity. A research-driven discussion offered a state-level perspective on BEAD progress, with insights into technology choices, supply chain pressures and rollout strategies.

Workforce development was another focal point, with a half-day program dedicated to strategies for recruiting, training and retaining skilled broadband professionals. The ISE EXPO agenda also included a Women in Telecom luncheon, offering a platform to share leadership experiences, foster mentorship and spotlight diverse perspectives shaping the industry’s future.

The closing keynote, delivered by Tom Maguire, Founding Leader and Board Member of Brightspeed, looked ahead to a decisive industry shift, as modern networks replace legacy infrastructure to meet the demands of the future.

From the exhibit floor to after-hours conversations, ISE EXPO 2025 offered a multi-faceted look at the challenges and opportunities shaping the next phases of network expansion, and the people and ideas driving it forward.