The TekCom Resources team is back from ISE EXPO 2026, and after several days of conversations with telecom and broadband leaders, one takeaway stands out: there is a lot of work ahead for our industry, and having the right people in place will matter just as much as having the right technology.
Held August 18–20, 2026, at Music City Center in Nashville, TN, ISE EXPO brought together professionals from across the network infrastructure industry to explore the technologies, strategies and workforce challenges shaping the future of connectivity.
Representing TekCom Resources at ISE EXPO were Ian Raddant, President; Steve Hillman, VP of National Accounts – East; and Mark Bright, Regional Director – South. Together, the team spent the event connecting with telecom and broadband leaders about the projects, opportunities and hiring challenges ahead.
Taking the Conversation to the ISE Stage
This year’s event was particularly exciting for TekCom as President Ian Raddant joined industry leaders as a speaker for “Enhancing Performance with Cross-Training: Bridging Engineering and Construction.”
The session tackled a timely question: What if one of the biggest constraints on network deployment isn’t capital, but how teams are structured?
As fiber builds accelerate, engineering and construction teams need to work together effectively. The ISE session explored how cross-training can help break down silos, strengthen collaboration and address growing talent needs across network deployments.
It’s a conversation that aligns closely with Ian’s experience. As President of TekCom, he leads a national team specializing in telecommunications and network infrastructure recruiting and brings decades of experience in telecom recruiting and staffing.
The Talent Conversation Isn’t Slowing Down
One message came through loud and clear during our conversations in Nashville: experienced telecom talent continues to be in demand.
As fiber networks expand, broadband construction moves forward and AI and data center infrastructure drive new investment, companies need experienced professionals who can help move projects from planning to completion.
Some of the most important talent conversations we had at ISE centered around:
- OSP engineering
- Fiber design and engineering
- Construction management
- Project and program management
- Permitting
- Field and technical talent
The competition for proven telecom professionals makes workforce planning increasingly important. Waiting until a project is underway to think about staffing can leave companies competing for specialized talent when they need it most.
New Technology Still Needs Experienced People
AI, automation and next-generation network infrastructure were prominent themes throughout ISE EXPO. The education program included discussions around autonomous networks, fiber deployment, AI data centers, network expansion and the power demands associated with emerging infrastructure.
The technology is changing quickly. One thing hasn’t changed nearly as much:
People still build networks.
Fiber still needs to be engineered and designed. Projects need to be permitted and managed. Construction needs oversight. Field teams need experienced leadership.
For TekCom, that’s one of the most important takeaways from ISE EXPO 2026. Investing in infrastructure and investing in the workforce behind it need to go hand in hand.
What’s Next for Telecom Infrastructure?
We’re excited about where the industry is headed, and grateful to everyone who took the time to meet with Ian, Steve and Mark in Nashville.
ISE EXPO gave us the opportunity to hear directly from industry leaders, reconnect with familiar faces and have thoughtful conversations about what companies are preparing for next.
Now it’s time to keep those conversations going.
The projects are coming. The networks are growing. Let’s make sure the workforce is ready.
Planning an upcoming fiber, broadband, OSP, telecom or data center infrastructure project? Connect with TekCom Resources and put our telecom recruiting expertise to the test.
