Two major forces will shape 2026 for broadband: BEAD funding and artificial intelligence. After years of anticipation, BEAD is moving from planning to execution, with awards rolling out and states lining up for projects. The pace of rolling fiber deployments is expected to quicken as design work transitions into real-world construction.
“BEAD momentum is real, and the industry is about to see the lift we’ve talked about for years,” said Arun Pasrija, CEO of CHR Solutions. “Even with occasional delays, the sense of progress is unmistakable and will drive a wave of fiber passings in the coming year.”
AI is the other major trigger. Across industries, AI is being embedded into daily workflows, decision-making, and customer engagement. In broadband, AI is expected to streamline OSS/BSS processes and engineering design, while a new crop of AI tools tailored for broadband begins to emerge, spanning automation, analytics, and customer support.
The broader AI push is fueling data center expansion. Industry giants like Microsoft, Google, and Oracle are investing heavily in new facilities, and those centers require ever-faster, more interconnected fiber networks. While not residential broadband in the traditional sense, the demand created by inter-data-center traffic represents a substantial, long‑term growth driver.
Cybersecurity and workforce continuity will remain top concerns. As capabilities grow, so do the threats, prompting 24/7 monitoring and stronger employee education. At the same time, the BEAD-driven workload will center on design and engineering, with many teams supported by modern tools to lift productivity and reduce potential labor gaps. Those who plan ahead and invest in the right tools are best positioned as 2026 unfolds.
