AI-powered applications, cloud connectivity and IoT continue to drive demand for low-latency connectivity, and North America’s network capabilities continue to evolve, and fast. At International Telecoms Week 2025 (ITW 2025), a select group of leaders took the Spotlight Stage to discuss how partnerships and infrastructure investments are shaping the next phase of digital infrastructure growth in traditional Tier 2 and Tier 3 markets.
Moderated by Jessie H. Pham, Associate Partner of FTI Delta, the esteemed panel of speakers included: Doug Recker, President and Founder of Duos Edge AI; Tony Rossabi, Founder & Managing Member of OCOLO; Scott Willis, CEO of DartPoints; and Bob Thompson, Founder & CEO of Underline. The expert panel dissected the commercial and operational realities of extending connectivity to underserved regions, continuing reading for our synopsis of key takeaways from the discussion.
Turning Edge Talk into Real Deployments
It was evident in the discussion that there is an ongoing shift in the public discourse from theoretical discussions about the edge to practical deployments. Doug Recker shared that his company, Duos Edge AI has successfully deployed a micro data center adjacent to a regional school network hub in Amarillo, Texas. Through a network partnership with FiberLight and a public/private partnership with the local education authority, the data center edge pod deployment improved performance and redundancy for 56 schools and laid the groundwork for broader community benefits, from healthcare to public records.
Scott Willis emphasized the importance of identifying scalable models for smaller cities. His company, DartPoints is focusing its investments on emerging metro areas; places where power and fiber are available, but competition is scarce. The goal: build agile, mid-sized facilities that can deliver performance today while planning for expansion tomorrow. “We’re not targeting Chicago or Northern Virginia,” Willis said. “We’re building where the next wave of enterprise demand is taking shape.”
Bob Thompson echoed this approach, highlighting Underline’s development of unified, capital-efficient fiber networks designed to support a full range of users from residential to defense applications. In communities where multiple fiber deployments aren’t financially feasible, he steadfastly believes that carrier-neutral models are becoming essential to reduce costs and encourage broader participation.
Flexible Partnerships Will Define the Future
Panelists agreed that partnerships are no longer optional, they are essential. Whether its school districts facilitating introductions to local businesses or operators linking regional nodes to larger carrier hotels, the new connectivity model depends on collaboration. Willis outlined DartPoints’ strategy of co-investing with partners on site-specific builds to shorten time to market and reduce capital risk, particularly for enterprise clients needing 1–5 MW of capacity with growth potential.
The conversation also turned to supply chain risk and how smaller players are navigating sourcing delays and tariff uncertainties. Strategies ranged from advanced equipment purchasing to seeking U.S.-based vendors, reminding attendees that even edge deployments must contend with global headwinds.
Ultimately, the panel drove home one point: the business case for regional connectivity is no longer hypothetical. Demand is real, especially from enterprises, municipalities, and institutions seeking modern digital capabilities. Delivering on that demand requires flexible capital models, strong local relationships, and a willingness to rethink commercial frameworks.
It is quickly growing evident, as edge markets shift from opportunity to reality, infrastructure providers willing to partner and adapt will be best positioned to build North America’s next digital backbone one regional hub at a time. And new entrants, whether they want to believe it or not, must partner to ensure the trust in designing, constructing and delivering on critical digital infrastructure solutions are actually delivered.
ITW 2026 will return to National Harbor, Maryland May 18-21, 2026. Registration is available here: https://www.internationaltelecomsweek.com/registration.
