From Planning To Progress: Your 2026 Growth Strategy
Outside plant . Fiber remains the backbone of global connectivity, and it’s expanding fast. Across both metro areas and rural communities, networks are adding millions of new homes each year. Every design decision matters – route diversity, splicing techniques, pathway layouts, and cabinet placement all influence reliability, maintenance needs, and long-term cost. The Fiber Broadband Association reports that growth continues at a record pace. Wireless and satellite . The boundaries of wireless coverage are widening. Fifth-generation networks are moving deeper into factories, campuses, and venues, while satellite-to-cell and other non-terrestrial networks are beginning to fill gaps where traditional systems can’t reach. Understanding how these networks interact – from latency and link budgets to integration – prepares professionals to design the next generation of seamless, always-connected communications, according to the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP).
Your Next Move Progress in the ICT industry is built on curiosity, courage, and collaboration. Each challenge you take on – from mastering new design practices to leading complex projects or exploring emerging technologies – strengthens not only your own expertise but the entire profession. As Mays put it, “... the people who skipped college and picked up a wrench might just end up living the dream everyone else was promised.” In that same spirit, ICT professionals who invest in skill, precision, and lifelong learning will shape the infrastructure that defines the next decade. Make 2026 the year you expand your capabilities, share your knowledge, and help build the connected world – one system, splice, and signal at a time. Sources • Mays, Jaron. “Forget college. The future millionaires will be plumbers and electricians.” Medium, Oct. 20, 2025. https://medium.com/@jaronmays/forget-college-the- future-millionaires-will-be-plumbers-and-electricians- 7a4aa2be218c • McKinsey & Company. “AI power: Expanding data center capacity to meet growing demand.” Oct. 2024. https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/technology- media-and-telecommunications/our-insights/ai- power-expanding-data-center-capacity-to-meet- growing-demand • Technavio. “Smart buildings market analysis, size and forecast 2025-2029.” Feb. 2025. https://www.technavio.com/report/smart-buildings- market-industry-analysis • JLL. “2025 Global Data Center Outlook: Shaping tomorrow’s digital infrastructure.” Jan. 2025. https://www.jll.com/en-us/insights/data-center-outlook • Fiber Broadband Association. “The state of the North American fiber deployment – January 2025.” Jan. 2025. https://fiberbroadband.org/resources/the-state-of-the- north-american-fiber-deployment-january-2025/ • 3rd Generation Partnership Project. “Non-terrestrial networks (NTN) overview.” May 14, 2024; last updated July 4, 2025. https://www.3gpp.org/technologies/ntn- overview
Build Fluency Where the Work Is Moving
As 2025 closes, it’s a good moment to zoom out and ask: how will you shape the networks, buildings, and communities of 2026? The momentum for skilled professionals has never been stronger. As Jaron Mays noted in a recent Medium article, “Forget College. The Future Millionaires Will Be Plumbers and Electricians” (2025), the future belongs to those who can build, fix, and create – not just those who collect degrees. NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang echoed this sentiment recently, predicting that, “... the skilled craft segment of every economy is going to see a boom.” For ICT professionals, that message resonates deeply. Our industry is driven by technical mastery and hands-on skill – the kind that makes ideas tangible. Artificial intelligence–driven computing, high-capacity fiber, satellite-augmented coverage, and sensor-rich smart buildings are accelerating the pace of change. Data center demand alone continues to rise, fueled by AI workloads and new edge patterns, with analysts at McKinsey & Company projecting sustained capacity growth through 2030. The opportunity is bigger than any one course or credential. It’s about the habits you build and the problems you choose to tackle. Now is the time to strategically plan for your career growth in the new year. Remain competitive by expanding your knowledge and skillset in areas that will prove critical for future projects and deployments.
Make 2026 a Year of Purposeful Practice
Design . ICT design now extends well beyond the traditional network. Smart buildings and integrated systems demand professionals who can connect power, data, and automation with efficiency and foresight. According to Technavio, the global market for smart-building deployments is expected to grow by more than 11 percent by 2029, reaching nearly U.S.$80 billion. Designers who master interoperability and sustainability principles will help shape the next generation of intelligent spaces. Project management . As AI and prefabrication accelerate delivery cycles, effective coordination becomes essential. Strong project leadership – grounded in risk management, communication, and documentation – keeps complex, fast-moving builds on track across multiple trades. Data center . The rapid rise of AI is redefining the data-center landscape. GPU-heavy computing clusters are testing limits on power, cooling, and space, making smart capacity and thermal planning more critical than ever. Professionals who understand whitespace design, fiber layouts, containment strategies, and commissioning will be key players as available space tightens and AI infrastructure spending continues to climb, according to JLL.
The most successful ICT professionals will approach 2026 with intention – combining technical growth with community impact. Set goals that bridge your current role with emerging needs: • Lead a project that improves efficiency or resilience in your organization • Integrate AI-enabled tools into your workflow to enhance design accuracy or project tracking • Pursue targeted training in design, project management, data center, or outside plant courses to reinforce on-the-job learning • Share knowledge through mentorship or technical presentations to raise the collective standard of practice As Mays noted, America doesn’t just need more degrees – it needs more doers. The trades, and by extension the ICT profession, are where tangible progress happens. The work you do keeps cities connected, data flowing, and innovation moving.
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