As AI workloads grow more complex and distributed, the way we design, scale, and future-proof networks will determine who leads and who falls behind. From the rise of cloud-like networks to the critical need for long-haul fiber, these predictions from Zayo’s top experts highlight the trends defining the future of AI-driven connectivity.
1. “Interconnection Is Becoming the Defining Constraint for Distributed AI” – James Tomko, SVP of Digital Infrastructure.
AI training, inference, and data movement are no longer confined to a single environment. GPU clusters, neocloud platforms, and data centers increasingly operate as parts of a distributed AI ecosystem. As these distributed AI fabrics take shape, success will hinge on the ability to interconnect compute environments across locations, allowing models and data to move efficiently at scale. In this next phase of AI, the challenge will shift from simply adding more compute to ensuring that distributed systems can function as a cohesive whole.
2. “Bandwidth Will Make or Break the Next Phase of AI” – Chaz Kramer, VP of Fiber & Transport.
AI is only as powerful as the networks behind it. Yet unprecedented data volumes and demand for rapid scalability are pushing legacy infrastructure to its breaking point. AI-driven data center capacity is expected to grow 3-6x by 2030 and require approximately 200 million new fiber miles of long-haul and metro fiber to support.
At the same time, delivering this fiber infrastructure is a long game, taking two to four years from planning to execution, even as bandwidth is assumed to be available on demand. If more fiber is not built now, the market could face a bandwidth gap that could stall AI progress. In 2026, digital infrastructure providers that treat network investment as an afterthought risk being constrained in how and where they scale, while those that prioritize future-ready networks will lead the next wave of AI-driven innovation.
3. “For Data Centers: AI Advantage Will Be Won Beyond the Rack” – James Tomko, SVP of Digital Infrastructure.
As AI workloads become inherently distributed, data center competitiveness will no longer be defined by compute density inside a single facility. The advantage will come from how well data centers are designed to connect that compute beyond their four walls. AI training, inference, and data pipelines increasingly span multiple sites, metros, and regions, making inter-data-center connectivity a core differentiator. Data centers that integrate metro-scale and long-haul fiber into their designs will be better positioned to support distributed AI. In this next phase, leadership will depend on architecture that treats connectivity as a first-class design requirement, not an afterthought.
4. “In 2026, networking will look more ‘cloud-like’” – Ted Wagner, DynamicLink Program Director.
As multi-cloud and AI-driven workloads accelerate, regulations shift rapidly, and security threats evolve in real time, enterprise networks are under constant pressure to change. Organizations relying on static networks face growing pressure between how fast their business needs to move and how fast their infrastructure can respond.
The consequences show up with persistent friction: delayed deployments because capacity can’t be scaled in time, cost and compliance risk when data paths and workloads can’t be reconfigured quickly, and security exposure when networks can’t identify or isolate threats as they emerge. In this environment, enterprises will require a more agile and intelligent cloud-like network experience. They need real-time scaling, reconfiguration, and deep observability exposed to AI Ops engines to operate at the pace this constant change demands. Without that programmable shift, the network risks becoming a drag on growth instead of a catalyst for it.
5. “Despite insatiable bandwidth demand, the long-haul ecosystem will start to narrow — for the better” – Jason ‘JJ’ Jorgensen, SVP of Network Implementation.
The surge of new capital into long-haul fiber will spark innovation and much-needed expansion, but not every entrant will be equipped for the operational realities of large-scale builds. The gauntlet of permits, jurisdictions, vendor chains and environmental factors can derail a project that already costs upwards of tens of millions of dollars, leaving some developers in the red and delaying critical progress.
Over the next two years, we’ll see the market self-correct as experience and execution rise to the top. At the same time, the sheer pace and scope of construction will force deeper aggregation across the ecosystem to accelerate delivery at scale. This natural shaking-out of the market will create a more disciplined ecosystem capable of building at the scale, speed, and quality AI requires.
6. “By 2026, the resilience of a network will be defined by how intelligently it can defend itself” – Shawn Edwards, Chief Security Officer.
Traditional, static network architectures simply can’t keep pace with AI-accelerated threats that mutate, move laterally, and probe infrastructure faster than human operators can respond. The advantage shifts to networks that can sense and interpret abnormal patterns in real time, automatically adjust routing, prioritize clean paths, and quarantine hostile traffic before it impacts services.
As adversaries lean into autonomous AI to discover weaknesses at scale, the only viable defense will be networks that use AI to continuously learn, adapt, and harden themselves. The modern network won’t just move packets; it will detect, predict, and respond at machine speed.
Preparing for a Connected Future
The common thread among these predictions is the network’s evolution from behind the scenes to center stage. Whether it is enabling the next generation of AI, redesigning data centers, streamlining the long-haul ecosystem, or revolutionizing security, the “pipes” connecting us are becoming just as smart as the devices at either end.
To prepare for 2026, consider these actionable steps:
- Audit your infrastructure: Is your current network ready for AI’s data loads?
- Prioritize architecture: When planning data center usage, look beyond space and power — look at connectivity.
- Invest in intelligent security: Move beyond static defenses and explore AI-driven security tools.
The future is bright for organizations that recognize the shifting landscape. By focusing on a robust, intelligent foundation today, you can ensure your business is ready to thrive tomorrow.