RTIME 2025 Preview
As well as being the home of the NBA’s five-time champion Spurs, and the city of many nicknames (“Alamo City,” “Countdown City,” “Military City,” “the River City,” and “the Mission City,” to name a few), San Antonio, Texas is the venue for RTIME 2025, hosted by NTCA—The Rural Broadband Association.
This year’s RTIME conference runs from Sunday, February 23rd to Wednesday, February 26th, at the Grand Hyatt San Antonio, San Antonio Convention Center, Marriott Riverwalk, and Marriott Rivercenter.
If you’ll be joining the hundreds of exhibitors and attendees at this year’s conference, we’ve got you covered on the sessions and events to check out. Also, don’t forget to visit the Preseem team at booth 104 to learn how our platform goes beyond QoE to help regional ISPs manage network congestion, improve customer retention, and reduce support costs.
Sessions and Events to Attend at RTIME 2025
Sunday, February 23rd
- Welcome to San Antonio/First-Time Attendee Session: 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. – Get your bearings with these back-to-back orientation sessions. First, learn about San Antonio’s vibrant history and culture from city tour guides to get acquainted with the community. Then, if it’s your first time at RTIME, get the lowdown on what to expect at the conference at a follow-up session hosted by NTCA staff.
- Network Technology Basics for Boards: Understanding Key Concepts: 2 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. – Hosted by Doug Payauys, Business Development Director at Adtran, this session is designed to educate board members on network technology concepts and language to help drive more informed decision-making in the boardroom.
- Regional Raps: 3:15 p.m. to 4 p.m. – Get together with folks from your own region to hear about important updates, and meet NTCA volunteers from your area.
- Welcome Reception: 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. – At this pre-dinner event, grab a drink and some hors d’oeuvres while networking with your peers.
Monday, February 24th
- Opening General Session: 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. – After breakfast, head to the opening session of RTIME, where you can expect to hear welcome messages from NTCA’s board chair and CEO, a fireside chat with Sandy Motley of Nokia, and an opening keynote on cultivating a high-performance team delivered by retired US Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Jason Harris.
- Expo Welcome and Open House: 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. – Next up is the opening of the Expo floor, where you can get a first look at this year’s 120+ exhibitors, including the Preseem team at booth 104. More on Expo Hall hours below.
- Esports in Rural Areas: A How-to Guide and the “Rural Rumble” Showcase: 1:30 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. – The emergence of Esports is the topic of this panel discussion, where representatives from various ISPs will talk about how regional operators can start and promote Esports programs. Side note: Esports players need low latency to excel—check out our blog on How to Reduce Latency for ISPs and Subscribers for tips.
- Bridging the Gap: Evaluating the Use of Alternative Technologies: 1:30 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. – At the same time as the above session, this Executive Track slot will focus on how fiber providers can use alternative technologies, such as fixed wireless, to establish themselves in areas where fiber may not be immediately feasible.
- Managing Fiber Broadband Construction Costs: Smart Strategies for Rural Projects: 2:30 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. – This session will examine how fiber ISPs can optimize costs when deploying in rural areas, with an emphasis on planning, resource allocation, and construction techniques.
Tuesday, February 25th
- Data-Driven Decision Making for Directors: Leveraging Analytics for Governance: 8:15 a.m. to 9 a.m. – Brought to you by the NTCA Associate Member Advisory Council, this Director Track session will present Director and GM-level views of how effectively analyzing network data can help drive board decisions.
- Operational Sustainability: Future Challenges and Strategies: 8:15 a.m. to 9 a.m. – Over on the Executive Track, this early-morning panel will focus on operational efficiency. Expect to hear innovative strategies to increase ARPU, boost revenue, and reduce costs.
- Implementing a Mobile Bundle in a Competitive Broadband Environment: 8:15 a.m. to 9 a.m. – Also on the Executive Track, this discussion will dive into how rural ISPs can increase revenue, drive growth, and reduce churn, specifically using the example of how one provider’s mobile bundle offering helped them carve out space in a crowded market.
- Navigating the Bandwidth: Wellness Strategies to Master Work-Life Balance in Leadership: 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. – This interactive Women in Telecommunications Industry Event is designed to help high-performing women create a sustainable leadership model in an era of constant connectivity.
Wednesday, February 26th
- Excellence Awards Ceremony and Breakfast Buffet: 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. – Grab some breakfast and celebrate with the winners of NTCA’s Excellence Awards at this early morning gathering.
- Closing General Session: 9:45 a.m. to 11:50 a.m. – Don’t miss the closing session at RTIME 2025, which will include a Universal Service Funding update from NTCA Executive Vice-President Michael Romano, an Economic Outlook from the National Cooperative Services Corporation, and a closing keynote from “master of deception” Ben Seidman.
Visit the RTIME 2025 Expo Hall
With over 120 vendors to check out, you’ll want to maximize your time in the Expo Hall at RTIME 2025. The hall is only open during designated times, so plan your days accordingly to optimize your time with vendors. Make sure to visit the Preseem team at booth 104!
RTIME 2025 Expo Hall Hours
- Monday, February 24th: 10:30 a.m. to noon (Expo Welcome and Open House), 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. (Expo Open House, Networking Reception, and Expo Forum)
- Tuesday, February 25th: 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. (Exclusive Broadband Executives Luncheon in Expo), 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. (Expo Open House, Prize Drawings, and Expo Forum)
After all of the informative sessions and industry networking at the conference, we hope you’ll find time to explore San Antonio during RTIME 2025 off-hours. NTCA and Visit San Antonio have teamed up to provide you with some great options to explore the area during your stay. We look forward to seeing you there!
