telecom and wireless · San Diego
NTCA RTIME 2027Exhibitor guide: booth costs, dates and deadlines in San Diego
Rural broadband buyers, one Hyatt ballroom: NTCA RTIME 2027 booths in San Diego
- Event dates
- February 14–17, 2027
- Exhibit hall
- Expo events February 15–16, 2027 (Mon 10:30 a.m.–noon and 3:30–5 p.m.; Tue 9–10 a.m. and noon–2:30 p.m. (PT))
- Venue
- Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego, San Diego
4.9 star client ratingSince 201510,000+ booths built3,000+ exhibitors
Quick answers
NTCA RTIME 2027 in 30 seconds
The short version for NTCA RTIME exhibitors. Sources for each NTCA RTIME figure are further down the page.
- When is NTCA RTIME 2027?
- February 14–17, 2027, at Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego, San Diego.
- When is the NTCA RTIME exhibit hall open?
- Expo events February 15–16, 2027, Mon 10:30 a.m.–noon and 3:30–5 p.m.; Tue 9–10 a.m. and noon–2:30 p.m. (PT).
- How big is NTCA RTIME?
- 2,000+ attendees, 100+ vendors exhibitors (2026 edition).
- What does booth space cost at NTCA RTIME?
- 10×10 $3,200 member / $3,700 nonmember early-bird; $3,550 / $4,000 regular, 2027, paid to the organizer.
- What does a 10×20 booth cost all-in at NTCA RTIME?
- $7,500 – $15,000 for a Purple rental in San Diego: design, graphics, lighting, install and dismantle. NTCA RTIME bills space and show services separately.
- For NTCA RTIME, what is the next exhibitor deadline?
- Early-bird booth and booth-personnel rates end: November 13, 2026.
Official NTCA RTIME 2027 links: NTCA RTIME 2027 floor planNTCA RTIME 2027 hotelsNTCA RTIME 2027 schedule
The lookSan Diego 2027
Rural, connected. Board by the bay.
RTIME 2027 brings the CEOs, managers, engineers and board members of rural broadband providers to the Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego February 14–17, with Expo events February 15–16 and 2,300+ telecom professionals expected, per NTCA.
Everything about NTCA RTIME 2027 in one place
NTCA RTIME 2027 fact sheet
| Official name | NTCA RTIME 2027 (Rural Telecom Industry Meeting & Expo) |
|---|---|
| Event dates | February 14–17, 2027 |
| Exhibit hall dates | Expo events February 15–16, 2027 (Mon 10:30 a.m.–noon and 3:30–5 p.m.; Tue 9–10 a.m. and noon–2:30 p.m. (PT)) source |
| Venue | Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego 1 Market Pl, San Diego, CA 92101 |
| Organizer | NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association |
| Size (2026) | 2,000+ attendees · 100+ vendors exhibitors source |
| Who attends | CEOs, managers, board members and engineers of independent rural broadband and telecom providers |
| Booth space | 10×10 $3,200 member / $3,700 nonmember early-bird; $3,550 / $4,000 regular, 2027 source |
| Next deadline | Early-bird booth and booth-personnel rates end: November 13, 2026 source |
| Nearest airport | San Diego International Airport (SAN) |
| Hotels | NTCA's official housing link on the RTIME website, opening in November 2026 Official hotel page → |
| Official website | ntca.org |
Official NTCA RTIME resources
NTCA RTIME 2027 calendar
NTCA RTIME 2027 dates and deadlines
Published NTCA RTIME dates in order, each one linked to the organizer page that states it. The next date is highlighted.
01 Purple at NTCA RTIME 2027
Rural broadband buyers, one Hyatt ballroom: NTCA RTIME 2027 booths in San Diego
RTIME packs rural telco CEOs, managers and engineers into a few expo hours built around open houses and an executive luncheon, so we build compact booths that start a conversation fast and seat a manager for ten minutes. Freeman runs the hall, and nothing may rise above 12 feet.
- Feb 14–17 · Manchester Hyatt
- 2,200+ decision-makers
- Early-bird ends Nov 13
What makes NTCA RTIME different, and how we build for it
RTIME is NTCA's annual meeting for independent rural broadband providers, small companies and cooperatives whose CEOs, managers and directors buy everything from fiber to billing software.The Expo is not open all day: traffic comes in waves around the Expo Welcome and Open House after the Opening General Session, the Expo Open House and Networking Reception, the Exclusive Expo Open House and Luncheon for Broadband Executives, and the Tuesday prize drawings. The Director Track and Executive Track keep board members in sessions the rest of the time. A booth wins here by being ready for a crowd at a set hour and remembered by the people who sign the purchase order.
A quick read on what you sell, proof from providers their size, and a seat for a ten-minute talk during the Exclusive Expo Open House for Broadband Executives.
Hardware they can handle, from fiber enclosures to ONTs and power systems, and a straight answer on compatibility, support and lead times.
A plain-language picture of what an investment does for their members, without jargon, between Director Track sessions.
Your team in San Diego
Two shops behind your NTCA RTIME booth
Our Fishkill, NY production shop and our Las Vegas hub build the booth, we ship it to the Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego, and our own project manager runs the NTCA RTIME install on the floor with vetted local labor. Every NTCA RTIME build runs a predictable 30 to 45 days and gets a pre-show QA, with secure storage after.
The booth is lit and stocked when your team reaches the Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego. You just show up.
New at NTCA RTIME 2027
- From Orlando to the San Diego waterfront
After the 2026 meeting in Orlando, RTIME 2027 moves to the Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego. West Coast vendors save on freight, and the hotel hall's 12-foot ceiling cap means a tall booth used in Orlando must be cut down. source
- Expo hours shaped around executives
The 2027 agenda gives broadband executives their own Expo open house from 9 to 10 a.m. on Tuesday, February 16, before their luncheon. Booths should have seating and a decision-maker on duty for that hour. source
Inside NTCA RTIME 2027
Rules that shape your NTCA RTIME booth
RTIME's 2027 rules hold inline booths to 8 feet with 4-foot side dividers, perimeter booths and islands to 10 feet, and the expo page caps everything at 12 feet for the Hyatt ceiling, with no horizontal endcaps. We draw to those numbers before production.
An exhibitor must be an RTIME sponsor to host a hospitality suite, and no suite or private party may run during scheduled meetings, exhibits or NTCA functions; violators lose two years of exhibiting. We plan any suite branding around the published agenda.
Exhibitors may hire a firm other than Freeman only by telling NTCA in writing at least three weeks before the Expo, then sending the workers' names two weeks before with proof of insurance on request. We file both notices for you.
Live demonstrators, sound reproduction, drawings, lotteries, surveys and contests at RTIME need NTCA's prior written consent, and no sale may be closed on the Expo floor. We put any audio on headphones and route requests to NTCA early.
No operating or demonstrated machine may sit closer than 12 inches to an aisle without permission, and heavy equipment needs Freeman's engineering review against the 100 PSF floor load. We set counters back and specify spreader bases for cabinets.
Programs worth planning for
Tuesday, February 16, 2027, noon to 1:30 p.m., for rural broadband executives and key employees, who may bring one guest; included with every RTIME booth.
Tuesday, February 16, 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.; NTCA runs prize drawings to drive traffic to the booths, part of every exhibitor's package.
Award winners are honored at an invitation-only luncheon on Monday, February 15 and at the Excellence Awards Ceremony and Breakfast Buffet on Wednesday, February 17, 2027.
A session on Tuesday, February 16, 2027 from 2:45 to 4:15 p.m., right after the last Expo open house of the meeting.
RTIME is where independent rural broadband providers meet their suppliers each February; choose it over Fiber Connect when your buyers are small telcos and cooperatives rather than large fiber builders, and add ISPAMERICA for wireless ISPs. Line up NTCA RTIME against every telecom and wireless show we build for →
02 Booths & pricing for NTCA RTIME 2027
Popular booth sizes at NTCA RTIME
NTCA sells 10×10, 10×20, 10×30 and 20×20 booths in a carpeted Manchester Grand Hyatt hall, with 8-foot inline and 10-foot island limits in the rules and a 12-foot ceiling cap. We recommend a 10×20 with a product counter and two stools, or a 20×20 island for a full network story.
An 8-foot backwall with your network map, a product counter for an ONT or enclosure and two stools for a manager's quick question, inside NTCA's inline height.
Pictured: Barantech, a Purple inline booth
See 10×20 rental booths →
Three bays split between hardware, software on a screen and a small meeting corner, so engineers and CEOs each get a spot during the open houses.
Shown: Easy Shopper, a Purple inline booth
See 10×30 rental booths →
A see-through island under 10 feet with demo counters on all sides and a seated table for executives during the Tuesday luncheon hours.
Pictured: LeadSquared, a Purple island exhibit
See 20×20 rental booths →Included in Purple's price
- Design work and a 3D rendering, with revisions until the NTCA RTIME layout is right
- Structure, graphics printed for NTCA RTIME, counters and storage as specified
- Lighting and power distribution inside your NTCA RTIME booth
- Setup and teardown, with our project manager on the NTCA RTIME floor
- Every NTCA RTIME show-service order and deadline tracked for you
What NTCA RTIME and its contractor bill
- Exhibit space (paid to NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association)
- Drayage, or material handling, when it is not in the NTCA RTIME space rate
- Electrical, internet and rigging orders for NTCA RTIME
- Booth cleaning and any union labor the Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego requires
Rates to plan with for NTCA RTIME:
- Booth space 10×10 $3,200 member / $3,700 nonmember early-bird; $3,550 / $4,000 regular, 2027 source
- 20×20 island $9,000 member / $11,000 nonmember early-bird; $9,500 / $12,000 regular, 2027 source
- Early-order savings Early-bird rates for booths paid by November 13, 2026 source
- Booth personnel $500 by November 13, 2026; $550 to February 12, 2027; $560 on site source
Your proposal estimates all of these, so the total for NTCA RTIME is on paper before you sign anything.
Ranges shown are all-in 2026 rental prices for design, structure, graphics, installation and dismantle at NTCA RTIME; custom builds get their own quote. Run your NTCA RTIME numbers in the booth cost calculator and the 2026 booth cost guide.
Share the booth size you have at NTCA RTIME and what you need the space to do. A reply within one business day, then a NTCA RTIME rendering and fixed proposal, usually within a week. No charge.
Your people arrive at the Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego to a lit, stocked booth. You just show up.
03 Built by Purple
Built by our team: booths to compare for NTCA RTIME
Case study · KLEEMANN
KLEEMANN at an industrial technology exhibition
Digital simulations, real product showcases and a floor plan that guided visitors from first step to last, in an interactive booth for a global elevator manufacturer.
KLEEMANN's booth walked visitors from first step to last through real products and simulations; an RTIME booth needs the same clear path for a rural CEO who has twenty minutes on the Expo floor.
Read the KLEEMANN case study All case studies →“They handle everything end to end so clients can really just show up and not worry about anything. Doesn’t get any better than that.”
Tess Bockes, Exit King Realty · more Purple client reviews
Trusted by exhibitors including
04 Designing for fiber, broadband equipment, OSS and billing, construction and financing suppliers to rural carriers at NTCA RTIME
Four things we get right for NTCA RTIME exhibitors
1Ready for the open-house wave
RTIME's Expo traffic arrives at fixed times, starting with the Expo Welcome and Open House at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, February 15. We leave the front of the booth open, put the demo at the aisle edge and keep literature and giveaways stocked behind the counter so the team serves a crowd for 90 minutes straight.
2Respect the 12-foot ceiling
NTCA caps every booth at 12 feet because of the ballroom ceiling, and its rules hold inline walls to 8 feet and islands to 10. We design height out of the brief and put the brand at eye level on a lit header, which reads better across a hotel exhibit hall anyway.
Equipment stays 12 inches back
RTIME rules keep any operating or demonstrated equipment at least 12 inches from the aisle unless NTCA approves otherwise, and floor load is 100 pounds per square foot. We set the demo counter back from the carpet edge and place heavy power or fiber cabinets on spreader bases.
Seats for the executive hour
On Tuesday, February 16 the Exclusive Expo Open House for Broadband Executives runs 9 to 10 a.m., followed by the executive luncheon. We build in two or three seats and a tablet with your case studies, because this is the hour a rural CEO has time to sit down.
Concept rendering
Your NTCA RTIME proposal comes with a rendering like this
Before we cut a single panel, you see the booth in 3D (layout, graphics, lighting and product positions) and we revise it until it is right. This one is a Purple concept for Netronix.
Start my NTCA RTIME conceptFloor at a glance
Where you could be at NTCA RTIME 2027
RTIME 2027 runs inside the Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego, with the Expo in the hotel's exhibit hall and sessions and events in its meeting rooms.
EXPO 2027 Exhibit Hall
NTCA's carpeted, secured expo hall with booths numbered 100 to 811 on the 2027 floor plan; 12-foot cap because of the ceiling, floor load 100 PSF.
Our advice Pick a booth near the entrance used after the Opening General Session; the Monday open house traffic arrives all at once.
Opening and Closing General Sessions
Monday 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. and Wednesday 9:45 to 11:45 a.m.; the Expo Welcome and Open House follows the opening session at 10:30 a.m.
Our advice Have staff on the booth by 10:15 a.m. Monday, with the demo powered and coffee-cup space on the counter.
Executive Luncheon
The Exclusive Expo Luncheon for Broadband Executives runs Tuesday noon to 1:30 p.m. for executives and key employees, included with every booth.
Our advice Send the team member who sells to CEOs; the open house just before it is your best seated-meeting hour.
05 Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego · San Diego
Logistics for NTCA RTIME 2027, handled
RTIME 2027 runs inside the Manchester Grand Hyatt on the San Diego waterfront, in an exhibit hall NTCA calls carpeted and secured. Freeman is NTCA's official contractor, and its exhibitor service kit covers electrical, furniture, internet, shipping and material handling, none of which the booth fee includes. NTCA requires written notice at least three weeks before the Expo to use another installer, and the names of its workers two weeks before. We send both notices, ship to Freeman's advance warehouse, and install with our own project manager on the Hyatt's carpeted ballroom floor.
What Purple handles
- Booths designed under NTCA's 8-, 10- and 12-foot limits
- Written installer notices to NTCA three and two weeks out
- Freeman electrical, furniture and internet orders
- Freight to Freeman's advance warehouse and the Hyatt dock
- Install and dismantle on the Hyatt's carpeted ballroom floor
NTCA RTIME timeline, counted back from move-in
Early-bird booth and booth-personnel rates end: November 13, 2026. Paying after November 13 adds $350 to $1,050 to the booth depending on size and membership, so send us the size you are booking before then.
We need your NTCA RTIME design signed off by early December 2026.
- November 13, 2026Early-bird booth and personnel rates end; book the booth size before then and send us the contract.
- Early December 2026Design sign-off: layout under the 12-foot cap, demo counter, graphics and seating.
- December 2026 to January 2027Production over 30 to 45 days in Fishkill, NY or our Las Vegas hub; Freeman electrical and furniture orders placed.
- Late January 2027Written notice to NTCA of Purple as your installer, at least three weeks out; crates ship to Freeman's advance warehouse.
- Days before February 15, 2027Install at the Manchester Grand Hyatt with our project manager, booth tested and stocked for the Monday open house.
- February 15–17, 2027Expo events Monday and Tuesday, then dismantle once NTCA closes the floor, booth to storage or the next broadband show.
Purple's planning timeline for NTCA RTIME. The official NTCA RTIME move-in, freight target and order dates come from your exhibitor kit and assigned schedule; when you book, we confirm them against your booth.
Printable NTCA RTIME budget & deadline sheetTravel to NTCA RTIME 2027
Getting to NTCA RTIME 2027: airport and hotels
Fly in
San Diego International Airport (SAN)
Stay
NTCA's official housing link on the RTIME website, opening in November 2026
Travel facts from ntca.org.
NTCA RTIME by the numbers
NTCA RTIME year by year
How NTCA RTIME 2027 compares with other telecom and wireless shows
The telecom and wireless shows closest to NTCA RTIME on the calendar, with the latest size each organizer has published. Each show name opens our telecom and wireless exhibitor guide for that show.
| Show | Dates | City | Latest published size |
|---|---|---|---|
| PTC'27Pacific Telecommunications Council (PTC) | January 17–20, 2027 | Honolulu, HI | – |
| BICSI WinterBICSI | February 14–18, 2027 | Orlando, FL | 113 companies on the Winter 2027 exhibitor list |
| NTCA RTIMENTCA–The Rural Broadband Association | February 14–17, 2027 | San Diego, CA | 2,000+ attendees · 100+ vendors exhibitors (2026) |
| ISPAMERICAWISPA (Wireless Internet Service Providers Association) | March 1–4, 2027 | Cherokee, NC | 1,500+ attendees · 100+ exhibitors (2025) |
| SATELLITEAccess Intelligence (SATELLITE and GovMilSpace) | March 8–11, 2027 | Washington, DC | 14,738 attendees (2026) |
| IWCEInforma Connect (IWCE) | March 8–11, 2027 | Las Vegas, NV | 3,600+ attendees · 225+ with sponsors exhibitors (2026) |
| ITWtechoraco (Capacity Media events) | May 10–13, 2027 | National Harbor, MD | 120+ exhibitors, per ITW (2027 site) |
| Connect (X)Wireless Infrastructure Association (WIA) | May 10–12, 2027 | Phoenix, AZ | 3,100 registrants attendees · 238+ sponsoring and exhibiting companies (2026) |
| Dayton HamventionDayton Amateur Radio Association (DARA) | May 21–23, 2027 | Xenia, OH | – |
| Fiber ConnectFiber Broadband Association (FBA) | June 13–16, 2027 | Nashville, TN | 5,028 attendees (2026) |
NTCA RTIME exhibitor questions
Questions exhibitors ask us before NTCA RTIME
What are the NTCA RTIME 2027 dates?
RTIME 2027 runs February 14–17, 2027 in San Diego. Conference Central opens Saturday, February 13, the Opening General Session is Monday at 8:30 a.m., the Expo events run Monday and Tuesday, February 15–16, and the Closing General Session ends Wednesday, February 17 at 11:45 a.m. Pacific.
Where is RTIME 2027 held?
RTIME 2027 is at the Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego, 1 Market Place, beside Seaport Village on the downtown waterfront. The Expo is in the hotel's carpeted exhibit hall, and NTCA says housing opens in November 2026 through its official booking link only.
How much does a booth at RTIME 2027 cost?
NTCA's member early-bird rates, paid by November 13, 2026, are $3,200 for a 10×10, $5,000 for a 10×20, $6,800 for a 10×30 and $9,000 for a 20×20; nonmember regular rates reach $12,000 for a 20×20. Our 10×20 rental runs $7,500 to $15,000 on top of space.
What is included with an RTIME booth?
Each booth includes two conference registrations with sessions, receptions and entertainment, attendee lists before and after the meeting, the Exclusive Expo Luncheon for Broadband Executives, prize drawings, Wi-Fi, hall security and a carpeted hall; 10×10s add 8-foot drape and 3-foot side rails. Electrical, furniture, AV, shipping and material handling cost extra.
How tall can an RTIME booth be?
NTCA's 2027 rules limit inline booths to 8 feet with 4-foot side dividers, perimeter booths to 10 feet and islands of four or more spaces to 10 feet, and the expo page says no booth may build over 12 feet because of the ceiling. Exceptions need NTCA's prior permission.
Who attends RTIME?
RTIME draws CEOs, managers, engineers and board members of independent rural broadband providers, NTCA's members. NTCA cites more than 2,200 key decision-makers at the Expo and more than 2,300 telecom professionals at the 2027 meeting. In Orlando in 2026 more than 2,000 people attended, per NTCA.
How many exhibitors are at RTIME?
More than 100 vendors were on site in the Expo at the 2026 meeting in Orlando, per NTCA. The 2027 floor plan for the EXPO 2027 Exhibit Hall is posted, but the exhibitor names for 2027 are not confirmed yet, so check the plan before you choose a booth number.
Who is the official contractor for RTIME?
Freeman is NTCA's official contractor for RTIME, and its exhibitor service kit, published in fall 2026, covers booth extras and ordering. You may use another installer such as Purple if NTCA gets written notice at least three weeks before the Expo and the workers' names two weeks before.
Can exhibitors host a hospitality suite at RTIME?
Only sponsors may host a hospitality suite, and no exhibitor may host or attend a suite or private party during scheduled meetings, exhibits or NTCA functions. NTCA bars violators from exhibiting for two years, so plan evening events around the agenda.
What are the RTIME 2027 exhibitor deadlines?
From November 1, 2026, a cancellation or downsizing earns no refund and the full balance is due. November 13, 2026 ends early-bird booth and booth-personnel rates, the $550 personnel rate runs through February 12, 2027, and Conference Central opens February 13 at 3 p.m.
Can we demonstrate equipment or play sound in the booth?
Operating equipment must sit at least 12 inches from the aisle unless NTCA approves, and live demonstrators, sound devices, drawings and surveys need NTCA's written consent. Orders may not be closed on the Expo floor. Floor load is 100 pounds per square foot.
How do booth staff register for RTIME?
Booths include two conference registrations; extra booth personnel cost $500 by November 13, 2026, $550 through February 12, 2027 and $560 on site, member or nonmember, through the Member Central Exhibitor Portal. Every visitor to the Expo must be registered and badged.
Can Purple build our booth for RTIME?
We design to NTCA's height and aisle rules, file the installer notices, order Freeman services and install at the Manchester Grand Hyatt with our own project manager. The same booth can travel to Fiber Connect in June or the Broadband Communities Summit in July.
Is RTIME worth exhibiting at?
RTIME is worth it for companies selling fiber, network gear, software or services to independent rural carriers, because NTCA calls it the largest conference for rural independent broadband providers. The Expo hours are short, so success depends on pre-booked conversations and a booth ready for the open houses.
Before you sign for NTCA RTIME
Five questions to ask any exhibit builder for NTCA RTIME:
- Is every fee on the proposal, including what the NTCA RTIME show contractor bills?
- Who actually builds it for NTCA RTIME: your shop or a subcontractor?
- Will your own project manager be at NTCA RTIME for install and dismantle?
- What exactly is in the rental, and what is billed by the show?
- Once NTCA RTIME closes, where does the booth go and what does storage cost?
Common situations
Already own a booth? Your existing booth gets refreshed graphics and repairs, then we ship it to San Diego, install it and store it between shows. You keep the structure you paid for and bring it to NTCA RTIME.
Exhibiting from outside the US? We are your team on the ground in San Diego: freight to the advance warehouse, show-service orders, installation and storage, with one project manager answering your emails in your time zone.
Short on time? With a rental, your graphics can be ready in two to three weeks. You will know on the first call what is realistic for your NTCA RTIME date.
Get a proposal
Tell us about your NTCA RTIME booth
What happens next
- We reply within one business day with questions about your products, goals and NTCA RTIME footprint.
- You get a concept rendering and a fixed proposal for NTCA RTIME, usually within a week. Every last fee for NTCA RTIME, listed upfront and in full on paper.
- In 30–45 days we build it, ship it to the advance warehouse and install it before the hall opens.
