System and method are disclosed for creating a rigid interconnect between two substrate mounted packages to create a package-on-package assembly. A solid interconnect may have a predetermined length configured to provide a predetermined package separation, may be cylindrical, conical or stepped, may be formed by extrusion, casting, drawing or milling and may have an anti-oxidation coating. The interconnect may be attached to mounting pads on the top and bottom packages via an electrically conductive adhesive, including, but not limited to solder and solder paste. A solder preservative or other anti-oxidation coating may be applied to the mounting pad. A package-on-package assembly with solid interconnects may have a top package configured to accept at least one electronic device, with the solid interconnects mounted between the top package and a bottom package to rigidly hold the package about parallel to each other.