Embracing Interconnect 
and the Emergence of AI at ITW 2024

CENTRA ATTENDS ITW 2024



ITW 2024 (International Telecoms Week) took place in May at National Harbor. Each year ITW unites leaders from across the digital infrastructure spectrum and this year’s theme was Pioneering the Future of Global Connectivity. For us, at CENTRA, knowing we are accelerating growth and expanding globally this year and beyond, it made sense to have a strong presence at this event.

ITW markets their event being about networking, networking and more networking. This certainly felt true once we were onsite in D.C. For CENTRA, we had just launched our refreshed brand and had plenty of news to share and we were looking forward to connecting with friends and former colleagues, and meeting new prospects.

This year’s keynotes addressed the increasing need for data center and digital infrastructure, the changing landscape of telecoms due to rising traffic volumes, and the profound immediacy and impact of AI.

Here were a few highlights we were most interested in:

  • AI Workload Implications – Over my career, I’ve seen our industry grow and shift to accommodate new trends. However, nothing has been as groundbreaking, and as quickly, as what we’ve seen over the past year with AI – every data center is going to be an AI data center. And we are ready. As AI continues to evolve, our ability to retrofit existing sites, such as incorporating back-of-rack cooling, and ensuring new builds are future-proof and won’t become obsolete within 18 months are crucial. AI workloads significantly strain existing space, power, and cooling capabilities and the emergence of AI for enterprise applications requires proximity to large cities with high concentrations of people. While large language models (LLMs) can be managed in remote locations, the business consumption of AI necessitates closeness to urban centers.
  • Rise in traffic outside top interconnection markets – We’re heavily focused on market expansion in 2024 and 2025, and the event further confirmed our strategy for targeting traditionally underserved areas. The shifting population densities have created new traffic distribution points to alleviate network bottlenecks and improve customer experience. As noted above, proximity to large user densities is an increasing importance to deliver the expected user experience. This trend is driven by the need for low-latency connections and the logistical advantages of being close to a dense employee base.
  • Clear cross-section of connectivity and computing – We at CENTRA found true validation in how encouraging it was to see a broad cross-section of connectivity and computing stakeholders who agree there’s a pressing need to enhance infrastructure capabilities in secondary domestic markets. This collective insight from such a diverse group of stakeholders highlights the urgency of addressing these critical infrastructure needs.

A key takeaway for us is the need for rapid adaptability overall but particularly in infrastructure design and management – and that our plan for expansion in new areas still near urban centers feels spot-on

AUTHOR
Bryson Hopkins, VP Technology & Ecosystem Development
DATE POSTED
June 21, 2024
CATEGORY
Conferences, Insights
TAGS
blog, Bryson, ITW 2024