Last week, Lisbon was jam-packed with innovation as Web Summit 2024 saw over 70,000 attendees and 3,000 companies at one of the largest tech conferences in the world. Across the exhibition floor and track presentations, a clear theme emerged: while AI offers numerous benefits, its large-scale impact on data processing raises concerns among many parties, from consumers, legislators, and government bodies.

Africa’s connectivity landscape is undergoing a rapid evolution, propelled by increased investments in telecommunications infrastructure, data centres, and cloud services. However, the continent still faces challenges, including infrastructure gaps and regulatory complexities.

As enterprises continue to migrate workloads to cloud environments, they are reaping significant benefits, such as scalability, agility, and the ability to deploy applications in near real-time. However, these advantages are often undermined by the limitations of legacy networks. Traditional networks, restricted by long-term contracts and inflexible delivery timelines, are no longer fit for purpose in a cloud-driven world.

Software as a Service (SaaS) is growing at a rapid rate with businesses increasingly reliant on cloud-based solutions. According to the 2024 State of SaaS Growth report, organisations globally now use an average of 371 SaaS applications. This surge in adoption means that IT leaders are tasked with managing a more complex environment, which comes with a suite of challenges. To ensure the performance, security and reliability of these services, network connectivity is critical.

The International Broadcasting Convention (IBC) is only getting bigger and better. This year’s show saw over 45,000 attendees and featured 1,350 exhibitors from around the world. The four-day event explored the latest advancements and trends shaping the future of the media and broadcasting industry, with AI at the forefront.

While it’s easy to think that everything is now in the cloud, there are still some use cases and some businesses that need private data centres. In this blog, we look at the benefits of colocation and explore the key considerations for businesses when choosing colocation services. Colocation, often shortened to ‘colo’, is a service provided by data centre owners and operators where the floor space and facilities, including electricity and connectivity, are rented to private enterprises.

As we approach Oracle CloudWorld - a three-day event focused on cloud innovation, automation, and AI, where attendees can learn and network - we take a look at the innovation and growth Oracle Cloud has embarked on this year. Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) has experienced notable growth in fiscal year 2024. According to Oracle’s Q4 results, Cloud Revenue (IaaS plus SaaS) reached $5.3 billion, marking a 20% increase in both USD and constant currency.

In a recent panel discussion, “Navigating the Convergence of Networks, Clouds, and Generative AI,” hosted by Digital Realty and Console Connect, industry experts shared their views on the challenges associated with AI adoption and its future impact on business operations. The panel featured industry experts from both Digital Realty and Console Connect, alongside Jacky Chan from Votee AI, a multi-stacked AI start-up based in Hong Kong.

AI is the current “big thing” in tech and its development marks a pivotal chapter in computing history, where it is redefining how industries operate globally. As IT leaders and CTOs navigate their organisations through this transformative landscape, understanding the direction generative AI is heading and knowing how to manage this technology effectively is crucial.

Today, businesses seek technical solutions that offer flexibility, increase efficiency and reduce costs. To meet this need, many are adopting as-a-Service models, particularly Software-as-a-Service (SaaS). A key advantage is that businesses can choose from a variety of commercial models such as, subscription-based, pay-as-you-go models, or enterprise agreements, providing access to on-demand services.