Telecommunications and data center providers globally, especially in Africa, are facing growing challenges due to the demands of artificial intelligence [AI] and evolving technology. Jon Abbott, sales director for strategic telecom clients in EMEA at Vertiv, highlighted these issues during a recent discussion with Kenyan industry leaders in Nairobi.
Kenya, ranked 76th globally and 3rd in Africa in the 2023 Digital Quality of Life Index, struggles with AI readiness, ranking 82nd. Abbott emphasized that AI adoption is rapidly transforming IT infrastructure, necessitating accelerated architectures to handle increased workloads.
He noted that the growing demand for intelligent connectivity will drive up service costs and energy consumption, highlighting the need for efficiency and sustainability. Abbott also predicted significant technological shifts, including a move toward edge computing, standardization across infrastructure, and increased use of open-source technologies and private networks.
Data centers will evolve with more localized “edge” data centers emerging, which will still require robust cooling and security. These changes, coupled with the need for energy efficiency and sustainability, present substantial challenges, including managing rack density growth, skill shortages, and power grid limitations.
Abbott concluded by stressing the importance of having a reliable partner to navigate these complexities, with Vertiv positioned to support providers in power and thermal management and integrated solutions.
