Connect | Virginia // DCD>Debate: Is there enough time to overcome legacy systems & misconceptions in the race for network demands?

As AI-driven demand for connectivity accelerates, a vital question is around how the industry can overcome legacy network systems to keep up. The challenge lies in the gap between the high expectations surrounding AI and the slower, real-world implementation of modern infrastructure. But what do we mean by slow?

Despite aggressive initiatives such as Meta’s multi-billion dollar global submarine cable project, bandwidth constraints and the limitations of existing fiber networks, especially in high-demand areas like Ashburn, have seen other projects struggle to adapt their networks and manage uneven bandwidth demand.

Can telecoms and data centers truly meet AI's insatiable connectivity needs? How do they balance long-term contracts, legacy systems, and the rapid rollout of modern networks? And most crucially, can we bridge the gap between ambitious AI-driven goals and the practical limitations of today’s infrastructure?

Conducted under Chatham House Rule, this DCD>Debate invites experts to dissect these pivotal industry issues.