The Middle East has long been described as a geographic bridge connecting Europe, Asia, and Africa. Today, however, the region is becoming far more than a transit corridor. At Capacity Middle East 2026 and Datacloud Middle East 2026, held in Dubai, February 10-12, 2026, industry leaders explored how the region is rapidly evolving into a major destination for digital infrastructure investment. Telecom operators, data center developers, investors, and technology providers gathered to discuss the next phase of growth, which includes expanding connectivity routes, scaling AI-ready data centers, and strengthening the interconnection ecosystems needed to support the region’s digital economy.

The Middle East’s Connectivity Role Is Expanding

For many years, global connectivity discussions framed the Middle East primarily as a transit hub linking international markets. Speakers at Capacity Middle East emphasized that this narrative is evolving as regional internet traffic, enterprise workloads, and cloud adoption continue to grow across the Middle East. Infrastructure strategies are increasingly focused on supporting demand generated within the region itself rather than simply facilitating global transit. This shift is encouraging greater investment in fiber interconnection between data center clusters, cross-border terrestrial routes linking neighboring markets, and internet exchange points that allow regional traffic to remain within the region. As the Middle East’s digital economy expands, more data is being generated and consumed locally, reinforcing the need for robust regional infrastructure.

Hybrid Connectivity Routes Are Gaining Momentum

Another major topic throughout Capacity Middle East was the development of hybrid connectivity routes that combine subsea cables with terrestrial fiber infrastructure. While subsea cables remain the backbone of global connectivity, geopolitical risks and congestion along traditional Red Sea routes have highlighted the need for diversified network paths between Asia and Europe. Operators are increasingly exploring alternative corridors that incorporate land-based routes across regional markets. Industry leaders noted that deploying these hybrid routes is not simply an engineering challenge. Subsea and terrestrial networks operate under different economic models and regulatory frameworks, meaning coordination across multiple jurisdictions will be required to ensure these routes remain commercially viable. Despite those complexities, hybrid infrastructure is expected to play an important role in strengthening global connectivity resilience.

Data Center Development Is Accelerating Across the Region

At Datacloud Middle East, much of the conversation centered on the region’s rapidly expanding data center ecosystem. The Middle East offers several structural advantages that are attracting global infrastructure investment, including competitive energy pricing, available land for hyperscale campuses, strong sovereign investment funds, and coordinated national digital strategies. Market insights shared during the event indicated that vacancy rates across regional data center markets remain low while a significant portion of new capacity is already pre-leased before completion. Although most existing capacity remains concentrated in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, emerging markets such as Oman and Jordan are also advancing national initiatives designed to attract new digital infrastructure development and diversify the region’s data center footprint.

AI Is Reshaping Data Center Design

Artificial intelligence infrastructure requirements were a central theme at Datacloud Middle East. Traditional enterprise data centers typically operate at densities between 10 and 20 kilowatts per rack, but AI training clusters are already pushing beyond 100 kilowatts per rack, creating new challenges for power delivery, cooling strategies, and facility design. Because large-scale data center projects often require 18 to 24 months to build, developers must make long-term infrastructure decisions with limited visibility into future workload requirements. As a result, many operators are shifting toward flexible data center architectures capable of supporting both traditional enterprise workloads and high-density AI environments. Rather than designing facilities for a single predictable future state, the industry is increasingly prioritizing adaptability.

Industry Leaders Highlight the Region’s Momentum

Several speakers provided important insights into the trends shaping the Middle East’s digital infrastructure ecosystem. Johan Nilerud, Chief Strategy Officer at Khazna Data Centers, discussed how hyperscale demand and national digital initiatives are accelerating the development of large-scale data center campuses across the Gulf. Karim Benkirane, Chief Commercial Officer at du, highlighted the role telecommunications providers play in enabling cloud adoption and expanding regional connectivity capacity. Mehdi Paryavi, Chairman of the International Data Center Authority, explored how national initiatives such as Oman’s Digital Triangle are positioning emerging markets to compete for future AI and cloud infrastructure investment. Tahir Gok, MENA Lead at datacenterHawk, shared market insights showing continued demand for colocation capacity and strong growth across the region’s key digital hubs. Julian Barratt-Due, Managing Director at KKR, also discussed the growing interest from international investors seeking opportunities to participate in the Middle East’s digital infrastructure expansion alongside sovereign wealth funds.

Interconnection Will Define the Next Phase

A consistent theme across both conferences was the critical importance of interconnection. Data centers, cloud platforms, AI infrastructure, and enterprise networks all rely on strong connectivity ecosystems. Without robust interconnection between facilities, internet exchanges, and regional fiber routes, the full value of new infrastructure investments cannot be realized. Industry leaders emphasized that the next phase of digital infrastructure development in the Middle East will require dense fiber ecosystems, carrier-neutral exchanges, and strong regional connectivity frameworks that allow traffic to move efficiently across markets.

A New Era for Middle East Digital Infrastructure

Capacity Middle East and Datacloud Middle East demonstrated how quickly the region’s infrastructure landscape is evolving. Supported by AI demand, sovereign investment, and coordinated national strategies, the Middle East is rapidly expanding its connectivity and data center capacity. The region’s role in the global digital ecosystem is no longer limited to bridging continents. Instead, it is emerging as a strategic hub where infrastructure is being built to support both global traffic flows and a rapidly growing regional digital economy. As investment continues to accelerate, the conversations taking place in Dubai suggest that the Middle East will remain a central focus of digital infrastructure development in the years ahead.

The next Capacity event will be International Telecoms Week (ITW) in Washington, D.C., May 18-21, 2026.

To learn more about upcoming events in the Capacity Media portfolio, visit www.capacitymedia.com/events.

The post Capacity Middle East and Datacloud Middle East 2026 Highlight Rapid Growth in AI and Data Center Infrastructure appeared first on Data Center POST.

The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) has selected developer and IPP Elevate Renewables’ 600MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) for development in Ridgefield, New Jersey, US.

The Governors of Maryland and New Jersey have enacted legislation to accelerate the deployment of clean energy technologies in response to energy cost and supply concerns.

The GCCIA has launched a direct electricity interconnection project with Oman, enhancing regional energy integration and grid reliability. The US$700 million initiative will improve emergency support and renewable energy integration. Key officials emphasized its role in economic growth and stability while addressing increased electricity demand across Gulf states.

The post GCC Begins Construction of 400 kV Cross-Border Grid Interconnection Linking Oman to Regional Power Network appeared first on SolarQuarter.

Data Center POST connected with Raul K. Martynek, Chief Executive Officer of DataBank Holdings, Ltd., ahead of PTC’26. Martynek joined DataBank in 2017 and brings more than three decades of leadership experience across telecommunications, Internet infrastructure, and data center operations. His background includes senior executive roles at Net Access, Voxel dot Net, Smart Telecom, and advisory positions with DigitalBridge and Plainfield Asset Management. Under his leadership, DataBank has expanded its national footprint, strengthened its interconnection ecosystems, and positioned its platform to support AI-ready, high-density workloads across enterprise, cloud, and edge environments. In the Q&A below, Martynek shares his perspective on the challenges shaping global digital infrastructure and how DataBank is preparing customers for the next phase of AI-driven growth.

Data Center Post (DCP) Question: What does your company do?  

Raul Martynek (RM) Answer: DataBank helps the world’s largest enterprises, technology, and content providers ensure their data and applications are always on, always secure, always compliant, and ready to scale to meet the needs of the artificial intelligence era.

DCP Q: What problems does your company solve in the market?

RM A: DataBank addresses a broad set of challenges enterprises face when managing critical infrastructure. Reliability and uptime are foundational, as downtime can severely impact revenue and customer trust. We also help organizations meet security and compliance requirements without having to build costly internal expertise. Our platform allows customers to scale infrastructure without large capital expenditures by shifting to an operating expense model. In addition, we provide managed expertise that frees internal teams to focus on strategic priorities, simplify hybrid IT and cloud integration, improve latency for distributed and edge workloads, strengthen cybersecurity posture, and mitigate talent and resource constraints.

DCP Q: What are your company’s core products or services?

RM A: Data center colocation, Interconnection, Enterprise Cloud, Compliance Enablement, Data Protection. Powered by expert, human support

DCP Q: What markets do you serve?

RM A: DataBank serves customers across a broad geographic footprint in the United States and Europe. In the western United States, the company operates in key markets including Irvine, Los Angeles, and Silicon Valley in California, as well as Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, and Seattle. Its central U.S. presence includes Chicago, Denver, Indianapolis, and Kansas City. In the southern region, DataBank supports customers in Atlanta, Austin, Dallas, Houston, Miami, and Waco. Along the East Coast and Midwest, the company operates in markets such as Boston, Cleveland, New Jersey, New York City, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh. Internationally, DataBank also serves customers in the United Kingdom.

DCP Q: What challenges does the global digital infrastructure industry face today?

RM A: The industry is facing a convergence of challenges, including power availability and grid constraints, sustainability and carbon reduction requirements, cooling demands for high-density AI and HPC workloads, supply chain pressures, land acquisition and zoning issues, and increasing interconnection complexity. At the same time, organizations must contend with talent shortages and rising cybersecurity risks, all while supporting rapidly expanding digital workloads.

DCP Q: How is your company adapting to these challenges?

RM A: We are building in markets with available power headroom and designing scalable power blocks to support future growth. Our facilities are being prepared for AI-era density with liquid-ready designs and more efficient cooling strategies. Sustainability remains a priority, with a focus on lowering energy and water usage. We are standardizing construction to improve efficiency and flexibility while expanding interconnection ecosystems such as DE-CIX. Additionally, our managed services help fill enterprise talent gaps, and we continue to invest in operational excellence, security, and company culture.

DCP Q: What are your company’s key differentiators?

RM A: DataBank differentiates itself through strong engineering and operational management, future-ready platforms, and deep compliance expertise. Our geographic focus allows us to serve customers where they need infrastructure most, while our managed services provide visibility and control across complex environments. We are also supported by patient, long-term investors, enabling disciplined growth and sustained investment.

DCP Q: What can we expect to see/hear from your company in the future?  

RM A: Customers can expect continued commitment to enterprise IT infrastructure alongside expanded AI-ready platforms. We are growing our interconnection ecosystems, advancing sustainability initiatives, modernizing key campuses, and expanding managed and hybrid IT services. Enhancing security, compliance, and customer success will remain central, as will our focus on talent and culture.

DCP Q: What upcoming industry events will you be attending? 

RM A: AI Tinkers; Metro Connect; ATC CEO Summit; MIMSS 26; DCD>Connect 2026; ITW 2026; 7×24 Cloud Run Community Festival; CBRE Digital Infrastructure Summit 2026; AI Infra Conference; TMT M&A Forum; MegaPort Connect; TAG Data Center Summit; Supercomputing 2026; Incompany; DE-DIX Dallas Olde World Holiday Market

DCP Q: Do you have any recent news you would like us to highlight?

RM A: DataBank has recently announced several milestones that underscore its continued growth and long-term strategy. The company expanded its financing vehicle to $1.6 billion to support the next phase of platform expansion and infrastructure investment. DataBank also released new research showing that 60 percent of enterprises are already seeing a return on investment from AI initiatives or expect to within the next 12 months, highlighting the accelerating business impact of AI adoption. In addition, DataBank introduced a company-wide employee ownership program, reinforcing its commitment to culture, alignment, and long-term value creation across the organization.

DCP Q: Is there anything else you would like our readers to know about your company and capabilities?

RM A: DataBank is building the digital foundation for the AI, cloud, and connected-device era. Its national footprint of data centers delivers secure, high-density colocation, interconnection, and managed services that help enterprises deploy mission-critical workloads with confidence.

We are designing for the future with liquid-cooling capabilities, campus modernization, and expanded interconnection ecosystems. We are equally committed to responsible digital infrastructure: improving efficiency, reducing water use, strengthening security, and advancing compliance.

Above all, DataBank we are a trusted infrastructure partner, providing the expertise and operational support organizations need to scale reliably and securely.

DCP Q: Where can our readers learn more about your company?  

RM A: www.databank.com

DCP Q: How can our readers contact your company? 

PQ A: www.databank.com/contact-us

To learn more about PTC’26, please visit www.ptc.org/ptc26. The event takes place January 18-21, 2026 in Honolulu, HI.

If you are interested in contributing to Data Center POST, contact us at contributions@datacenterpost.com.

Stay in the know! Subscribe to Data Center POST today.

# # #

About Data Center POST

Data Center POST provides a comprehensive view of the digital infrastructure landscape, delivering industry insights into the global data center ecosystem. As the industry’s only peer-contributed and online publication, we offer relevant information from developers, managers, providers, investors, and trendsetters worldwide.

Data Center POST works hard to get the most current information and thought-provoking ideas most apt to add relevance to the success of the data center industry. Stay informed, visit www.datacenterpost.com.

ADVERTISE | CONTRIBUTE | SUBSCRIBE

The post Building the Digital Foundation for the AI Era: DataBank’s Vision for Scalable Infrastructure appeared first on Data Center POST.

Originally posted on 1547Realty.

AI is changing what infrastructure needs to do. It is no longer enough to provide power cooling and a basic network connection. Modern AI and high performance computing workloads depend on constant access to large data sets and fast communication between systems. That makes interconnection an essential part of the environment that supports them.

Traditional cloud environments were not built for dense GPU clusters or latency sensitive applications. This has helped drive the rise of neocloud providers, which focus on specialized compute and rely on data centers for the physical setting in which it operates.

Industry reporting from RCR Wireless notes that many neocloud providers choose to colocate in established facilities instead of building new data centers. This gives them faster speed to market and direct access to network ecosystems that would take years to recreate on their own. In this context data centers with strong connectivity play a central role.

1547 operates facilities that combine space and power with the network access needed for AI and neocloud deployments. These environments allow operators to place infrastructure where it can perform as intended.

The Shift from Cloud First to Cloud Right

For many years, the default approach for new applications was simple. Put it in the cloud. That cloud first mindset is now giving way to a cloud-right strategy. The question is no longer only whether something can run in the cloud, but whether it should.

AI and high-performance workloads often need to run close to users, to data sources, or along specific network routes. They require predictable latency and steady throughput. When model training or inference spans many GPUs across different clusters, even small delays can affect performance and cost.

Analysts have observed that organizations are matching each workload to the environment that fits it best. As RTInsights highlights, not every workload performs well in a single centralized cloud. Some applications remain in hyperscale environments. Others move to edge sites, private clouds or colocation facilities that offer greater control over performance. Neocloud operators support this shift by offering GPU focused infrastructure from locations chosen for both efficiency and access to network routes.

To do that, they need more than space. They need carriers, cloud on-ramps, internet exchanges and private connection options. They need a fabric that lets them move data efficiently between customers, partners, and providers. Connectivity within the facility brings these elements together and supports cloud right placement.

1547 facilities support this shift by giving operators access to diverse networks in key markets. These environments allow AI workloads to sit where they perform best while staying connected to the wider ecosystem.

To continue reading, please click here.

The post Interconnection and Colocation: The Backbone of AI-Ready Infrastructure appeared first on Data Center POST.

Fifteenfortyseven Critical Systems Realty (1547) is building on years of network activity in South Texas with the launch of the McAllen Internet Exchange (MCT-IX) and a series of infrastructure expansions at Chase Tower in downtown McAllen. Together, these developments reflect how the region’s role as a U.S.–Mexico connectivity point continues to take shape.

MCT-IX is deployed inside the 1547-owned Chase Tower, long recognized as the primary carrier hotel and aggregation point for cross-border network traffic in McAllen. By placing the exchange directly within this established ecosystem, MCT-IX creates a natural place for networks to exchange traffic locally and has secured formal ARIN recognition under ASN AS402079. Early port commitments from participating networks mark the initial phase of onboarding and signal early interest from the existing ecosystem.

The launch of MCT-IX builds on a year of sustained growth inside Chase Tower, which has seen new carrier deployments, capacity expansions from long-standing partners, and rising cross-connect activity throughout 2025. To support this momentum and maintain the building’s role as the region’s primary network interconnection hub, 1547 has invested more than $6 million in critical infrastructure upgrades, including backup power, elevators, fire and life safety systems, and a comprehensive HVAC overhaul.

Beyond core building upgrades, 1547 is expanding its interconnection infrastructure with a new meet-me room and a dedicated carrier room designed to serve dozens of carrier cabinets. These additions are intended to simplify how networks connect with one another, with MCT-IX, and with the broader Chase Tower ecosystem. To meet future demand from both data center tenants and MCT-IX participants, 1547 is currently developing 500 kilowatts of additional colocation capacity inside the tower, along with a 3 megawatt, 13,000-square-foot dedicated data center annex targeted for completion in Q4 2026.

MCT-IX is designed to address a long-standing challenge in the region, where cross-border connectivity has traditionally relied on upstream routes that leave McAllen before reaching their destination. By enabling a more localized peering option, the exchange gives networks greater control over routing efficiency and performance, while supporting route diversity and resiliency.

“Announcing MCT-IX is an important milestone for both 1547 and the McAllen market,” said J. Todd Raymond, CEO and Managing Director of 1547. “With formal ARIN recognition and early port commitments already underway, it is clear there is strong demand for an Internet Exchange that builds on the long-established interconnection ecosystem inside Chase Tower. As owners of the carrier hotel, we are committed to supporting this next phase of growth.”

As interconnection activity continues to increase, 1547’s leadership sees MCT-IX as a natural extension of what is already happening inside Chase Tower. “Across Chase Tower, we are seeing measurable increases in interconnection activity, from new deployments to expanded capacity and growing interest in route diversity,” said John Bonczek, Chief Revenue Officer of 1547. “MCT-IX aligns with the needs of the ecosystem inside the building and adds another layer of functionality as that activity continues to grow.”

Read the full release here.

The post 1547 Strengthens McAllen’s Role as a Cross-Border Connectivity Hub with Launch of MCT-IX appeared first on Data Center POST.

Virginia's recently proposed legislation to significantly increase energy storage requirements coincides with unprecedented electricity demand growth in the state, largely driven by data centres.

Duke Energy, Elevate Renewables, and Fluence Energy, along with BrightNight and Cordelio Power, are advancing BESS projects across the BESS.