John Tanner

Schneider Electric will supply power and cooling systems for T964’s new Tier III data centre in Iraq, a facility positioned as the country’s first large-scale commercial data hub with scalable capacity up to 12 MW. The project aims to strengthen Iraq’s digital infrastructure, support cloud adoption and enhance regional connectivity. Executives from Schneider Electric highlighted the region’s rapid digital transformation and the data centre’s expected role in advancing Iraq’s digital economy. Construction is underway for a planned launch by year-end, alongside T964’s broader initiatives, including collaborations with Nokia and national efforts to expand data centre and subsea cable capabilities.

The International Telecommunication Union’s advisory body on submarine cable resilience released a comprehensive report outlining growing risks to global subsea cable networks, including climate change, infrastructure concentration and slow repair times. It calls for stronger coordination between governments and operators, improved regulatory efficiency, enhanced monitoring, better data sharing and increased route diversity. The report emphasizes the vulnerability of developing regions such as small island developing states and least developed countries, urging investment, capacity‑building and innovative financing to improve resilience. Stakeholders highlighted the need for sustained international cooperation to safeguard critical digital infrastructure.

Sonatel expanded its Gandoul teleport with Eutelsat OneWeb’s Satellite Portal Network, adding 16 LEO antennas and a Tier III technical room to support hybrid satellite‑fibre connectivity. The upgrade enhances Senegal’s role as a regional digital hub and aligns with national plans to broaden internet coverage, strengthen digital sovereignty and advance public‑service digitization. Eutelsat representatives emphasized the project’s contribution to resilient regional connectivity.