Carl Grivner, CEO of FLAG, wrote an article for The Fast Mode on the key trends reshaping global connectivity in 2026.
As we look forward into 2026, five forces are shaping the future of global connectivity: AI driven infrastructure, resilience, equitable access, data trust and strategic collaboration.
AI is accelerating demand for subsea and data centre infrastructure at unprecedented scale. Unlocking its full potential will depend on coordinated investment and broader access to high capacity connectivity, particularly in underserved regions.
Resilience is now a board level priority. Carl notes that geopolitical uncertainty, climate disruptions and growing security threats mean networks must be designed with true path diversity and long term robustness at their core.
Equitable connectivity also remains critical. Carl emphasises that closing the digital divide will require policy leadership, public private collaboration and sustained investment to ensure access is reliable and universal.
Trust underpins everything. Strong data protection standards and secure environments are essential as data flows become increasingly global and regulated.
Finally, Carl points out that no single organisation can do this alone. Strategic partnerships across the ecosystem will be key to building future ready networks that are inclusive, secure and resilient by design.
The foundations have been laid and the focus must now be on delivering resilient, inclusive and trusted networks at scale.
Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/gbmCkCUJ