Originally posted on Data Center POST
With the proliferation of data, continued adoption of digital use throughout the world and the promise of AI among us, digital infrastructure is the backbone of global connectivity. At infra/STRUCTURE 2024, which took place in September at the Wynn Las Vegas, leaders from the industry space tackled key challenges and emerging opportunities, underscoring the complexity of building and sustaining this vital industry. The “Macro Constraints and Unprecedented Opportunities” panel featured Adam Lewis, Managing Director at Citizens Bank; Ryan Thom, Partner at Novacap; Ariana Batori, Principal at Boundary Street Capital; and Horace Zona, Investor at DigitalBridge. The conversation spanned from the insatiable demand for digital infrastructure to the power of AI, quantum computing, and capital recycling.
Growing Demand and Macro Constraints
The digital landscape is experiencing unprecedented growth, driven by advancements in AI, cloud computing, and data consumption. Industry leaders are grappling with the challenge of keeping pace with this rapid growth. Thom framed the discussion by addressing the ever-increasing demand for infrastructure, “there’s sort of an insatiable demand for capacity in digital infrastructure, but at the same time, we’re constrained by the availability of power and capital.”
One key topic among the panelists was pre-leasing — a practice in which companies secure infrastructure space years in advance. Thom highlighted, “I’ve been hearing about pre-leasing, not just a year ago or two years ago, in some cases almost three years out.” This approach has become crucial for managing the growing demand for digital infrastructure projects, allowing companies to lock in capacity well in advance.
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