A report on the panel discussion at infra/CAPITAL Summit 2026 in Paris, hosted by The Tech Capital and Structure Research
After two years dominated by inves...
Welcome to The Week Ahead! Your Forward-Focused Dispatch on Digital Infrastructure. Delivered every Monday exclusively via LinkedIn, this newsletter breaks down the most significant finance and investment developments and trends in the world of digital infrastructure this week.
Welcome to The Week Ahead! Your Forward-Focused Dispatch on Digital Infrastructure. Delivered every Monday, this newsletter breaks down the most significant finance and investment developments and trends in the world of digital infrastructure this week. Gain access to all our premium content, including news, features, videos, and podcasts, by registering for a The Tech Capital account here.
IN FOCUS
In this week’s newsletter, we look at:
The Sky’s the Limit: The Satellite Revolution Orbits into View;
The most read stories on digital infrastructure from across the globe;
The shortlist for The Tech Capital’s Global Awards 2025 will be out this Wednesday.
Dear Reader,
As we progress through 2025, the AI digital infrastructure sector has witnessed unprecedented growth, with global investments surpassing US$1.5 trillion in merely ten weeks. This remarkable surge has created a landscape of immense opportunity, albeit with its own set of challenges, particularly in the labour market.
To discuss this and much more, in a fortnight, our team, along with 150 global executives, will convene in Greece for the inaugural InfraAI Global Summit, presented by The Tech Capital. This executive retreat, hosted at the beautiful Four Seasons Astir Palace on the Athenian Riviera, will bring together government officials, policymakers, investors, banks, energy owners, digital infrastructure board members, hyperscale executives, and C-level executives from across the industry.
This week, we shall announce the shortlist for The Tech Capital’s Global Awards 2025 on Wednesday via our newsletter. The winners will be revealed at The Tech Capital’s International Finance Forum (IFF) in London on 13 May. Now in its fourth year, IFF will host up to 400 digital infrastructure professionals from 40 countries, offering networking opportunities and a comprehensive agenda across two theatres and, for the first time, private roundtables.
Additionally, we shall unveil our inaugural magazine at the InfraAI Summit in Athens.
Whilst preparations are underway for future editions and events, including Athens 2026 and IFF 2026, we very much look forward to also engaging with you at our upcoming regional IFF conferences in Latin America, Asia-Pacific, and the Middle East & Africa.
The Sky’s the Limit: The Satellite Revolution Orbits into View
Recent advancements in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite technology and regulatory discussions are transforming the telecommunications industry, with implications for broadband access and mobile connectivity.
Here’s what happened:
The satellite communications industry is undergoing a significant transformation, driven by advancements in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) constellations and the emergence of direct-to-cell services. Consequently, this is reshaping the competitive landscape and prompting regulatory discussions that could have far-reaching implications for broadband access and mobile connectivity.
The LEO satellite market has seen substantial growth, with several key players vying for dominance. SpaceX’s Starlink leads the pack with approximately 7,000 operational satellites, followed by OneWeb with 654. Other contenders include AST Mobile, Amazon’s Project Kuiper, Lynk, and Telesat, albeit with significantly smaller constellations at present.
According to RBC Capital Markets, Starlink has demonstrated “remarkable progress”, adding roughly 500 satellites over the past six months. The company’s ambitious plans include expanding its constellation to 12,000 satellites, with an ultimate goal of 34,400.
Source: RBC
OneWeb, despite adding only 14 satellites in the same period, remains a significant player in the market. Meanwhile, Project Kuiper and AST Mobile are still in the early stages of deployment, with two and five satellites respectively.
The integration of satellite technology with mobile networks is gaining traction, with several telecom providers partnering with satellite companies to offer emergency services and basic connectivity in remote areas.
T-Mobile (NASDAQ: TMUS) recently launched a public beta of its Starlink connectivity service, offering text messaging capabilities with plans to expand to picture messages, data, and voice calls in the future. The service will be included at no extra cost in T-Mobile’s premium Go5G Next plan, with other customers able to add it for $15 per month per line.
Other global telecom carriers are also exploring similar partnerships. AT&T (NYSE: T) is working with Globalstar, SK Telecom with Iridium, and Vodafone (LSE: VOD) and Orange (EPA: ORA) with AST SpaceMobile. Verizon (NYSE: VZ) has partnered with Skylo for its satellite connectivity offerings.
Source: RBC
Despite the progress, the industry faces significant challenges, RBC warns. Line-of-sight requirements for satellite signals pose limitations, particularly in urban environments or areas with dense vegetation. Companies are exploring solutions such as beam forming, repeaters, and hybrid terrestrial-satellite networks to improve signal penetration and reliability.
SpaceX is developing more advanced satellite generations to increase capacity. The company’s Gen2A satellites offer 80 Gbps capacity, a substantial improvement over the 18 Gbps of Gen1 satellites. Plans for Gen3 satellites, capable of 1 Tbps, are in the works, though their deployment depends on the successful development of SpaceX’s Starship rocket.
Additionally, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) plays a crucial role in shaping the industry’s future. Recent discussions have centred around spectrum allocation, the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program, and potential reforms to the Universal Service Fund (USF).
The outcome of these regulatory discussions could significantly impact the competitive dynamics between traditional broadband providers, satellite companies, and mobile network operators.
Here’s our take:
The rapid evolution of the satellite communications industry presents both opportunities and challenges for stakeholders across the telecommunications landscape. The newsroom believes that this transformation has the potential to revolutionise global connectivity, particularly in underserved and remote areas.
The dominance of SpaceX’s Starlink in the LEO satellite market is a testament to the company’s approach and aggressive deployment strategy as well as its access to capital. However, it is crucial to maintain a competitive environment that fosters innovation and prevents monopolistic practices. The presence of other players, such as OneWeb, AST Mobile, and Amazon’s Project Kuiper is essential for driving technological advancements and ensuring diverse service offerings. How that will pan out in the coming four years is anyone’s guess at this stage.
The integration of satellite technology with mobile networks represents another significant step forward in bridging the digital divide. Partnerships between telecom providers and satellite companies have the potential to extend connectivity to areas previously deemed economically unfeasible for traditional infrastructure real estate.
The development of more advanced satellite generations by SpaceX is promising as it could significantly increase capacity and improve service quality. However, the reliance on the successful development of the Starship rocket for deploying Gen3 satellites serves as a warning of the interconnected nature of space technology and the potential risks associated with delays or setbacks in related projects.
The role of regulatory bodies, particularly the FCC, cannot be overstated either. Decisions regarding spectrum allocation, funding programs, and universal service reforms will have far-reaching implications for competition, innovation, and accessibility.
LONG READS
Brazil’s Byte-sized Revolution: A Data Centre Powerhouse
The scenario is positive, and we are making great strides, but we face challenges as a ‘country’, which include the complexity of licensing and regulatory processes, writes Pedro Henrique Fragoso, CEO of Tecto Data Centres. Read more here
Beyond FLAP-D: Why we’re riding the next wave of markets
The demand for digital infrastructure is unprecedented, and the opportunities in front of us are immense, writes Tesh Durvasula, CEO of AtlasEdge Data Centres. Read more here
The Death of GPUaaS: An Obituary
Falling prices, fierce competition, and the rise of AIaaS have sealed GPUaaS’s fate. 2025 will bury the old model for good. Read more here
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
WEEK IN PREVIEW
Oracle Corporation (ORCL) – Monday, March 10, 2025: Oracle is set to report its third quarter fiscal year 2025 earnings after market close. The consensus EPS estimate is $1.49, reflecting an 11% year-over-year. Analysts expect revenues of approximately $14.4 billion, an 8% increase from the previous. Investors will be keenly watching for updates on Oracle’s cloud services performance, AI integration efforts, and progress on cost-cutting measures. The company’s performance in the data center and AI segments, as well as its positioning in the evolving technology landscape, will be key focal points during the earnings call.
Semtech Corporation (SMTC) – Wednesday, March 12, 2025: Investors should focus on the company’s performance in key areas such as LoRa technology and IoT solutions, progress in the 5G infrastructure market, and the impact of global semiconductor supply chain issues. Any guidance provided for upcoming quarters will be particularly important, given the dynamic and rapidly changing nature of the semiconductor industry.
Helios Towers plc (HTWS) – Thursday, March 13, 2025: Helios Towers’ earnings report will likely focus on its tower portfolio growth, tenancy ratios, and expansion into new markets. Investors will be interested in the company’s progress in Africa and the Middle East, as well as any updates on strategic partnerships or acquisitions.
TTC CONFERENCES
The InfraAI Summit 2025, hosted in the Athenian Rivierta, Greece, will be a pivotal event for the global AI and infrastructure sectors. The exclusive gathering brings together industry leaders, investors, policy makers, and innovators to explore the foundations of AI-driven economies. With a focus on digital infrastructure, including data centres, cell towers, and fibre networks, the summit will address the multi-trillion capital influx expected in the next five years.
The event promises a rich agenda, featuring over 40 expert speakers, panel discussions on cutting-edge topics such as generative AI’s impact on infrastructure and quantum computing, and networking opportunities against the backdrop of the Athenian Riviera. Attendees will gain invaluable insights into future-focused strategies, innovative financing models, and the critical intersection of AI, energy, and sustainability.
Join us on 27th March 2025 to shape the future of AI infrastructure and investment.
Principal Asset Management closes $3.64bn data centre fund – Full Story
$12.8 billion Blackstone UK data centre receives outline planning permission – Full Story
Microsoft to invest $7 billion in data centres in Spain’s Aragon Region – Full Story
EU Commission greenlights CDPQ and DigitalBridge’s joint acquisition of Yondr Group – Full Story
CoreWeave’s IPO: 10 things we just learned about the AI cloud provider – Full Story
Goodman hires ex-AWS boss to lead North American data centre strategy – Full Story
Brookfield in advanced talks to sell minority stake in Data4 – reports – Full Story
InfraPartners-Caddis Cloud alliance ushers new era of prefab AI data centres – Full Story
Liquid cooling firm Submer to develop first owned and operated data centre – Full Story
STACK Infrastructure names new president amisdt ongoing Americas expansion – Full Story
WATCH ON THE TECH CAPITAL
Speaking to The Tech Capital at PTC’25, Aligned Data Centers’ Chief Investment Officer, Anubhav Raj, discusses the firm’s recent US$12 billion capital raise and its implications for AI infrastructure expansion across the Americas.
The Tech Capital International Finance Forum & Global Awards London– 12-13 May 2025 LEARN MORE
InfraAI Summit’25, by The Tech Capital Athens Riviera – 26-27 March 2025 LEARN MORE
The Tech Capital LATAM Finance Forum São Paulo – 03 July 2025 LEARN MORE
The Tech Capital APAC Finance Forum Singapore – 25 September 2025 LEARN MORE
infra/STRUCTURE Summit Las Vegas – 15-16 October 2025 LEARN MORE
The Tech Capital Middle East & Africa Finance Forum Abu Dhabi – 03 December 2025 LEARN MORE
@2021-2025 Mondego Media Group Ltd. All Rights Reserved.TTC may receive compensation for some links to products and services in this email. Offers may be subject to change without notice. The Tech Capital part of Mondego Media Group Ltd., Devonshire House, Level 1 (78), One Mayfair Place, London W1J 8AJ, United Kingdom
Data4 CEO warns AI demand surge is outpacing data centre capacity as industry struggles to keep up
Ep. 38 - The Land of Giants: Power, Private Capital and the AI Infrastructure Race, with Krupal Raval
Facebook
Youtube 
TikTok
Threads
WhatsApp
