The Future of the Internet as a Global Infrastructure

Europe, the Americas and Africa need more data, faster. Atlantic Convergence is the first conference and business event addressing the potential of pan-Atlantic digital infrastructure. This is where Europe, North and South America, and Africa converge.

First Conference on New pan-Atlantic Business Opportunities

Data largely drives digital transformation. It is key for global competitiveness and has great potential for economic growth and innovation. This is nowhere more evident than on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean. Rising pan-Atlantic digital demand is increasing the importance and accelerating the development of Internet infrastructure across the pond, driving value and new cross-continental business opportunities. 

The EU is addressing this by investing up to €300 billion between 2021 and 2027 in a range of infrastructure projects. The first milestone was the Africa-Europe Investment Package, totaling around €150 billion in investment. Similar activities with Latin America and the Caribbean have followed suit. In addition, the EurAfrica Gateway Cable will link the EU and Africa along the Atlantic coast, boosting the digital sovereignty of both continents, as well as increasing data traffic and improving security. The European Secure Satellite Communications Program will also improve African connectivity, providing Internet especially to the most remote areas of the continent.

On the other side of the Atlantic, similar programs have also been put in place. In September 2023, the US Administration published a Declaration on Atlantic Cooperation and announced a partnership consisting of 32 members along the Atlantic coast. The partnership will address economic development, science, and technology. Brazil, Canada, Iceland, Ireland, Liberia, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Portugal, the Republic of the Congo, Senegal, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States are some of the participating countries.

One conference – all Transatlantic opportunities

The new Atlantic Convergence conference aims to combine the public initiatives with actionable business plans. It is the nexus where Africa, Europe, and the Americas come together. Participants from all around the Atlantic Ocean will come together to craft a shared and connected future. It is a unique forum for businesses, institutions, and providers. A great place to discuss and foster collaboration.

Among others, the topics include:

• How will we enhance the speed, cut costs, and minimize the latency of connectivity across the Atlantic?
• How can Europe and North America improve connectivity with regions such as Latin America and Africa?
• How well can the existing infrastructure withstand cyber-attacks?
• What are the digital drivers of the pan-Atlantic economy, and what about new AI and Cloud tech needs?
• Can the current undersea, terrestrial, and space infrastructure support new demand?
• Which new data corridors are emerging across the Atlantic?

DE-CIX, the world’s leading operator of Internet Exchanges, has initiated the Atlantic Convergence event, and will host the first edition together with the other founders, Altice Wholesale Solutions, Atlas Edge, EllaLink, and Interfiber. The event will take place from 1 – 3 October in Lisbon, Portugal, a nexus point for Transatlantic data flows and formidable point of convergence for all continents bordering the Atlantic Ocean. The event will unite the pan-Atlantic ecosystem and innovators from around the world to shape the future of digital connectivity.

Visionaries, Users, and Architects

The conference brings together visionaries, knowledge owners, power users, and the architects of digital infrastructure on both sides of the Atlantic. The event is the place to be for multi-national enterprises, for data center, submarine cable, and LEO Satellite operators, for cloud service providers, OTTs, and Internet Exchange operators. Ivo Ivanov, CEO of DE-CIX, headquartered in Germany and providing infrastructure and services in multiple countries bordering the Atlantic, will provide insights into the criticality and business potential of optimized pan-Atlantic connectivity. A second keynote will be given by Dr. Daniel S. Hamilton, Senior Fellow at the Foreign Policy Institute of Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies, and President of the Transatlantic Leadership Network in the USA, will speak about the digital drivers of the pan-Atlantic economy. In addition, Philippe Dumont, CEO of Ellalink, the newly commissioned undersea cable connecting Europe to Brazil, will look at how new corridors across the Atlantic support the most advanced and innovative digital usage in the South Atlantic region. These and many more important topics will inspire discussion and idea generation for Transatlantic business opportunities in the pan-Atlantic digital economy.

Stay Ahead of the Crowd!

Be among the first to join the new connectivity ecosystem encircling the Atlantic Ocean. As an attendee you will:

• Dive into groundbreaking research, insights, and success stories from leading enterprises and renowned industry experts.

• Explore, uncover, and capitalize on the untapped business opportunities within the pan-Atlantic digital ecosystem.

• Engage directly with key stakeholders across the digital infrastructure value chain, as well as enterprises and institutions.

• Forge alliances and co-create solutions tailored to the evolving demands of enterprise digital needs.

Atlantic Convergence Conference
1 – 3 October 2024
Pátio da Galé
Lisbon, Portugal

Registration