CONCLUSION The convergence of energy and data represents an inflection point for the ICT industry. With the exascale era on the horizon, and AI models and data centers projected to grow to unprecedented sizes, daunting challenges and exciting opportunities will emerge. This convergence is not just a technical challenge— it is a fundamental shift in digital infrastructure that will have far-reaching implications for society, the economy, and the environment. The future energy demands of AI will impact power generation, distribution, and consumption. A transformation of energy infrastructure, from advanced grid modernization to the integration of diverse renewable sources, is anticipated. Simul- taneously, data centers will need to meet the extreme bandwidth, latency, and processing requirements of future AI workloads. This convergence is expected to drive innovation across multiple fronts, from sustainable data infra- structure to integrated energy-data systems. The ICT industry stands at the forefront of this industrial revolution, with the unique opportunity—and responsibility—to lead the way in creating a more energy-efficient, sustainable digital future. AUTHOR BIOGRAPHIES: Seán Adam is Vice President of Market Strategy and Innovation at AFL. Seán holds a master's degree in Electric Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and has over 25 years of experience in the Semiconductor and Telecom industry with a focus on system- based solutions and architectures. Seán holds over 15 patents across software and hardware systems and products. Today, Seán is focused on developing and guiding AFL's overall growth strategy in the key markets they serve. Learn more about Seán on LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com/in/seanadam) or follow him on Twitter (@AFL_SeanAdam). Manja Thessin , RCDD/RTPM serves as Market Manager for AFL. Her nearly 25 years of experience in the telecommunications industry spans fieldwork, design and engineering, and project management. Manja’s expertise is further enhanced by a master's certificate in Strategic
Leadership from Michigan State University, as well as RCDD and RTPM certifications from BICSI ® . Her current role focuses on strategic initiatives that address global challenges and unlock potential for the organization, leveraging her deep understanding of ICT and her talent for cross-organizational collaboration. References: 1. U.S. Department of Energy. (2024). Pathways to Commercial Liftoff: Innovative Grid Deployment. Washington, DC: DOE. 2. Wolfe, S. (2024, April 10). U.S. interconnection queues, already jammed, grew 30% in 2023. Renewable Energy World. 3. Texier, M. (2024, March 19). A new initiative with Microsoft and Nucor to accelerate advanced clean electricity technologies. Google Blog. 4. Boujelbene, S. (2023, October 30). OCP 2023 Key Takeaways: The Network is the Computer for AI Workloads. Dell'Oro Group. 5. Synopsys. (2024, February 29). Synopsys Launches Industry's First Complete 1.6T Ethernet IP Solution to Meet High Bandwidth Needs of AI and Hyperscale Data Center Chips. 6. Boujelbene, S. (2024, January 10). Exploring the Data Center Switch and AI Networks Markets Landscape in 2024. Dell'Oro Group. 7. Lear, D. (2024, April 19). Top 5 Considerations for Deploying NVIDIA Blackwell. AMAX. 8. Adams, H. S. (2024, August 2). Iceotope's Liquid Cooling & Edge Computing Efficiency. DataCentre Magazine. 9. Volico. (2024, April 2). How Data Centers Are Adapting To The Rise Of AI. 10. International Atomic Energy Agency. (2023, September 13). What are Small Nuclear Reactors (SMRs)? IAEA. 11. Climate Neutral Data Center Pact. (2023). Retrieved from CISPE.cloud. 12. Global Market Insights. (2024, July). Transmission Substation Market Size, 2024 - 2032. 13. U.S. Department of Energy Grid Deployment Office. (2023, November 22). Where are we now? Celebrating the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law's Historic Investment in Critical Electric Infrastructure.
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ICT TODAY
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