Inside Data Centre Podcast

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In the fourth episode of our series recorded live at Datacloud Global Congress 2026 in Cannes, Andy Davis is once again joined by co-host Rory Flashman from Spa Communications to explore the rapid growth of the Gulf region as a major data centre market. 
Joining the conversation: 
Simon Young, Google 
Stephen Beard, Knight Frank 
Together, they discuss why the Middle East has become one of the most talked-about regions in digital infrastructure, and how government ambition, sovereign wealth, power availability and AI demand are helping to accelerate growth across the market. 
The conversation explores the role of the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Qatar, Kuwait and Oman in the region’s data centre development, as well as the opportunities and challenges that come with building at scale in a fast-moving market. 
Simon and Stephen also discuss the importance of leadership and long-term vision across the GCC, the impact of major AI initiatives, and why the region could become an increasingly important bridge between Europe, Asia and Africa. 
The episode also looks at how international operators and Middle Eastern developers are approaching expansion, the role of sovereign wealth funds, and what other markets, including the UK, could learn from the region’s ability to move quickly and reduce barriers to development. 
Recorded live at Datacloud Global Congress 2026 in Cannes. 
Key Topics: 
Why the Gulf region has become a major data centre growth market 
How government leadership and national AI strategies are driving investment 
The role of the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Israel as leading regional hubs 
Why power cost and availability are central to the region’s opportunity 
The potential for AI infrastructure growth in Kuwait, Oman and other emerging Gulf markets 
Why fibre connectivity and international transit remain important challenges 
How data centre design in the Middle East compares with Europe 
The impact of geopolitical uncertainty on investment decisions 
Why international operators are looking more closely at the region 
How Middle Eastern developers and sovereign wealth funds are expanding globally 
What the UK and other mature markets could learn from the Gulf’s speed of execution 
Why talent development and local workforce initiatives will be critical to long-term growth 
How AI adoption is changing the wider data centre and digital infrastructure conversation 
Tune in for an insightful conversation on how the Gulf region is positioning itself at the centre of the next wave of data centre and AI infrastructure growth, and why speed, capital, power and policy will all play a major role in shaping its future. 
Support the show
The Inside Data Centre Podcast is recorded in partnership with DataX Connect, a specialist data centre recruitment company based in the UK. They operate on a global scale to place passionate individuals at the heart of leading data centre companies.
To learn more about Andy Davis and the rest of the DataX team, click here: DataX Connect

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In this episode of the Inside Data Centre Podcast, Andy Davis is joined by Tom Babington, Founder and CEO of Adaptive MDC. With a career spanning 42 countries from building for the military in Afghanistan to delivering hyperscale in Finland, Tom explains how his approach to modular data centre design was shaped by solving problems on the ground, and why execution, not innovation, is now the industry's biggest bottleneck. 
Key Topics: 
How a career across 42 countries shaped Tom's approach to modular delivery 
Why modular doesn't mean small: reference designs now scale past 100MW 
Execution, not ideas, is the industry's real barrier to faster delivery 
Cross-vendor collaboration could unlock timelines vendors say are fixed 
Public perception of data centres is shifting from ignored to scrutinised 
Tom's advice for newcomers: stay curious, don't fear not knowing 
Tune in for a grounded take on where modular data centres are headed, and what it will actually take to keep pace with demand. 
Support the show
The Inside Data Centre Podcast is recorded in partnership with DataX Connect, a specialist data centre recruitment company based in the UK. They operate on a global scale to place passionate individuals at the heart of leading data centre companies.
To learn more about Andy Davis and the rest of the DataX team, click here: DataX Connect

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In the third episode of our series recorded live at Datacloud Global Congress 2026 in Cannes, Andy Davis is once again joined by co-host Rory Flashman from Spa Communications to explore one of the biggest challenges facing the data centre industry: power. 
Joining the conversation: 
Chris Pennington, Director, Energy and Sustainability, Iron Mountain 
Afonso Salema, CEO, Exus Digital 
Together, they discuss whether the industry is really at power capacity, or whether data centres need to become smarter, more flexible and more responsive to the grids they depend on. 
The conversation looks at how the industry can unlock stranded grid capacity, the role of energy storage and flexible load, and why the traditional approach of simply asking the grid for constant supply may no longer be enough. 
Chris and Afonso also explore behind-the-meter power, the differences between the US and European markets, and whether on-site generation is a short-term bridge to grid connection or a longer-term part of the data centre power mix. 
The episode also tackles the debate around nuclear, microgrids, renewable energy, affordability, total cost of ownership and the need for data centres to work more closely with TSOs, regulators and local communities. 
Recorded live at Datacloud Global Congress 2026 in Cannes. 
Key Topics: 
Why access to power has become one of the industry’s biggest challenges 
How data centres can use flexible load and storage to unlock grid capacity 
The role of behind-the-meter power as a bridge to grid connection 
Why power affordability is becoming central to AI infrastructure growth 
The differences between US and European power strategies 
Whether gas can play a viable role in European data centre power 
The future of nuclear, SMRs and grid-connected clean energy 
Why there is no one-size-fits-all solution to power constraints 
How peak shaving and smarter energy use can reduce costs 
The importance of community engagement and listening to local priorities 
Why the industry needs to do more to challenge myths around power, water and local impact 
Tune in for a timely conversation on how power is shaping the future of data centre development, why flexibility and affordability matter, and how the industry can work more closely with grids and communities to support sustainable growth.
Support the show
The Inside Data Centre Podcast is recorded in partnership with DataX Connect, a specialist data centre recruitment company based in the UK. They operate on a global scale to place passionate individuals at the heart of leading data centre companies.
To learn more about Andy Davis and the rest of the DataX team, click here: DataX Connect

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In the second episode of our series recorded live at Datacloud Global Congress 2026 in Cannes, Andy Davis is once again joined by co-host Rory Flashman from Spa Communications to explore why the Nordics have become one of the most talked-about regions in the European data centre market.
Joining the conversation:
Tor Kristian Gyland, Heim Data Center
Svein Atle Hagaseth, Heim Data Center
Fresh from launching their new venture, Heim Data Center, Tor and Svein discuss why Sweden, Finland and the wider Nordic region are attracting growing interest from data centre operators, investors and customers.
The conversation explores how power availability, renewable energy, cooling efficiency, regulatory stability and strong fibre connectivity are helping position the Nordics as a major destination for future data centre growth. The discussion also looks at why the region is no longer just seen as a location for AI training, but increasingly as a viable hub for cloud, inference and wider digital infrastructure workloads.
Tor and Svein also discuss the differences between Nordic markets, including Finland’s predictability, Sweden’s emerging regional opportunities and Norway’s more complex power and community narrative. They explain why local engagement, early dialogue with municipalities and long-term contribution to communities will be critical as the industry scales.
Recorded live at Datacloud Global Congress 2026 in Cannes.
Tune in for a timely conversation on why the Nordics are moving from the edge of Europe’s data centre map to the centre of its next growth story, and how power, sustainability, connectivity and community engagement will shape the region’s future.
Support the show
The Inside Data Centre Podcast is recorded in partnership with DataX Connect, a specialist data centre recruitment company based in the UK. They operate on a global scale to place passionate individuals at the heart of leading data centre companies.
To learn more about Andy Davis and the rest of the DataX team, click here: DataX Connect

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In the first episode of our internal 'Powered by People' series', Andy Davis is joined by Josie Hughes, Director of Marketing at DataX Connect, for the first in a new internal mini-series. 
Together, they explore the people behind the industry's rapid growth, discussing the talent trends, workforce challenges, and career opportunities shaping the data centre sector today. 
Key topics: 
Where today's data centre talent is coming from 
Why career development matters just as much as salary 
What really influences people to change jobs 
The growing impact of relocation and international mobility 
How regional differences are shaping hiring strategies 
What employers need to do to attract and retain the best people 
Tune in for an insightful conversation on the trends influencing the future of data centre talent and what they mean for professionals and employers alike. 
Take part in the 2026 Data Centre Salary Survey  - Closes 20th July 2026.
Support the show
The Inside Data Centre Podcast is recorded in partnership with DataX Connect, a specialist data centre recruitment company based in the UK. They operate on a global scale to place passionate individuals at the heart of leading data centre companies.
To learn more about Andy Davis and the rest of the DataX team, click here: DataX Connect