NEDAS Live! Where Wireline and Wireless Meet

This episode of NEDAS Live! features a conversation with Doug Recker, President of Duos Edge AI. Host Ilissa Miller and Doug discuss edge data centers and how these compact facilities are changing connectivity in underserved communities. Doug shares his journey from traditional data centers to edge solutions, highlighting the impact of edge pods on education, healthcare, and rural development. The discussion covers edge data centers, their role in bridging the digital divide, and how they're enabling AI in unexpected places. Tune in to learn about the future of digital infrastructure and how edge solutions are changing access to technology in schools, businesses, and communities across America.

This episode features a conversation about AI with Phil Shih, Founder and Managing Director of Structure Research, an independent research firm specializing in internet infrastructure. Phil shares insights from his 13 years of experience running his own research company, discussing both the challenges and rewards he has encountered along the way. He elaborates on Structure Research's niche focus areas, which include data centers, cloud computing, and digital infrastructure. Additionally, Phil explains how the firm dispenses valuable market analysis and projections to industry executives, investors, and vendors through both subscription-based services and the annual infra/STRUCTURE summit, which marks its fifth year in 2024.

Tune in for another episode of NEDAS Live! as we are joined by David Bronston, Special Counsel and Co-Lead of the Telecommunications Practice at Phillips Lytle. David brings his vast experience to the discussion, shedding light on the evolving telecommunications landscape and the challenges faced by the industry. From the impact of the 1996 Telecommunications Act to the controversies surrounding net neutrality, David provides a comprehensive overview of the regulatory environment. The conversation also delves into the transformative Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program, which allocates $42 billion to states for broadband infrastructure development. David explains the requirements for companies to access these funds and shares his predictions on the potential winners and losers in the digital race.

 Tune in for another episode, as we are joined by John Wilson, CFO of Sabey Data Centers. John discusses Sabey's unique position in the data center industry, focusing on their commitment to providing affordable, renewable power and reliable service. He also highlights Sabey's sustainability efforts, flexible solutions through their in-house construction arm, and the importance of maintaining long-lasting customer partnerships while navigating the rapidly evolving technology landscape. 

Tune in for a conversation with Bill Thompson, Vice President of Marketing and Product Management at DC BLOX, a vertically integrated digital infrastructure provider specializing in the Southeast U.S. Bill shares his fascinating career journey, from his early days at AT&T commercializing the internet to his current role at DC BLOX. The conversation delves into DC BLOX's evolution from a traditional data center operator to a company offering a wide range of services, including cable landing stations, dark fiber networks, and high-capacity compute infrastructure. Bill also discusses the importance of relationships in the industry, the company's ability to innovate and adapt to rapidly changing technologies, and how DC BLOX is positioned to support the growing demand for AI, machine learning, and other high-density applications in the Southeast.

Tune in for a conversation with John Bonczek, Chief Revenue Officer of fifteenfortyseven Critical Systems Realty (1547), as he takes a deep dive into the world of interconnection and its pivotal role in shaping the digital infrastructure landscape. John shares his wealth of experience, tracing the evolution of interconnection from the early days of Telex to the current challenges and opportunities presented by the rise of AI and the surging demand for data center capacity. The discussion explores the necessity of retrofitting existing facilities, the complexities of building out for scalability, and the vital importance of interconnection in facilitating the seamless movement of content from gigawatt-scale facilities to the edge.

This episode features an interview with Bob DeSantis, CEO of 365 Data Centers. Bob shares his extensive background in the communications, technology and energy industries, and discusses how 365 Data Centers has evolved since he joined in 2017. The company has grown from 8 data centers to 20 fully interconnected facilities, and expanded its services to include a national fiber network, cloud regions, and managed services. Bob also shares his thoughts on the impact of AI on the data center industry, the importance of network connectivity, and 365's aggressive plans to gain market share in 2024. Tune in for an insightful discussion on the trends shaping the digital infrastructure landscape.

Justin Matney, Director of Resource Integration at Quantum Loophole, joins the program to discuss his role steering the company's decarbonization and sustainability initiatives. With degrees in physics and freshwater science research, Matney brings his lifelong passion for nature and the outdoors to develop the master-planned, 2,100 acre Quantum Frederick data center campus to be the world's first carbon-negative industrial site. Justin also discusses projects underway like the 600-acre nature reserve for new forests, stream restoration, trails, and more to buffer and improve the local environment.

This episode features a conversation with Brian Duffner, VP of Connectivity Solutions at fiber network provider Aureon, as he discusses his organization's connectivity and IT services offerings across Iowa. He also shares details about Aureon's 4,500 mile fiber network, differentiation selling to Iowa enterprises, and the importance of robust connectivity & security for businesses today. Discover how Aureon is assisting companies lacking IT resources, and preparing for future bandwidth demands.

Tune in for a conversation with Mike Underdown, President & CEO of Crosstown Fiber, a Chicago-based dark fiber network operator focused on providing state-of-the-art infrastructure to support the growing needs of hyperscale data centers, cloud, AI, and machine learning applications. Mike discusses the genesis of Crosstown Fiber, the challenges of building fiber infrastructure in a major city like Chicago, and the unprecedented demand for capacity driven by AI. He also shares his perspective on where communications technology may head next, with quantum computing as a potential disrupter on the horizon.