In this episode of IT SPARC Cast – News Bytes, John Barger & Lou Schmidt break down a week where enterprise IT collided with energy policy, nuclear power, and outer space. UniFi Network 10.1 pushes further into enterprise territory with improved scalability and Wi-Fi visibility. Meanwhile, the White House explores voluntary agreements to manage rising energy costs from AI data centers.

Then things escalate: hyperscalers begin signing real contracts for next-generation nuclear power, and Elon Musk gets serious about orbital data centers—suggesting that the future of compute may extend beyond the planet. If you’re tracking AI infrastructure, network evolution, and the power constraints shaping the industry, this episode connects the dots.

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⏱️ Show Notes

00:00 – Intro

John and Lou preview a week dominated by UniFi upgrades, federal energy discussions, nuclear power tipping points, and serious momentum toward data centers in space.

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📰 News Bytes

00:44 – UniFi Network 10.1

Ubiquiti releases UniFi Network 10.1 with major stability and scalability improvements, Wi-Fi Doctor diagnostics, UI refinements, enhanced policy visibility, and optimizations for Wi-Fi 7 and multi-gig deployments. The hosts discuss why UniFi continues its march toward true enterprise credibility while remaining accessible for SMB and prosumer environments.

https://blog.ui.com/article/introducing-unifi-network-10-1 

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05:13 – White House Eyes Data Center Agreements Amid Energy Price Spikes

As AI data center expansion drives regional energy price pressure, the White House explores voluntary agreements with major tech companies to shift infrastructure costs away from consumers. The conversation explores the economics of AI growth, the inevitability of nuclear power, and whether energy becomes the defining constraint of the AI race.

https://www.politico.com/news/2026/02/09/trump-administration-eyes-data-center-agreements-amid-energy-price-spikes-00772024 

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09:02 – Next-Gen Nuclear’s Tipping Point: Meta and Hyperscalers Sign Deals

Meta and other hyperscalers begin signing legally binding agreements with next-generation nuclear companies like TerraPower and Oklo. John and Lou explain why signed contracts—not press releases—mark the true tipping point for small modular reactors powering AI infrastructure.

https://www.aol.com/articles/next-gen-nuclear-tipping-point-214209248.html 

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11:34 – Elon Musk Gets Serious About Orbital Data Centers

Following strategic moves linking xAI and SpaceX, Musk pivots attention toward orbital and lunar infrastructure. The hosts unpack the logic behind space-based data centers, cooling challenges, Starlink integration, and why the economics may be less crazy than they first appear.

https://techcrunch.com/2026/02/05/elon-musk-is-getting-serious-about-orbital-data-centers/ 

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🔁 Wrap Up

18:59 – Mail Bag

Listener Jonah questions whether massive AI infrastructure financing signals a bubble. John and Lou explain why AI demand is currently compute-constrained—not hype-driven—and why any financial correction would look very different from the dot-com era.

21:52 – Wrap Up

Final thoughts on nuclear inevitability, orbital infrastructure, and the reality that energy—not chips—may define the next decade of enterprise IT.

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🔗 Connect With Us

IT SPARC Cast

@ITSPARCCast on X

https://www.linkedin.com/company/sparc-sales/

John Barger

@john_Video on X

https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnbarger/

Lou Schmidt

@loudoggeek on X

https://www.linkedin.com/in/louis-schmidt-b102446/

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