The 20th Datacloud Global Congress in Cannes, held June 3 to 5, 2025, brought together more than 4,500 digital infrastructure leaders to explore the future of data centers, cloud, AI, and sustainability. Over three impactful days at the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès, attendees participated in high-level discussions centered around AI-driven workloads, sustainable power solutions, and the need for scalable infrastructure.
The event’s agenda was packed with keynotes and panels from the boldest minds in the industry. Below are just a few highlighted speakers:
- Val Walsh, VP, Microsoft
- Otto Kreiter, Director Global Infrastructure, Google
- Chris Sharp, CTO, Digital Realty
- Dame Dawn Childs, CEO, Pure Data Centres Group
- Industry leaders from other major companies such as Coreweave, Groq, Huawei, Meta, NVIDIA, NTT, Oracle, and Vertiv contributed insights into innovation, capital investment, and talent development.
The scale and pace of change driven primarily by artificial intelligence (AI) emerging was the defining theme of the event. AI is now the dominant force behind data center demand, with projections that it will account for up to 75% of global capacity by 2030, a shift that is already reshaping investment, infrastructure buildout, and energy strategy across the sector. The industry’s reality is now measured in 100-megawatt increments, as hyperscale and AI workloads drive unprecedented expansion and rack densities, putting power consumption and sustainability at the top of every agenda.
Energy challenges have never been more acute. With data centers on track to draw as much power as entire nations like Japan, operators are urgently seeking alternatives to overtaxed traditional grids, including nuclear, solar, and wind, each with their own technical and regulatory hurdles. Power shortages and supply chain disruptions are now routine constraints as demand for rack space, equipment, and raw materials outpaces supply, a situation exacerbated by fierce global competition for talent and resources. The need for speed has also intensified. Projects are getting larger and timelines tighter, with operators under pressure to bring capacity online faster than ever before.
While the industry is moving rapidly, there was widespread caution about “Braggawatts” which was described as projects announced with great fanfare but lacking credible power agreements or planning consents. The consensus was clear: realistic, well-planned growth is essential to avoid overpromising and underdelivering in a sector already stretched to its limits.
Sustainability is no longer an option but a necessity. Every discussion reinforced that digital growth must be matched with meaningful climate action. Operational energy efficiency, embodied carbon reduction, and securing renewable power purchase agreements are now table stakes for responsible operators. The pressure on operators is not just internal. Public perception and regulatory scrutiny are increasingly shaping project timelines and delivery, reflecting a sector at a critical inflection point.
Collaboration is the new imperative. The complexity and scale of the infrastructure required for the AI era mean that no single company can proceed alone. Success now depends on partnerships across vendors, technology providers, and service companies to build the resilient, flexible ecosystems demanded by clients. The days of siloed operations are over. The future belongs to those who can integrate across the digital infrastructure ecosystem.
Datacloud Global Congress 2025 showed that the digital infrastructure industry is undergoing a major transformation. AI, sustainability, and smarter planning are not just themes, they are imperatives. To continue the conversation, Datacloud USA which will be colocated with Metro Connect, promises another great opportunity to unite the US data center, fiber, and energy markets. The event will take place in Austin, TX, September 16-17, 2025. Datacloud Global Congress will reconvene in Cannes from June 2-4, 2026, for what promises to be another milestone event in shaping the future of global connectivity.
To learn about Datacloud event series, visit: www.datacloudglobalcongress.com/datacloud-event-series
