Data Center POST Interview with Phill Lawson-Shanks, chief innovation officer of EdgeConneX®
Q&A with Contributing Editor, Kathy Xu
EdgeConneX chief innovation officer Phill Lawson-Shanks has been at the forefront of designing and deploying industry leading data center and network solutions in both the UK and the U.S. for more than 25 years. Prior to joining EdgeConneX, Phill was CTO of Virtacore where he responsible for data center build-out and network core architecture and systems to accommodate the migration and consolidation of thousands of clients and infrastructure. Phill’s team also designed and deployed the world’s largest VMware-based public cloud. A true innovator, he holds eight active technology patents, including four in the U.S. and four in Europe.
Data Center POST recently had the opportunity to sit down with Phill and discuss what new developments we can expect from EdgeConneX this year, the emerging technologies he predicts will shape the future of the industry, and his company’s attendance at International Telecoms Week 2018, taking place May 6-9 in Chicago.
Data Center POST Kathy Xu (DCP-KX) Question: Are you seeing Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning deployed or in the planning stages of deployment in your business?
EdgeConneX, Phill Lawson-Shanks (ECX-PLK) Answer: Yes, many Big Data and IoT applications require back-end computation to happen seamlessly with practically no latency. The disruptive power of industrial and consumer IoT applications such as robotic manufacturing, autonomous vehicles, augmented reality and machine learning are all dependent on unprecedented amounts of data being transferred and processed near-instantaneously. Edge Data Centers will enable these applications, especially in underserved Tier II and III markets.
DCP-KX Q: What exciting new developments and initiatives can we anticipate from EdgeConneX in 2018?
ECX-PLK A: EdgeConneX has been aggressively expanding its global network of Edge Data Centers. We just recently announced our first Edge Data Center in Buenos Aires that will provide underserved regions in South America with high-quality, low-latency content delivery, cloud access and international interconnectivity in an N+1 and carrier neutral facility. We also have expansions currently planned for Amsterdam and Dublin, and ten more regions under consideration across Europe. Our multi-cloud service offerings have also been rolling out across the EdgeConneX network, after launching at our Portland EDC in October.
DCP-KX Q: What technologies do you see changing and shaping the industry and how?
ECX-PLK A: Consumer demand for rich content is growing and performance expectations are increasing at the same time, so there is constant pressure on networks to satisfy intensive traffic requirements with the lowest possible latency. The best way to do that is to decrease the distance between Points of Presence and end users. With 5G, the expectations and capacities will be even higher, so delivering content from the Edge is going to be increasingly necessary to ensure the fastest delivery of bandwidth-intensive, latency sensitive content and applications to local consumers.
DCP-KX Q: Why is ITW 2018 such an important industry event for your company?
As the one of the largest annual meetings for the global wholesale telecoms industry, ITW 2018 provides EdgeConneX with the opportunity to connect with new customers and partners and reconnect with existing customers from around the globe. It’s also a chance to take the pulse of the industry, hear about stakeholders’ concerns and challenges, and participate in knowledge sharing with our peers.
DCP-KX Q: Thank you for spending some time with Data Center POST today, and best wishes at ITW 2018. To learn more about EdgeConneX, please visit www.edgeconnex.com. To request a meeting with EdgeConneX during ITW, please click here.
