Melbourne Interconnect World 2025

The environmental, social and governance responsibilities which form the basis of ‘sustainability’ are continually evolving in terms of their measurement, management and delivery  What are the key learnings from the history of sustainability so far across digital infrastructure?  What are the successes and achievements, and the areas where improvement may be required?

Digitalisation is ushering in a new era across many forms of technology and infrastucture. How is it impacting connectivity, telco and comms services and networks in terms of planning, design, research & development, network roll-out, operation? Which are the key areas of innovation that will take connectivity forward and which are the key areas and issues left for future innovation?

Most of the major forms of digital infrastructure play a number of key roles in interconnectivity – by connecting networks and cloud services, by housing resources that need to be connected to other data centers and resources and in connecting local networks and devices to the internet.   There are many permutations for deployment – how do you choose the best option for your requirements and what are the key questions to ask?

Figures on the total power consumption of the telco and network sector vary but estimates for 2023 tend towards around 4%-5% of Australia’s total electricity consumption. The decentralised and tech-intensive nature of the services provided may represent a challenge in terms of sustainability considerations. What are realistic and achievable objectives that can be set for different industry services and activities?

The satellite communication market in Australia and New Zealand has achieved considerable growth over the past five years and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 11.5% and almost double in value by 2029 according to Mordor Intelligence.  While defense/military and broader security applications have driven the sector, the capabilities provided have moved increasingly into public connectivity, initially in regions and situations underserviced by terrestrial networks.  How will the delivery of connectivity by the 3 main types of satellite provider play out against terrestrial options over the next few years?

The increasing use of data in improving strategy, operations and planning represents a positive and beneficial step for most organizations. Yet the processes of data generation, storage and distribution may increase or change the digital risk profile for the organisation. The possibility  of a mistake in configurations, the exposure of sensitive data and applications and the speed of change all create a new threat landscape against which  existing defenses may no longer be effective . In this session, we will take a close look at real-world case studies on cyber-attacks on infrastructure and systems and appropriate response actions.

This psneil will look at key emerging requirements impacting connectivity infrastructure such as the demand for higher speeds and lower latency connectivity solutions, advances in networking technologies and the rise of edge computing. How will the considerations when planning, designing and building the connectivity eco-system change?  What will be the impacts on the resulting network and equipment?

As the digital economy moves forward, investment opportunities in critical infrastructure are more plentiful than ever. This panel looks at the strategic investments which have shaped Australia’s connectivity landscape, from 5G networks and extensive terrestrial and subsea fiber optic systems to cell tower expansions and edge computing infrastructure. Industry leaders and investors will discuss the factors driving growth in these technologies, the challenges of scaling network infrastructure, and the regulatory conditions influencing investment decisions.

Over five years since its introduction, has 5G lived up to expectations and promises? Where has it excelled, where has it not? What can be learned for the launch of future generations and for the roll out of technologies and telecommunication initiatives?

The past few years have confirmed the increasing importance of telecommunications to economies and societies across the world. As transformations of economies and societies continue to accelerate, which growth drivers will assume greatest importance for telecommunications in Australia? What will telecomms, network and associated companies need to consider to capitalise on mega-trends? And what possible challenges do they bring?

Connectivity is one of the key requirements for colocation and cloud as they act as key enablers of the digital age. Data and services are transmitted to and from (other) data centers, to intermediaries and end-consumers across the world and, in some cases, beyond it.  The expectation is of lower latency, greater reliability and higher speed. As cloud, colocation and hybrid infrastructure continue to diversify services and increase their share of digital infrastructure across Australia, how well are each of these options prepared for the demands of an era based increasingly on connectivity?