Speakers:

• Mai Barakat, research analyst – S&P Global (Chairperson)
• Brenden Rawle, senior director for business development – Equinix
• Mahesh Jaishankar, managing director – CMC Networks
• Maxime Anne-Archard, vice president, digital infrastructure development – Orange Wholesale International
• Omar Alsaied, GM, business development – Ciena
• Ambrogio Michetti, chief corporate & revenue officer – Sparkle

The data centre market is currently experiencing exponential growth, the infrastructure required to support it is struggling to keep pace.

​As new hubs emerge across the Gulf Cooperation Council region and existing sites expand rapidly, ensuring diverse, high-capacity connectivity has become the critical challenge facing the industry.

Speaking on a panel at Capacity Middle East 2026, senior executives from Ciena, Orange, Sparkle and CMC Networks revealed traditional models of network deployment are no longer fit for purpose in an era of AI-driven demand and hyperscale expansion.