“As businesses push capabilities closer to data sources, micro data centres will proliferate across urban and industrial landscapes,” Ivo Ivanov, CEO of DE-CIX, has revealed.
“Orchestration of fibre, mobile, and satellite networks in an interconnected mesh will be essential to ensure reach everywhere. Innovative interconnection solutions at Internet Exchanges – from cloud and AI routing to exclusive private environments of selected partners – give companies sovereignty, control, and high-performance connectivity for every AI use case.”
Trend 1: Banking on the emotion AI paradox
According to the company, in the financial services market, 2026 will bring two seismic shifts. A new wave of emotionally adaptive AI promises more natural customer interactions.
As a result, the market for this technology is forecast to reach $9 billion by 2030. At the same time, US Open Banking rules will require banks to share data securely via standardised APIs, the company revealed.
“This combination of emotionally intelligent AI and embedded finance will accelerate innovation across fintechs and third-party platforms, but will also invite tighter regulatory scrutiny. Europe’s AI Act classifies Emotion AI as a “high-risk” technology, which may result in a regulatory paradox: more AI data but potentially less freedom to use it.
“Sovereign interconnection will be needed to handle sensitive financial, biometric, and emotional data,”, the company aded
Trend 2: Real-Time medicine and ‘care bots’
AI will advance healthcare by connecting ambulances, streaming high-resolution video, and sending patient data to doctors in real time.
Governments and hospitals are expanding test cases into large-scale programs, fuelling a healthcare connectivity market expected to grow from $95.3 billion in 2024 to $362.7 billion by 2030, powered by 5G, beyond 5G, and satellite networks.
Trend 3: Agentic AI goes mainstream in manufacturing
According to DE-CIX, in 2026, Agentic AI will manage entire industrial processes, from predictive maintenance to automated production. AI-enabled 3D printing will allow mass customisation, supporting hyper-localised micro-factories that reduce supply chain risks and carbon footprints.
“Even NASA is exploring autonomous 3D printing facilities on the Moon, to construct habitats and landing pads from local regolith – an extreme example of how AI-driven, location-agnostic production could reshape the future of industry,” the company noted.
Preparing for the AI-driven industry revolution with AI-ready infrastructure
Success in the AI-driven world will depend on networks as much as algorithms, DE-CIX stated.
“Ultra-low latency, secure data exchange, and seamless integration of fibre, mobile, and satellite networks will be critical to ensure services perform instantly and reliably.
“In 2026, demand for edge processing and micro data centres will accelerate as businesses push capabilities closer to data sources, creating interconnected urban and industrial hubs where data can be exchanged in real time,” DE-CIX concluded.
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