Covering Disruptive Technology Powering Business in The Digital Age

Written by: Khairul Haqeem, Journalist, AOPG.

At the recently held Data Centre and Cloud Infrastructure Summit KL 2023, I had the chance to engage in a tête-à-tête with Jeremy Deutsch, President, Asia-Pacific at Equinix. Armed with two decades of company loyalty and a career trajectory that has enabled him to see many facets of the Equinix business, Jeremy offered a deep dive into the evolution of Equinix, its ambitious global reach, and the role it plays in today’s hyper-digital world. It’s not every day you hear a Silicon Valley-based veteran admit that it all started because sending an email was too slow and too expensive, is it?

Back to the Silicon Genesis: An Unlikely Journey From Email to the Digital Hub”

The twists and turns of the tech industry have always had a touch of the absurd. It’s the kind of tale that would make even Lewis Carroll’s Mad Hatter do a double-take. One moment, two Californian tech aficionados are tinkering with the university email systems; the next, they’re inadvertently laying the foundation for the digital transformation of the world. That’s right, ladies and gentlemen, we’re telling the quirky tale of an email gone rogue.

Jeremy, a seasoned professional with an impressive two-decade tenure at a company he coyly refuses to name, reminisces about his early days in the industry. Back in the ’90s, he recalls the tech scene was rather different than it is today. This seasoned pro vividly remembers the genesis of a simple yet transformative idea – the Internet Exchange, sparked by two guys wrestling with an inconveniently roundabout email journey.

If you can believe it, sending an email from one university in California to another would mean an absurd detour via New York, the digital equivalent of fetching groceries from a neighbour by way of France. The solution was as brilliant as it was simple; an Internet Exchange that cut out the New York middleman, the first of its kind – the Palo Alto Internet Exchange. This was the seed that grew into what is now a global company with 245 international business exchanges.

It’s fascinating how an oddity in an email route could catalyse a company’s journey to the forefront of digital transformation, but life is strange that way.

The Data Frontier: From Ambient Computing to Sustainable Digital Twins

Transitioning to the current day, our taciturn tech-veteran Jeremy transitions to discuss the future trends that promise to revolutionise the tech landscape. While you might assume he’d rattle off a list of sci-fi-worthy gadgets, he instead focuses on sustainable growth, cloud services, and Artificial Intelligence (AI), with a special emphasis on the budding potential of ambient computing and 5G technology.

Take ambient computing, for instance. He draws upon a humble household thermostat to explain the concept. Imagine a thermostat that is digitally connected, aware of environmental variables, and able to intelligently manage temperature control, all the while coordinating with other IoT devices. A seemingly simple device, yet powered by a blend of IoT, machine-learning, and AI.

When this household example is scaled up, say to a factory floor teeming with interconnected devices, the potential of 5G comes into focus. The throughput and reduced latency provided by 5G technology allow richer applications to run across networks. It’s the backbone of IoT and ambient computing, opening up a world of digital twins, AI, and sustainability in data centre design.

Speaking of digital twins, this tech advances sustainability in data centre design by offering a digital sandbox to test architectural decisions before implementation. The impact is two-fold: faster, more efficient design processes and more robust, sustainable infrastructures.

Hurdling the IoT Javelin: Challenges and Solutions

Echoing Jeremy’s comments, the digital age brings a wave of intricate complexities. As more devices become interconnected, we are witnessing an emergence of an ambient computing environment where devices communicate with each other, impacting industries and shaping our future.

Yet, this evolution is not without its hurdles. One of the challenges emphasised by Jeremy is the architectural dilemma faced by many organisations. As the IoT movement continues to grow, businesses are grappling with the difficult task of seamlessly integrating their digital systems.

In Jeremy’s own words, “The key challenge for organisations is how do they architect so they can do that seamlessly from day one, and that they reduce the friction of bringing on a new service.” However, there is a silver lining in the face of these challenges – an all-encompassing, neutral interconnection platform like Equinix offers a solution.

In Jeremy’s witty comparison, “You can almost think of Equinix as your airport hub. All the different airlines will fly in and out. And when you’re walking through the transit lounge, that’s your opportunity to connect with everybody else and get your entire business interconnected at that hub location.”

Signing Off for The Day

Wrapping up the conversation, Jeremy pointed to the exciting future of Equinix in Malaysia, with the company’s first facility set to launch in Johor Bahru in the coming year. When asked why Johor Bahru, Jeremy responded with a simple yet powerful statement – “we go where our customers ask us to go.” This user-centric mindset, combined with a clear vision and ambitious goals, speaks volumes about Equinix’s commitment to empowering businesses in their digital transformation journeys.

As the world continues to embrace digital transformation, companies like Equinix are proving to be invaluable partners. In their role as facilitators of connectivity, they are the unsung heroes of our interconnected digital world. Armed with insights from leaders like Jeremy, businesses can navigate the evolving landscape with a sense of purpose and direction.

So, as we stand at the cusp of the digital revolution, it’s worth remembering that Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither will our fully connected, digital future. But with the right tools, partners, and a resilient mindset, we’re well on our way. After all, as Jeremy Deutsch rightly put it, “We are only at day one of our digital transformation journeys, and the opportunities and potential are limitless.”

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