The New Rules of Network Design: RETN at Capacity Europe 2026

At Capacity Europe 2026 in London, RETN CEO Tony O’Sullivan joined industry leaders from Amazon Web Services (AWS), Tata Communications and Orange Wholesale for a panel discussion on “The New Rules of Network Design”.

Here are some of the key takeaways:

• Power constraints are redrawing the network map: Traditional core European metro hubs (FLAP) face severe power limitations. Critical network growth and infrastructure investments are expanding outward into outlying cities and regional extremes where power remains accessible.
• Winning with AI means winning with power: AI workloads run continuously without peak/off-peak cycles, requiring 24/7 high-capacity availability with zero downtime. Proper network design and strategic planning can unlock massive power-efficiency gains.
• AI is squeezing the hardware supply chain: Surge in demand driven by AI is creating acute bottlenecks in securing optical transport hardware, making obtaining DWDM equipment to deliver new capacity extremely difficult. However, a well-designed network can also scale DWDM capacity rapidly across existing routes, helping operators make better use of infrastructure already in place.
• Sovereignty is becoming a national security issue: Digital sovereignty has evolved from a regulatory requirement into a core element of network design and a national security concern. Legacy subsea chokepoints prove that relying solely on fixed subsea cable maps is an outdated approach, driving the need for terrestrial routing and risk-based diversity.
• Build for uncertainty, not just short-term efficiency: Providers must be transparent about the cost of failure and educate customers on true network resiliency. While investing in robust terrestrial infrastructure appears more expensive on day one, building for tomorrow pays off through higher customer retention and long-term transit growth.
• Full control and customer-centricity: Maintaining direct operational control, having engineers, equipment, and stock in place, is critical to protecting customer service quality when disruptions happen.
• Consortia can help deliver more resilient networks: Sharing the cost of major subsea cable investments through consortium models can make large-scale infrastructure more viable while supporting greater route diversity and resilience. However, coordination between multiple parties can slow delivery, making clear responsibilities and timelines essential.
• Industry collaboration is essential: Overcoming complex challenges around permitting, regulatory environments, and network resilience requires greater transparency and ecosystem-wide collaboration.

Thanks to Rajesh Sennik, from Roland Berger for moderating the panel.