When the World Talks Connectivity, Portugal Is in the Room
There are events that confirm trends, and then there are events that make you realise the trend is already happening faster than expected. SIS 2026 was clearly the second.
Over the past years, I have had the opportunity to attend conferences across different parts of the world, from Asia to the Middle East, from Central Europe to the United States. In all of them, certain topics kept coming back. Data. Energy. Connectivity. Artificial intelligence. But what I felt during SIS 2026 was different. These topics are no longer separate discussions. They are converging into one single system. And Portugal is now part of that system.
From the very first sessions, it became clear that global connectivity is entering a new phase. Subsea cables are no longer just infrastructure projects linking continents. They are strategic assets. They define how data moves, how economies connect and, increasingly, how geopolitical influence is exercised. The conversations around new routes, redundancy, resilience and security reflect a world that is becoming more dependent on digital flows than ever before.
Portugal’s position in this landscape is unique. Sitting on the Atlantic, with direct access to Europe, Africa and the Americas, it is naturally positioned as a gateway. But what is changing is that this geographic advantage is now being actively used. It is no longer passive.
What I heard repeatedly during the sessions was not just interest in Portugal, but strategic intent.
The role of data centres was another central theme, and here the shift is even more visible. The demand for computing power is accelerating at a pace that very few predicted just a few years ago. Artificial intelligence is driving this growth, but it is not the only factor. Cloud, digital services, automation and data-driven economies are all contributing to a structural increase in demand.
But what stood out most is that the conversation is no longer about “if” we need more data centres. It is about “where” and “how fast” they can be built.
This is where energy enters the equation.
One of the most recurring discussions was around power availability. Not just access to energy, but access to sustainable, reliable and scalable energy. Data centres are becoming one of the most energy-intensive infrastructures in the world, and without the right energy mix, projects simply cannot move forward.
Portugal, once again, sits in a privileged position.
With a strong base of renewable energy, a stable grid and increasing investment in capacity, the country offers something that many other European markets are struggling to provide. This is not just an environmental advantage. It is a business advantage.
From my own experience working closely with energy and infrastructure projects, I can say that energy is now the first question asked in any serious investment discussion. Everything else comes after.
Another interesting layer that came out of the discussions was the role of artificial intelligence itself in shaping infrastructure. AI is not just a consumer of data. It is also becoming a tool to manage networks, optimise energy usage and improve operational efficiency. This creates a feedback loop where infrastructure supports AI, and AI improves infrastructure.
This level of integration was not theoretical in the discussions. It was practical. Immediate. Already happening.
At the same time, there was a clear awareness of the challenges ahead. Regulation, permitting, timelines and coordination between different stakeholders were repeatedly mentioned as potential bottlenecks. The speed at which the private sector is ready to move is not always matched by administrative processes.
This is a critical point for Portugal.
Because attracting attention is one thing. Converting that attention into projects is another.
The opportunity is clear. The conditions are there. But execution will define whether Portugal becomes a long-term hub or just a temporary hotspot.
What I found particularly interesting was the growing shift from national thinking to regional thinking. Iberia is increasingly seen as a single platform. Portugal and Spain are no longer competing in isolation, but rather complementing each other in a broader strategy. This opens new opportunities but also increases the need for coordination and positioning.
Looking at the bigger picture, SIS 2026 confirmed something that I have been writing about for some time. The global economy is being rebuilt around three fundamental pillars: energy, data and connectivity.
Countries that can position themselves at the intersection of these pillars will define the next decade.
Portugal is getting closer to that intersection.
But this is not the end of the journey.
It is just the beginning.