As the UK accelerates its AI and digital ambitions, the country’s ageing fibre infrastructure risks becoming a major constraint. Lee Myall, CEO of Neos Networks, has warned that the UK’s core fibre network—much of it installed in the early 2000s—must undergo radical modernisation to meet the demands of high-bandwidth, low-latency AI workloads.
Data centre development is expanding rapidly, with the sector expected to double by 2028. While London, Slough and Hemel Hempstead remain central hubs, new facilities are emerging in Northumberland, Wales and Oxford, driven by land and power constraints in the South East and the need to process data closer to users. The rise of edge computing is also dispersing demand, placing new pressure on network infrastructure. One landmark example is Blackstone’s £10 billion hyperscale data centre in Northumberland, expected to create hundreds of jobs and stimulate local economic growth. However, such projects highlight the growing strain on regional power grids and underline the need for co-located energy and digital infrastructure—especially near renewable sources to reduce environmental impact.
Despite these advances, the UK’s legacy fibre routes are struggling to support a decentralised, high-demand digital landscape. Edge data centres supporting AI inference, IoT and real-time services require more resilient, distributed connectivity than the current network was designed to provide.
Government action has begun to reflect the strategic value of digital infrastructure. Data centres are now recognised as critical national infrastructure, a designation that enables greater protections and more streamlined planning. A new critical infrastructure team within government, announced by Science and Technology Secretary Peter Kyle, will coordinate efforts to secure and support these developments. Major private investments, including Amazon Web Services’ £8 billion expansion, are reinforcing this momentum. Yet Myall argues that these efforts must be matched by a complete rethinking of the UK’s core network architecture. He calls for new long-haul routes to connect emerging regions, upgrades to existing fibre, and a shift towards a flexible, decentralised model that can serve both hyperscale and edge demands. Regulatory reform is also essential. Ofcom’s efforts to foster competition and reduce the dominance of BT’s Openreach by 2031 are seen as key to unlocking innovation and investment.
Community concerns remain a critical factor. Protests in areas such as Abbots Langley reflect fears over greenbelt encroachment, resource use and limited local benefits. These issues underscore the need for developers and policymakers to engage more transparently and ensure that digital growth aligns with community values and environmental goals.
With AI adoption accelerating, the resilience of the UK’s digital backbone will determine its ability to compete globally. Achieving this will require joined-up thinking across energy and network planning, smarter regulation, and deep public-private collaboration. If executed successfully, the UK can become a global leader in AI infrastructure—delivering not only national growth but meaningful regional empowerment.
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