Routing the road to 2026 | Ep.6

In episode 10 of Bits, Bytes & Beyond, Trent Blakely is joined by Omar Abi Issa, Global Sales Director – Blockchain, Web3 & AI at OVHcloud, to explore how blockchain infrastructure is evolving, what it takes to operate at scale and why network architecture has become a critical differentiator.Episode chapters:(00:00) Start(01:14) Intro(03:10) What are the most demanding network and infrastructure-centric workloads you’re seeing today?(11:13) How are organisations finding more ways to stay competitive? (19:16) What does healthy decentralisation look like in practice? What trade-offs do teams need to make between performance, cost and resilience?(28:22) When API and RPC providers are migrating from public cloud infrastructure to dedicated bare-metal clusters, what are the most critical architectural and networking shifts required to succeed?(36:36) What new requirements will this AI-blockchain convergence put on global networks over the next 1 to 5 years? (42:27) How do you see EU data‑sovereignty demands, open technologies, and multi‑cloud connectivity shaping the way we design that underlying network fabric?Additional resources:🔗 The Blockchain BlueprintLearn more about: 🌐 Console Connect🌐 OVHcloud📣 Be the first to hear new episodes via our newsletter ⁠⁠here.

The lines between cloud and network are fusing rapidly. What were once treated as separate domains, with compute on one side and connectivity on the other, are becoming increasingly aligned. Why has this changed and what does it mean for the future of connectivity? In episode 9 of Bits, Bytes & Beyond, Trent Blakely is joined by Daniel Healey, Senior Technical Partner Manager at PCCW Global, to explore how cloud providers and network service providers are coming together to improve end-to-end service delivery.Episode chapters: (00:00) Start(01:50) Intro(03:16) The shift we are seeing between cloud providers, NaaS platforms and service providers(05:24) How partnerships between cloud and service providers have changed(10:25) What impact we are seeing from the advent of AI(13:36) How buying end-to-end services has changed for customers(18:06) Looking ahead: Thoughts on what we can expect to seeLearn more about: 🌐 Console Connect🌐 PCCW Global📣 Be the first to hear new episodes via our newsletter ⁠⁠here.

The internet has enabled rapid IoT growth. But as deployments scale, so do the risks, hidden costs and complexity. How can enterprises design secure, scalable architectures without exposing traffic to the public internet? In Episode 8 of Bits, Bytes & Beyond, Trent Blakely sits down with Bart Coppens, Vice President Solutions Engineering at PCCW Global, to explore how private connectivity is reshaping IoT. From private APNs and programmable SDN to identity management without VPN sprawl, they unpack what it takes to build secure, future-ready architectures.Episode chapters: (00:00) Start(01:39) Intro(02:40) How do you design IOT solution architectures that can avoid traffic exposure to the public internet? (06:46) What trade-offs are becoming clear between cost, scalability, security and isolation? (09:00) Walk us through a real deployment where private connectivity solved a data security or compliance issue.(10:32) How is identity management done when you rely on private APNs and programmable SDN layers instead of VPN tunnels? (13:40) What are the most common challenges MNOs and MVNOs face when implementing out-of-the-box APNs(16:00) Can you speak to how Edge SIM was invented and delivered as a team? Learn more about: 🌐 Console Connect🌐 PCCW Global📣 Be the first to hear new episodes via our newsletter ⁠⁠here.

The WAN is at a crossroads. As AI, open standards and automation converge, the WAN is no longer just about moving packets. In episode 7 of Bits, Bytes & Beyond, Trent Blakely sits down with Pascal Menezes, CTO at Mplify, and Divesh Gupta, VP of Professional Services and Technology at PCCW Global, to unpack why the WAN is critical as enterprises and service providers race to support AI workloads, inference at the edge and globally distributed ecosystems.Episode chapters: (00:00) Start(01:12) Intro(03:04) With AI, open standards and automation converging, what shifts are you seeing in the industry? And what opportunities do these shifts create? (10:30) AI Inflection Point – AI-Agents, MCP servers, product payloads and LSO API Adaptors. How are these technologies enabling AI ­ready infrastructure and AI-ready WANs?(17:23) Where do gaps still exist? And how is this being addressed?(26:30) How are alliances like Mplify, Camara, GSMA accelerating standard-based API adoption, drawing parallels with other industries?(33:44) Where are service providers and enterprises most underestimating the operational or organisational challenges of building “AI-ready” WANs? How can leaders overcome these hurdles?Additional resources:🔗 GNE 2025 | Monetizing NaaS: New Revenue Strategies for Service Providers🔗 Mplify - Executives at the Edge - Plug-and-Play Network Integration: Adapting to Open ConnectivityLearn more about: 🌐 Console Connect🌐 Mplify📣 Be the first to hear new episodes via our newsletter ⁠⁠here.

With AI and other emerging technologies driving new demands, 2025 has accelerated network evolution, shaping a transformative 2026 ahead. In episode 6 of Bits, Bytes & Beyond, host Trent Blakely sits down with PCCW Global’s Chief Technology Officer, Paul Gampe, where they dive into three major trends set to reshape the global connectivity landscape: how Network as a Service (NaaS) is taking centre stage, the shift toward true transmission on-demand and the evolution of the Model Context Protocol (MCP).Episode chapters:(00:00) Start(01:08) Intro(02:00) Trend 1: NaaS is becoming more prominent(07:27) Trend 2: Transmission on-demand is a sought-after medium(12:17) Trend 3: Evolution of Model Context Protocol (MCP)Follow Bits, Bytes & Beyond, and us!📣 Be the first to hear new episodes via our newsletter here.💬 PCCW Global LinkedIn💬 Console Connect LinkedInLearn more about: 🌐⁠ PCCW Global⁠🌐⁠ Console Connect⁠

Last mile connectivity has always been the most challenging, and as bandwidth demands grow and applications move closer to users, it isn’t getting any easier.In episode 5 of Bits, Bytes & Beyond, host Trent Blakely sits down with Shaheen Kalla, Presales Team Lead at PCCW Global, to unpack why the last mile remains such a complex piece of the puzzle, how it’s changed and where it’s headed. Episode chapters:(00:00) Start(01:07) Intro(03:08) What's the single biggest unsolved problem in last mile connectivity that you faced?(12:36) When designing resilience into the last mile, what trade-offs or creative solutions have actually worked, and which have failed? (19:52) How has the shift to cloud and SaaS changed the way you approach last‑mile connectivity compared to the old data‑centre model? (23:53) How else have you seen the last mile change over the last 5 to 10 years?(26:09) Do you see technologies like 5G or Leo satellites as realistic last mile replacements in enterprise environments or only as niche backups? (31:33) If you had a blank slate, how would you reimagine the last mile for today’s distributed workforce and hybrid cloud world?(37:34) Final thoughtsFollow Bits, Bytes & Beyond, and us!📣 Be the first to hear new episodes via our newsletter by subscribing ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠.💬 ⁠⁠⁠⁠PCCW Global LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠💬 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Console Connect LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠Learn more about what we do! 🌐 ⁠⁠⁠⁠PCCW Global⁠⁠⁠⁠🌐 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Console Connect

Peering has long been the foundation of how networks exchange traffic, yet its role is rapidly evolving.Episode 4 of Bits, Bytes & Beyond features Trent Blakely in conversation with Richard Petrie, Chief Technology Officer at LINX, on the future of peering. From data sovereignty and automation to the edge and AI, they explore how peering is transforming to keep pace with shifting demands, breakthrough technologies, and new business models.Episode chapters:(00:00) Start(01:15) Intro(02:57) How has the role of peering evolved over the last 10 years?(06:07) What are the differences between public, private and remote peering?(11:21) What are the use cases for data sovereignty and keeping traffic local?(13:18) Is traditional peering still valuable in a world where CDNs, hyperscalers, and cloud interconnects dominate traffic?(17:57) What is the role of automation and software-defined networking in modern peering strategies?(24:30) How can engineers measure the effectiveness and ROI of peering?(28:59) What do you see on the horizon for peering?(34:53) How are paid peering, hybrid peering, and peering-as-a-service changing the landscape?(40:57) Final thoughts?Follow Bits, Bytes & Beyond, and us!📣 Be the first to hear new episodes via our newsletter by subscribing ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠.💬 ⁠⁠⁠PCCW Global LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠💬 ⁠⁠⁠Console Connect LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠Learn more about what we do! 🌐 ⁠⁠⁠PCCW Global⁠⁠⁠🌐 ⁠⁠⁠Console Connect

From enabling networks to deploy services instantly, to connecting systems across continents, APIs are essential for businesses to adapt quickly and operate efficiently. In episode 3 of Bits, Bytes & Beyond, Trent Blakely is joined by Lawrence Lim, SVP of Software Development, PCCW Global and Diego Neto, Director of Digital Enablement, euNetworks to explore The API Effect - why application programming interfaces are now central to how networks are designed, managed, and evolved.Episode chapters:(00:00) Start(01:15) Intro(03:53) Why are APIs and compatibility a top criteria for network engineers when they're evaluating network solutions? (08:12) How are we applying these APIs in our everyday engagements with customers or with partners? (16:06) How do standards like MEF LSO APIs and open API support interoperability?(28:32) How can a network engineer leverage APIs to really self-manage and optimise their WAN services?(40:20) How do APIs support emerging these emerging trends like AI and MML, you know, edge computing?Follow Bits, Bytes & Beyond, and us!📣 Be the first to hear new episodes via our newsletter by subscribing ⁠⁠here⁠⁠.💬 ⁠⁠PCCW Global LinkedIn⁠⁠💬 ⁠⁠Console Connect LinkedIn⁠⁠Learn more about what we do! 🌐 ⁠⁠PCCW Global⁠⁠🌐 ⁠⁠Console Connect

Routing issues might not make headlines but when things go wrong, they can take down chunks of the internet. In episode 2, Trent Blakely is joined by Paul Gampe, CTO of PCCW Global, and George Michaelson, recently retired Senior Research Scientist at APNIC, to dig into the fundamentals of routing security. They break down the risks of today’s global routing infrastructure, how initiatives like MANRS help clean things up, and why securing BGP matters more than ever.Episode chapters:(00:00) Start(01:37) Intro(04:24) Why routing security matters more than ever today(08:38) Real world problems that MANRS is designed to prevent(11:11) What RPKI is(16:56) Real world problems that MANRS is designed to prevent (network operator perspective)(21:43) How tools like PeeringDB or the Observatory fit impact routing policy(25:33) What it looks like when a network operator implements MANRS, including practical steps(32:11) Final thoughts - Advice for peers on implementing routing securityFollow Bits, Bytes & Beyond, and us!📣 Be the first to hear new episodes via our newsletter by subscribing ⁠here⁠.💬 ⁠PCCW Global LinkedIn⁠💬 ⁠Console Connect LinkedIn⁠Learn more about what we do! 🌐 ⁠PCCW Global⁠🌐 ⁠Console Connect

When you're working with multiple cloud providers (especially the big three), it’s easy to assume everything will connect smoothly. But as many teams learn, that’s not always the case. In this episode, Trent Blakely is joined by Jay Turner, SVP of Product Planning and Development at PCCW Global, to unpack the hidden pitfalls of multi-cloud deployments. They explore overlooked connectivity issues, how to catch failures before they happen, and share real-world lessons on quirks across AWS, Google Cloud, and Azure.Episode chapters(00:00) Start(01:09) Intro(06:22) AWS: Prefix advertisement limitation(10:23) Google Cloud: Limited VPC peering across projects (13:21) AWS: Elastic Load Balancers (ELB) limitations on maximum connections(16:20) AWS: Limited networking features in VPC peering(20:18) Azure: Public IP address restrictions(25:56) Azure: No native support for multi-cloud network integrationFollow Bits, Bytes & Beyond, and us!📣 Be the first to hear new episodes via our newsletter by subscribing here.💬 PCCW Global LinkedIn💬 Console Connect LinkedInLearn more about what we do! 🌐 PCCW Global🌐 Console Connect