What is Behind the Rise of Sovereign Digital Infrastructure?

The rapid rise of sovereign digital infrastructure is no accident.

It is the result of converging pressures, which are regulatory, geopolitical and technological. These are redefining how and where data is stored, processed and controlled.

As governments are tightening data protection laws and are prioritising national resilience, organisations are being pushed to rethink their infrastructure strategies.

Data sovereignty is now a core requirement for many operators working in a world where data underpins economic growth, while the increase of AI workloads has intensified the need for trusted, localised environments.

At Data Centre LIVE: The London Summit, the Sovereign Data Centres panel will explore what is truly driving this shift.

The session will unpack the key forces behind the rise of sovereign digital ecosystems, from policy frameworks and national security concerns to cloud innovation and infrastructure investment.

Yash Issur delivers insights on growth markets

Yash Issur, the CEO of Nxtra, Airtel Africa's data centre subsidiary, represents the front line of sovereign infrastructure expansion in emerging markets.

With extensive experience building and operating data centres globally, Issur has been instrumental in bringing digital infrastructure to regions where local capacity was previously limited.

His work highlights one of the central drivers of sovereignty: the need to develop in-region infrastructure that supports economic growth while maintaining control over data.

His background at Amazon Web Services, where he led data centre procurement, portfolio and risk, adds a hyperscale perspective to the discussion.

On the panel, Yash will examine how emerging markets are accelerating the sovereignty agenda and why localisation is becoming a strategic necessity.

Why sovereign data is important in defence environments

The rise of sovereign digital infrastructure is closely tied to national security and trust.

Martin Hosken, Technical Director for Defence and Intelligence at Red Hat, helps shape cloud strategies that meet the strictest requirements for data protection and operational integrity. In defence and intelligence environments, sovereignty is fundamental for utmost security.

Martin’s experience connects technological innovation with policy and ethics, reflecting another key driver of sovereignty: the need for transparent, accountable systems in an increasingly data-driven world.

His insights will focus on how sovereign cloud models are evolving to balance innovation with control, and how open source ecosystems can support secure, regionally governed infrastructure.

Matt Tebay: sovereignty as a competitive cloud differentiator

From a commercial perspective, Matt Tebay, Director of Enterprise Business at OVHcloud, sees sovereignty as a defining trend reshaping the cloud market.

As organisations navigate complex regulatory environments, the ability to offer compliant, locally controlled cloud solutions is a key competitive differentiator.

Customers are now prioritising trust, transparency and data control over factors like scale or cost.

Matt's experience in driving enterprise strategy and growth highlights how sovereignty is influencing investment decisions and shaping new service models across the industry.

At the summit, he will explore how cloud providers are adapting to meet these demands, and why sovereignty is becoming central to long-term competitiveness.

How policy and Europe’s digital agenda align

Michael Winterson, Secretary General of the European Data Centre Association, brings a policy-led perspective to the discussion: another critical force behind the rise of sovereign infrastructure.

With decades of experience across the European technology sector, he now works closely with policymakers and industry stakeholders to ensure that data centres are recognised as essential digital infrastructure.

His work reflects the growing influence of regulation in shaping the industry, from data protection laws to broader digital sovereignty initiatives across Europe.

Michael will offer insight into how policy frameworks are driving investment in sovereign data centres, and why collaboration between governments and industry is essential to building resilient, regionally controlled ecosystems.

Join us in London

Join us at Exhibition White City in London on 20-21 May for Data Centre LIVE: The London Summit.

Attendees will gain practical insight from industry experts, hear real-world case studies and connect with peers and key decision-makers who are turning heads in the future of data centres.

Click here to guarantee your ticket for this unmissable event.