Paper authored by Colt CEO Keri Gilder provides critical insights into AI infrastructure requirements, leadership and vision
Colt Technology Services (Colt), the global digital infrastructure company, today published a white paper entitled ‘Supporting AI in the UK: a White Paper to government’ which outlines key steps to unlock AI’s potential as a growth driver. The paper, authored by Colt’s CEO Keri Gilder in conjunction with EY, highlights the transformative opportunities presented by AI and offers actionable steps for the UK to harness AI’s power and potential. The document also outlines the risks presented by a failure to act fast, suggesting the UK could be relegated to a ‘secondary player in the global economy’.
By facilitating critical infrastructure upgrades, fostering a supportive regulatory environment, leveraging regional strengths and cultivating a highly skilled workforce, the UK Government can deliver outcomes that will strengthen the AI ecosystem, promote adoption across sectors and position the UK as a global innovation leader without the need to negatively impact public funding, Colt believes.
As a trusted digital infrastructure leader, Colt’s vantage point across the global technology industry – alongside its track-record in building secure, sustainable, next-generation fibre networks which are fundamental to the AI economy – leaves it well positioned to share experience and insight. Author and CEO Keri Gilder has an engineering background and is one of the most recognised and respected leaders in the international telecoms world.
The Colt paper outlines four ways it believes the government should act to help reposition the UK as an AI superpower:
- Shape a supportive environment: establish robust, pro-innovation regulation and a streamlined planning processes to create a stable policy environment for AI
- Facilitate cross-sector coordination: act as a unifying force by harmonising policies, identifying synergies and addressing varying sectoral requirements
- Maximise strategic leadership and vision: champion AI adoption, identify sectoral opportunities, and showcase public sector best practices to build confidence in AI
- Enable flexible funding support: leverage fiscal tools, targeted R&D funding, and flexible mechanisms to unlock private investment and drive innovation
Commenting on the paper, Keri said, “AI has the potential to transform the UK’s socioeconomic growth – to drive lasting change which brings together public and private investment, talent and insight to improve lives and protect the environment. The UK government’s AI Opportunities Plan is a significant step forward in reaching this potential with clear and decisive measures, but we need to see this plan prioritised and accelerated. We need to keep the question of sustainability and power consumption high on the agenda and we must make sure the plan solves rather than reinforces digital exclusion.”
She continued, “Our goal behind this paper is to share the deep insights and experience we’ve gained as a vital part of the UK’s digital ecosystem, and to encourage conversations which explore ways the UK can capitalise on the AI revolution and drive remarkable, lasting change.”
Download ‘Supporting AI in the UK: a White Paper to government’ here.
The paper responds directly to five of the 50 recommendations presented to the UK government by the Prime Minister’s AI Opportunities Advisor, Matt Clifford, which have been integrated into the AI Opportunities Action Plan announced in January. These recommendations include:
- A response to Recommendation 1: Set out, within 6 months, a long-term plan for the UK’s AI infrastructure needs, backed by a 10-year investment commitment. As the largest business-to-business fibre infrastructure provider in Europe, Colt has unrivalled experience building the kinds of digital infrastructure required to unlock AI’s potential in the UK. To turbocharge this, Colt calls for a streamlined planning process for critical AI infrastructure, while offering the Government its knowledge and expertise to advise on the digital connectivity deployment and data centre modernisation needed to safeguard the UK’s competitive advantage in the global AI race.
- A response to Recommendation 4: Establish AI Growth Zones (AIGZs) to accelerate the buildout of AI data centres. With a footprint of connected data centres across Europe and Asia, Colt has a comprehensive view of the optimal sites and conditions for digital infrastructure installation. Colt strongly advocates for strategically locating the AIGZs in regions rich in renewable energy, robust communications infrastructure and with a strong potential for regional economic growth. Leveraging its expertise, Colt can play a pivotal role in helping identify and develop AIGZs in places that will attract further private investment into the UK.
- A response to Recommendation 5: Mitigate the sustainability and security risks of AI infrastructure, while positioning the UK to take advantage of opportunities to provide solutions. Colt is on a journey to build a leaner, more energy-efficient global network. With its expertise in modernising digital infrastructure and commitment to net-zero emissions, Colt is ideally positioned to help the Government explore a wide range of sustainability solutions for AI infrastructure, from reforming power-purchase agreements (PPAs), to identifying key energy efficiency investments, or capturing waste heat from data centres to serve district heating networks.
- A response to Recommendation 6: Agree international compute partnerships with like-minded countries to increase the types of compute capability available to researchers and catalyse research collaborations. Through its partnership with Lumen Technologies, Colt offers unmatched global connectivity via the world’s No.1 Autonomous System (AS). This advanced infrastructure, including high-capacity IP transit ports in the major European hubs, enables faster, more reliable access to the global networks needed to forge international compute partnerships and drive AI innovation through strengthened cross-border research collaborations.