For much of the past decade, discussions about economic competitiveness have focused on artificial intelligence, software platforms, and digital services. These technologies capture headlines and investment attention. Yet beneath every digital system lies a more fundamental requirement: the physical ability to move data reliably, quickly, and at scale.
Few people have seen this relationship from as many angles as Eyal Donath, a telecommunications and digital infrastructure strategist whose career spans European broadband operations, global investment strategy, and US network development. He began his career in Switzerland working within a major European cable operator, later contributed to infrastructure investment decisions at one of Europe's largest telecommunications groups, and has since focused on building and operating high-capacity networks in the United States.
'Technology often feels abstract', Donath says. 'But economic power still rests on physical systems. Networks take years to plan, permit, and build. They require long-term capital, engineering discipline, and patience. You cannot create that infrastructure on demand.'
As artificial intelligence evolves beyond centralised systems, this reality becomes more pronounced. The next phase of AI depends less on isolated computation and more on continuous interaction between users, devices, and distributed systems. As models move closer to real-world environments, performance is shaped not only by algorithms and compute, but by how reliably data can move across networks in real time.
In this emerging paradigm, connectivity is no longer a supporting input — it becomes a prerequisite.
Donath's understanding of connectivity began early. After high school in Switzerland, he worked in technical support for a major cable internet provider. The role gave him practical exposure to how broadband networks perform under real-world conditions, including service reliability, troubleshooting, and customer experience.
That operational foundation later informed his work in investment and strategy roles within a major European telecommunications group. In that environment, broadband networks are treated as national-scale assets and long-term businesses. Donath contributed to evaluating network operators and technology investments across multiple European markets, focusing on how infrastructure choices shape performance, economics, and long-term competitiveness.
Network planning is often tied to long-term policy goals and multi-year capital programs rather than short-term technology cycles.
'Connectivity shapes what communities can do economically and socially', Donath says. 'It affects productivity, access to services, and whether a region can compete in a digital economy. It is not only about speed — it is about reliability, reach, and resilience.'
Cloud services, artificial intelligence systems, remote work platforms, and digital commerce all rely on networks capable of moving large volumes of data reliably and continuously. Where that capability is limited, advanced software tools struggle to deliver meaningful results.
Source: International Business Times UK
