2026: The Year AI, Silicon & Cyber Risk Reshape the Data Centre
By Matt Salter, Head of Data Centres, Onnec
At this time of year, the industry floods itself with reports, predictions, and recycled trend lists — so rather than add to the noise, here’s a clear perspective.
As we step into 2026, the IT landscape isn’t just evolving; it’s being fundamentally reset. This is the most consequential shift we’ve seen since the rise of hyperscale cloud, and it will reward organisations that act decisively while exposing those that hesitate.
For companies like Onnec, operating at the core of global digital infrastructure, developments across AI, semiconductors, regulation, and cybersecurity are not abstract trends or future considerations. They are immediate operational pressures, strategic inflection points, and the forces that will define competitive advantage — or irrelevance — over the next decade.
Here’s my thoughts on what the top 2026 tech developments mean for the data centre industry and how Onnec will support our customers in achieving that competitive advantage.
1. CES 2026 Proves “Physical AI” Is Here — And It Needs Infrastructure
The defining theme at CES 2026 was the shift from “AI hype” to AI in the physical world, with humanoid robots, AI‑driven devices and next‑gen AI PCs dominating the event. Nvidia and AMD’s keynotes highlighted the compute demands behind this wave of embodied intelligence.
What this means for Data Centres:
- Every leap in “physical AI” increases edge compute requirements, low‑latency connectivity, and high‑density rack designs.
- These systems rely on massive amounts of sensor, video, and telemetry data — all of which drives colocation expansion and AI‑optimised data halls.
- Infrastructure partners will need to build robot‑ready, GPU‑dense, liquid‑cooling capable environments.
For our customers, Onnec will continue to deliver next‑gen cabling, power, and connectivity systems engineered for AI robotics and automation workloads.
2. Google Pushes Gemini Deeper Into the Everyday — Signalling Even More AI Workloads Coming to DCs
Google’s major January rollouts — from Gemini summaries in Gmail to AI‑powered “deep dives” on Google TV — prove that AI is moving from niche to mainstream consumer use. These features require large‑scale inference running continuously behind the scenes.
Impact on the data centre ecosystem:
- Continuous inference → continuous compute demand.
- Consumer AI = unpredictable and spiky workloads → more demand for scalable, modular data centre builds.
- Large‑screen multimodal experiences (video, images, real‑time updates) dramatically increase inference‑GPU utilisation across cloud and edge.
For our customers, Onnec will deliver robust structured cabling, fibre, and power systems that support AI‑first workloads at cloud scale across Europe and the UK.
3. Microsoft’s 2026 Copilot Roadmap Sets the Tone for Enterprise AI — and Infrastructure Will Follow
Microsoft confirmed that Copilot enters its “Agent Mode” era in 2026, automating multi‑step workflows inside Microsoft 365 and pulling heavily on enterprise graph data. These enhancements begin rolling out from January and continue all year — alongside a global pricing shift in July.
Why this matters:
- Enterprise AI adoption is no longer experimental — it’s becoming universal.
- Every enterprise upgrade to Copilot means more AI‑assisted data creation, model orchestration, and storage growth inside customer environments.
- Hybrid Microsoft estates require low‑latency connectivity between on‑prem DCs and cloud regions.
For our customers, Onnec’s experience enables secure, high‑performance enterprise networks and data centres that can serve as the AI operating layer for UK and European organisations.
4. Semiconductors Enter a Supercycle — GPU & Memory Demand Will continue to Shape DC Build‑Outs
The semiconductor story of early 2026 is simple: demand remains red‑hot, especially for memory and AI‑specific components. Memory giants Samsung, Micron and SK Hynix lead global rallies, and the WSTS forecasts the global market approaching $975B in 2026.
What that means for the data centre sector:
- Chip supply is still tight → operators over‑provision and plan for larger fleets of AI servers.
- More GPUs and HBM memory means more heat, more power draw, and more advanced cooling .
- Hyperscalers and colos are accelerating expansions to capture AI demand before competitors do.
For our customers, Onnec engineering strengths will support one of the most aggressive periods of data centre construction and retrofitting in the last 20 years.
5. Cybersecurity Risk Dominates 2026 — Increasing Compliance & Resilience Demands on DC Operators
The Global Cybersecurity Outlook 2026 highlights rising AI‑enabled attacks, geopolitical fragmentation, and supply‑chain vulnerabilities.5
What this means for DC operators:
- Data centres must now be designed as zero‑trust physical + digital environments.
- Cabling, connectivity, and network architecture become part of the security posture.
- Organisations will pay a premium for partners who can design secure-by‑default infrastructure.
For our customers, Onnec will remain a trusted integrator capable of delivering secure, compliant, and resilient DC infrastructure — especially critical as AI expands attack surfaces.
2026 isn’t just another incremental year — it marks a structural shift. AI is now multimodal, embodied, and always-on, driving compounding demand for compute, storage, cooling, and connectivity, while enterprises integrate AI by default rather than experiment and face intensifying cyber and regulatory pressure.
For Onnec, operating at the intersection of infrastructure, integration, and innovation, our role is to help customers design, build, and connect AI-first data centres; adopt next-generation fibre, power optimisation, and liquid cooling technologies; and embed security-by-design as cyber risk escalates. We will continue to support hyperscalers, telcos, financial services, and large enterprises with the resilient, scalable digital infrastructure they need to deploy and scale AI with confidence.
About Onnec
Onnec is a leading Infrastructure Solutions and Services company for tech and enterprise, specialising in structured cabling, managed services, and network solutions. Our team of experienced designers, project managers, and engineers, supported by world-class vendor partnerships, delivers top-tier services and solutions.
Onnec’s expertise spans all data centre environments and can support customers with:
- Structured cabling design and installation
- Installation of cabling, ODFs, PDUs and containment solutions
- Network hardware installations, changes and support
- Connectivity and equipment upgrades and changes
- Smart Hands support services
