I will once again have the privilege of being present, not only as an observer, but as a teller of the stories that intersect there, the conversations that inspire and the partnerships that are born. I am proud to return to an event that places Portugal at the center of the dialogue on the digital future of the Atlantic and the world.

Organized by DE-CIX, in partnership with MEO Wholesale Solutions, Atlas Edge, EllaLink, CAMTEL and Interfiber Networks, Atlantic Convergence is more than a technology conference. It is a meeting space between Europe, Africa and the Americas, where the forces that are redefining our time are discussed: interconnectivity, artificial intelligence and the digital transformation of infrastructures.

Lisbon was chosen with a clear purpose. The city is asserting itself as a global hub of interconnection, a strategic point that connects continents and welcomes the arrival of submarine cables that carry the invisible flow of world data. As digital traffic grows exponentially and new technologies emerge, whoever controls the infrastructure and the movement of information takes on a role of geopolitical influence.

This year's theme, "Navigating digital changes, empowering transformation," reflects this central challenge: aligning infrastructure with intelligence. At first glance, talking about cables, data centers and interconnections may seem far removed from the world of artificial intelligence. But the reality is that AI doesn't live in the air. It relies on physical networks with capacity, low latency, and resiliency. Without infrastructure, there is no digital intelligence.

Atlantic Convergence 2025 will put this relationship at the center of the debate. The sessions will address how artificial intelligence, quantum computing, 6G networks and satellite infrastructure are shaping the digital strategy across continents. One of the highlights will be Nokia's presentation on the role of AI and machine learning in cybersecurity and attack mitigation.

This year's edition focuses on three essential pillars: security, trust and digital sovereignty. In a time of rising geopolitical tensions, digital sovereignty, understood as the control that each country has over its data and networks, has become an unavoidable issue. The event will seek to answer the essential question of how to protect data and infrastructure without compromising the free flow of global information.

Among the confirmed speakers will be world-renowned figures such as Ivo Ivanov from DE-CIX, Ismael Clemente from Merlin Properties, Philippe Dumont from EllaLink, John Harrington from Nokia, Rod Evans from Nvidia and Tesh Durvasula from Atlas Edge, among others. These are voices that reflect the transformative power of infrastructure and technological innovation when they work together.

But Atlantic Convergence is more than a stage for speeches. It is a true meeting point for those who build the future. The first edition, in 2024, was responsible for inspiring new submarine cable projects, partnerships between data centers and strategic collaborations that reinforced Portugal's role as a digital platform for the Atlantic. This year, Lisbon will once again host an event that promises to generate new ideas, agreements and investments with real impact.

For those who participate, the value is both in the sharing of knowledge and in the relationships created. For three days, Lisbon will be the place where those who define the future of global connectivity, from investors and engineers to regulators and policymakers, will meet.

As the world enters a new era marked by artificial intelligence and hyperconnectivity, Atlantic Convergence reminds us of a fundamental truth: no digital revolution happens without a solid physical foundation. Infrastructure is the invisible foundation that underpins everything digital promises.

It is inspiring to see Portugal take on this role of leadership and convergence. The Atlantic unites continents again, not only through cables and data, but also through ideas and collaborations that design tomorrow.

I will be there, with the enthusiasm of those who believe that Lisbon is not only the stage of this future, but an integral part of it.