Despite the ongoing turmoil caused by the coronavirus pandemic, the digital infrastructure sector appears to be in good health with many companies reporting positive starts to 2021. Further proof, if any were needed, of the importance of this industry to business and wider society, and its ‘fourth utility’ status.    

Yet, as demand for enterprise and data centre network infrastructures continues to grow, so too does the need for people to join the industry and further its development. CNet Training has continually argued for the need to attract new talent and make sure that those who already have careers in the sector are equipped with the necessary skills. As the company celebrates its 25th year in business, CNet Training’s Andrew Stevens looks at this issue and how the pandemic has promoted a shift towards innovative online learning platforms.    

Continuing this theme, and looking at it from the perspective of a data centre services provider, Joe Palmer of Colt Data Centre Services (DCS) explains how to drive success through training, while I also get the lowdown from Andy Hirst of Sudlows about his experience of completing the Masters Degree in Data Centre Leadership and Management.   Turning our attention to physical infrastructure, this issue’s Question Time examines whether predictions about the death of copper twisted pair cable as an effective cabling medium are premature. Experts offer their views and, without wishing to spoil the surprise, it seems that copper will be here for some time to come.    

Copper’s longevity has often been considered to be threatened by the popularity of optical fibre, yet the two media are seemingly able to coexist. Kevin Lenglé of Cailabs dispels some of the myths about multimode fibre and explains how to future proof legacy cabling infrastructures beyond the standards.   With so much more besides, I hope you enjoy this issue of Inside_ Networks. Don’t forget that if you’d like to comment on any of these subjects, or anything else to do with enterprise and data centre network infrastructures, I’d be delighted to hear from you.   

Rob Shepherd 
Editor