Technological change is accelerating faster than ever. It once took the Internet over a decade to reshape businesses. Today, breakthroughs such as ChatGPT reach millions in weeks. Across the globe, AI is transforming businesses – driving innovation, reshaping engagement and enhancing efficiency.

For CIOs, these shifts put greater demand on infrastructure. Yet while many UK and European businesses are modernizing, network transformation still lags. After years of incremental upgrades, the delays are catching up – modernization can no longer wait, as agility, resilience and performance now depend on it.

Networks keeping up with the edge

Technologies such as edge computing, sovereign clouds and AI-powered devices are reshaping operations. Autonomous vehicles, real-time analytics and hyper-personalized experiences all depend on connectivity – not just computing power.

In the U.K., automotive and industrial firms such as Jaguar Land Rover are already piloting data-rich, edge-enabled applications that push traditional networks to their limits. Tata Motors has also deployed an edge-native solution to optimize energy in its paint shops – integrating OT data, AI algorithms and 5G connectivity for real-time efficiency.

In Germany, manufacturers are applying AI at the edge to detect anomalies in real-time without sending data back to central servers. And European agriculture firms are adoptin drone-based solutions for smart crop management and supply chain optimization. These innovations generate vast volumes of data that must be processed locally and securely. Without networks built for low latency, high resilience and edge computing, the promise of these technologies can’t be realized.

Alexandru Duca, Head of Automation and Operation Technology at transport and logistics company, Maersk says: “When frontline operators depend on technology to keep goods moving, reliability is everything. If the systems slow down or aren’t connected properly, it’s not just a tech issue – it directly impacts the supply chain and customer confidence.”

The bandwidth behind immersion

Today’s most demanding digital experiences offer a glimpse of tomorrow’s technology. Across Europe, retailers are trialing interactive signage that responds to footfall in real-time.

Driven by AI, high-definition content, IoT devices and machine-to-machine communication, similar demands are emerging in banking, infrastructure, logistics and most industries. Yet despite this acceleration, networks are struggling to keep pace with the experiences they must deliver.

Additional challenges

While European enterprises prioritize agile infrastructure to manage rising bandwidth demands, structural barriers continue to slow progress.

As Amit Kapoor, Vice President and Head of Europe at Tata Communications highlights: “In Europe, digital and AI transformation is often more complex, shaped by distributed decision-making, stringent regulation and diverse multi-vendor ecosystems. These factors slow agility but make transformation even more critical for long-term competitiveness.”

Expectations around infrastructure performance are also rising. Tech refresh cycles now outpace planned infrastructure refresh timelines, requiring enterprises to adopt agile modernization approaches while enabling new business models.

Security adds further complexity. Thomas Achhorner, Chief Digital and Information Officer at sustainability consultancy, ERM adds: “Enterprise networks now have so many entry points for bad actors. Security must be built into every layer of the network, not bolted on afterward. It’s not just about technology – employee awareness and change management are critical too.”

Observability, flexibility and resilience

To meet the rising expectations, CIOs need fast, intelligent and observable networks. This is driving a shift toward hybrid infrastructures – combining cloud scalability with edge responsiveness, providing real-time visibility across complex systems.

According to Amit Mehrotra, Head of UK and Ireland at Tata Communications, CIOs are pushing for more transparency into these distributed environments: “With multi-technology environments now the default, end-to-end automated and intelligent observability becomes non-negotiable – especially when infrastructure decisions affect customer and business outcomes.”

But visibility alone isn’t enough. Resilience has become an equally critical design principle. Enterprises can no longer rely on single routes or fixed carriers; redundancy must be built in from the start. Satellite connectivity, private 5G and low-orbit networks such as Starlink are becoming core to enterprise strategy, ensuring data and operations stay connected even when terrestrial links fail.

That shift is accelerated by geopolitical instability and physical risks – from undersea cable outages to conflicts such as the Houthi attacks. CIOs are being forced to think beyond traditional failovers, creating networks that automatically reroute and maintain continuity in any circumstance.

Boards are also renewing their focus on cyber risk. In the UK, banks in particular are feeling the heat – many still run on outdated infrastructure. “Some institutions are fighting fires rather than building strategically,” says Mehrotra. “They’re being pushed by regulators to modernize, but they need partners with the right balance of domain, data and technology expertise.”

Future-ready infrastructure as a competitive edge

To thrive in this faster future, enterprises must move beyond short-term fixes. Networks must support immersive, decentralized and data-driven operations, and become sources of differentiation. An intelligent, adaptive network no longer just connects the business, it drives performance, speed and innovation.

Infrastructure enabling high-bandwidth, low-latency performance isn’t just a technical upgrade – it’s a foundation for competitiveness.

The digital infrastructure of the future must support:

• Autonomous operations powered by AI and machine learning
• Real-time decision-making at the edge
• Hyperconnectivity across distributed teams and ecosystems
• Security embedded by design

Kapoor explains: “Across Europe, we’re seeing manufacturers adopt AI and machine learning not just for innovation, but as enablers of autonomous operations. Edge computing is becoming a key investment area – but it must be paired with flexible, resilient and secure infrastructure to deliver long-term value, breaking the silos of IT and OT and embedding cybersecurity across the OT domain.”

This is where Tata Communications plays a critical role. Working with CIOs – not just supplying technology, but shaping strategy – helps enterprises build tailored, secure digital foundations. From AI-driven autonomy and secure edge computing to unified global ecosystems and built-in resilience, its digital fabric empowers businesses to operate smarter, faster and lead confidently.

Because in the race to modernize, the network is no longer background infrastructure. It’s where enterprise advantage is built.

To learn more, visit Tata Communications