Pan-Atlantic Digital Future

dotmagazine: Ivo, this year’s Atlantic Convergence will place strong emphasis on “Security, Trust & Compliance.” Why is this theme more urgent now than ever for the pan-Atlantic digital ecosystem?

Ivo Ivanov: The guiding concept Navigating digital changes, empowering transformation reflects the dynamic nature of today’s pan-Atlantic digital ecosystem. As digital interconnection expands across continents, the complexity of safeguarding critical infrastructure such as undersea cables, Internet Exchanges, and data centers increases. Security is no longer just a protective measure. It is a fundamental part of the digital change we are navigating. It enables trust, drives innovation, and supports compliance across diverse regulatory landscapes in Europe, the Americas, and Africa.

Security empowers transformation by creating the conditions for resilient and cross-border cooperation. It is not only about mitigating risks but also about unlocking potential. This is why Security, Trust, and Compliance are central to this year’s Atlantic Convergence, taking place from 28 to 30 October 2025 in Lisbon. Stakeholders will come together to explore practical strategies to strengthen the digital backbone of the region.

dot: Lisbon’s role as an interconnection hub between the Americas, Africa, and Europe has been growing rapidly. How does this expansion change the security and compliance priorities for the region?

Ivo: Lisbon’s emergence as a key interconnection hub between the Americas, Africa, and Europe presents opportunities and responsibilities. While Southern Europe plays a pivotal role, the Atlantic Convergence’s vision extends across the entire Atlantic region – including North America, South America, and Africa – ensuring a truly pan-Atlantic perspective. As traffic volumes and stakeholder diversity increase, these hubs become more attractive to cybercriminals.

This expansion requires interoperable, cross-border security frameworks and a better grasp of compliance across jurisdictions. With data flowing through multiple legal environments, trust and transparency are essential for attracting global partners.

Lisbon is not merely a geographic hub; it is becoming a strategic link in the transatlantic digital ecosystem – one that demands collaboration, foresight, and resilience.

In this context, Atlantic Convergence plays a vital role. It unlocks untapped potential within the Pan-Atlantic digital landscape, inviting participants to explore and capitalize on new business opportunities. By connecting and collaborating across the digital infrastructure value chain – from data centers to network and Internet Exchange operators – as well as with enterprises and institutions, the event fosters meaningful alliances and enables the co-creation of solutions tailored to the evolving demands of enterprise digitalization.

dot: The event’s Security Day is already generating excitement. What makes this panel unique, and how will it help attendees move from theory to action?

Ivo: It’s great to hear that the event’s Security Day, taking place on Thursday, October 30, is already generating such excitement! One of the key highlights is the panel “Converging Forces: The Pan-Atlantic at the Crossroads of Strategy, Security, and Innovation,” moderated by Esther Paniagua, a renowned specialist in cybersecurity, journalist, and author. This session brings together multi-regional and multi-sector perspectives on real-world threats and strategic responses.

What truly sets this panel apart is its clear focus on translating theory into action. Attendees will benefit from insights drawn from case studies that illustrate successful mitigation and resilience strategies, complemented by practical frameworks for aligning security and compliance across borders.

This panel is part of a broader Security Day program that explores key topics such as cybersecurity in the context of geopolitics, the development of digital autonomy with a focus on sustainability and sovereignty, and strategic foresight for the Atlantic region’s security landscape. Together, these sessions offer a comprehensive exploration of the challenges and opportunities shaping the Atlantic digital ecosystem.

dot: The Atlantic region spans diverse legal and regulatory environments. How can stakeholders align on security and compliance without slowing innovation – and how does DE-CIX build and maintain trust across jurisdictions with different regulatory frameworks?

Ivo: Alignment does not require uniformity; it requires interoperability. At DE-CIX, our focus is on creating shared trust frameworks and a common vocabulary that can bridge the gap between different regulatory environments. Transparent governance is essential for reassuring customers and partners, particularly when operating across borders in a diverse Atlantic environment that spans multiple continents and regulatory cultures.

We also promote ongoing collaboration between regulators and industry to develop realistic, forward-looking policies. Demonstrating compliance is not just about meeting requirements; it’s about building credibility and fostering partnerships that drive innovation rather than hinder it.

dot: What long-term impact do you envision Atlantic Convergence having on shaping the future of Security, Trust & Compliance across the Atlantic region?

Ivo: Atlantic Convergence is set to become the leading forum for dialogue on security and digital policy across the Atlantic. Over the next decade, we envision driving the adoption of interoperable, industry-led security standards across the Atlantic region – including Africa, Europe, and the Americas – as well as encouraging investment in secure, sustainable, and resilient infrastructure.

By aligning regulatory approaches and fostering a more harmonized digital policy environment, Atlantic Convergence is poised to shape a shared vision for trust and compliance – one that supports innovation, protects users, and strengthens transatlantic cooperation in the digital age.

At the same time, the forum empowers stakeholders to stay ahead of the curve by exploring the emerging digital ecosystem around the Atlantic Ocean, where enterprise transformation and digital assets are reshaping global data flows and revealing unprecedented opportunities. Attendees will gain access to groundbreaking research, expert insights, and real-world success stories from leading companies and thought leaders.

dot: Beyond the themes of security and compliance, the physical growth of interconnection hubs is also reshaping the Atlantic digital landscape. How do you see Lisbon and Southern Europe emerging as strategic players?

Ivo: Southern Europe’s growth story continues to impress. Cities like Lisbon, Madrid, Barcelona, Marseille, and Palermo now form the region’s largest carrier- and data center-neutral interconnection ecosystem. Lisbon, in particular, has quickly emerged as a major international gateway, attracting both global networks and local providers.

What really stands out is that this momentum isn’t just about DE-CIX expanding – it’s the entire ecosystem gaining traction. Networks, data centers, and complementary IXs are all benefiting from stronger connectivity. Southern Europe is now positioning itself on par with Europe’s traditional FLAPS markets, and Lisbon is right at the heart of that transformation.

Come and join us to explore what’s next – we look forward to your registration!

https://atlantic-convergence.net/

Ivo Ivanov has been Chief Executive Officer at DE-CIX and Chair of the Board of the DE-CIX Group AG since 2022. Prior to this, Ivanov was Chief Operating Officer of DE-CIX and Chief Executive Officer of DE-CIX International, responsible for the global business activities of the leading Internet Exchange operator in the world. He has more than 20 years of experience in the regulatory, legal and commercial Internet environment. Ranked as one of the top 100 most influential professionals of the Telecom industry (Capacity Magazine’s Power 100 listing, 2021/2022/2023/2024/2025), Ivo is regularly invited to share his vision and thought leadership in various industry-leading conferences around the globe.