February 18, 2026

Top news (3)

1. Cybersecurity focus is moving “full‑stack” as AI raises the threat level — At the Munich Security Conference, Google called for a collaborative, end‑to‑end approach and highlighted adoption of Google Distributed Cloud (Air‑Gapped) by NATO, the U.S., Germany, the UK and Australia. See: Google calls for full-stack cybersecurity at Munich Security Conference.

2. Compute and energy constraints are becoming a visible limiter on AI scaling — A January 2026 “AI Frontiers” digest from Ukraine’s cybersecurity coordination bodies flags rising focus on efficiency/monetization, intensifying US–China competition in semiconductors/compute infrastructure, and infrastructure + energy constraints as key bottlenecks. See: AI Frontiers: January 2026 review of key AI events.

3. AI networking supply chain is pushing silicon photonics toward high‑volume DWDM optics — Tower Semiconductor and Scintil Photonics announced availability of LEAF Light™, a heterogeneously integrated DWDM laser source validated on Tower’s silicon photonics production lines, targeting DWDM co‑packaged optics for hyperscale AI networking, with a stated pathway from evaluation to “millions of units per month.” See: Tower and Scintil launch DWDM laser sources for AI.

Key deals, projects and corporate moves

Global

• Enchanted Rock leadership hire (go‑to‑market for data centre/critical infrastructure)

  • Enchanted Rock hires Niki Herr as Chief Marketing Officer: Niki Herr appointed CMO to lead integrated marketing, brand and communications as the company scales across data centers, critical infrastructure, and commercial/industrial markets.
  • Prior roles cited include leadership positions at Interpublic Group agencies, Gensler, and Stem, Inc.

• Enterprise data + AI operations reference architecture (consumption model)

  • McLaren turns 1.5 TB race data into competitive edge: McLaren processes ~1.5 TB of race‑weekend telemetry/video/simulation data using Dell PowerStore + PowerScale, consumed via Dell APEX and delivered as part of the Dell AI Factory, paired with Dell PowerEdge servers.
  • Emphasis is on low‑latency access for simulations and scalable storage for unstructured datasets—a relevant pattern for AI‑driven workloads in colocation/private DC environments.

Power, grid and interconnection highlights

• Industry priority remains power availability and scalable build formats
  • PTC’26 highlights data centre growth, AI and sustainability: atNorth commentary from PTC’26 identifies power availability, modular/scalable design, and access to renewable power as core priorities alongside connectivity.

No specific new grid connections, interconnection awards, PPAs, or substation/transmission projects were detailed in today’s stories.

Policy, regulation and security

Europe / transatlantic security

• Full‑stack cybersecurity and sovereign/air‑gapped deployments highlighted
  • Google calls for full-stack cybersecurity at Munich Security Conference: Google urged a “full‑stack” collaborative approach; warned of AI‑enabled adversary tactics (via Google Threat Intelligence); and highlighted Google Distributed Cloud (Air‑Gapped) usage by NATO and multiple governments.
  • Google also opened applications for the Google for Startups Gemini Startup Forum: Cybersecurity.

Ukraine / global competition framing

• AI infrastructure geopolitics and constraints
  • AI Frontiers: January 2026 review of key AI events: digest flags US–China competition in semiconductors/compute infrastructure and stresses infrastructure and energy constraints as practical limits on continued model scaling.

Regional watch: Africa (AI demand + local capacity)

• GPU‑as‑a‑Service positioned as a local-data-centre growth lever
  • GPU-as-a-Service powers African AI via local data centres: Cassava AI authors argue GPUaaS delivered from African data centres can improve cost‑efficiency and data sovereignty, enabling local development and deployment.
  • Partnerships cited include Cassava Technologies’ work with NVIDIA as a model of combining global expertise with local infrastructure.

Technology & supply chain (AI networks and optics)

• Silicon photonics for hyperscale AI networks (DWDM co‑packaged optics)
  • Tower and Scintil launch DWDM laser sources for AI: LEAF Light™ described as the first heterogeneously integrated DWDM laser source using Scintil’s SHIP™ tech, validated on Tower’s production lines.
  • Collaboration targets DWDM co‑packaged optics and cites an AI networking market opportunity of $200B by 2030.

2-line close

Execution risk is increasingly concentrated in (1) cybersecurity posture across the stack and (2) physical constraints around compute and energy. Supply-chain innovation in high‑volume AI networking optics is accelerating alongside demand for more localized GPU capacity.