The world will pay $6 trillion for information technology this year — that’s what Deloitte reports in its 2026 Global Tech Industry Outlook.

What is powering that colossal expenditure? Most agree it is the unquenchable global thirst for advanced data processing, including the demands of artificial intelligence and quantum computing.

From AI and Big Data solutions, to massive data centres, and from quantum computing to the imperative transformation of the world’s antiquated communications infrastructure, those are the fast-changing developments that now fuel our global digital revolution.

The absolute linchpin of that digital revolution is the urgent necessity to replace our fragmented, industrial age, communications infrastructure that we inherited from the age of telegraphs, telephones and radio broadcasting with a next-generation communications solution that can, in space, on the ground and under the sea, seamlessly and robustly handle the almost unfathomable transaction volumes that Big Data, AI and quantum computing demand.

After all, how can the world utilise the immense promises of AI and managed Big Data if our disjointed and antiquated communications infrastructure simply can't handle gargantuan data workloads?

Those are the data mobility challenges that Bermuda seems exceptionally well positioned to directly participate in and to make contributions toward solving.

That is exactly why Elon Musk’s Starlink array flies over Bermuda, and why Blue Origin’s Quartz Network has a station in Bermuda, and why Google’s Nuvem and Sol subsea cables go through Bermuda.

However, until now, none of those global leaders have decided to headquarter their transformative global operations in Bermuda.

Enter the Laser Light international group of companies.

Originally founded in 2012 by Robert “Bob” Brumley, a very experienced and highly respected chief executive officer in the world of satellite networks, Laser Light Holdings established its Bermuda headquarters in 2023 from where it intends to lead, direct and manage that company’s global group of companies to establish and seamlessly operate a next generation constellation of optical communication satellites that will be fully integrated with its global fibre, subsea and local data centres.

By using satellite lasers, rather than radio frequencies, to securely move large amounts of data seamlessly and more efficiently, and with broader capabilities than legacy fibre or subsea networks permit, Laser Light's existing operations in five continents will truly deliver a global solution.

Mr Brumley said: “Our transformational global network will be provided on a carrier neutral basis and as a data utility to efficiently meet the pending tsunami of data workload demand.

“We are building Halo [High Articulation Laser Optics] as a 12 medium-earth orbit satellite constellation to deliver the world’s first global, all-optical, multi-domain, end-to-end communications network supported by up to 200 optical ground stations located around the world.”

Operated by Laser Light’s patented “Starbeam” intelligent network management and orchestration software, Halo will be a core component of Laser Light’s ultra-high-speed, on-demand, global network spanning space, land and subsea infrastructure.

Mr Brumley explains: “Our data utility services will be enabled by a fully integrated network of terrestrial, subsea, and satellite optical technologies that are designed for the AI economy to move more data, faster, more securely, and more efficiently across companies, countries, and continents…. to meet the growing demands of AI.”

Until recently, Laser Light has kept a low profile in Bermuda.

However, on August 27, Keystone Optical Network LLC announced its commitment to provide up to $75 million US of equity financing to Laser Light in order to expedite the “convergence of advanced optical networking, intelligent orchestration, and global connectivity to meet the extraordinary demands of AI and the digital economy”.

Mr Brumley disclosed that Laser Light Holdings “is on track, by the end of 2026, to raise towards $400 million in equity and debt, leading to a $1 billion valuation”.

Then, at the World Space Business Week conference in Paris on September 14, Laser Light announced the issuance of its Call-to-vendors RFI to procure prime contractors and associated systems and component suppliers to build its Halo satellite constellation, which is expected to be built, launched and to become operational within 30 to 36 months.

This is a very exciting time for Bermuda’s place in the globalisation of the world’s next generation communications industry, which now includes Laser Light Holdings’ announced ambitions, financing and its decision to base its global headquarters here.

• Duncan Card is the chief executive of The Advisory Group (www.advisory.com), which provides consulting advice related to privacy, technology, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, outsourcing and resilience compliance