AI Strains Australian Networks: Upgrades Lag Behind Expected Growth

Australian organisations are accelerating their network modernisation plans as artificial intelligence increases infrastructure demands. However, only 17% of respondents believe their networks are fully prepared for expected growth, according to a Cisco and Foundry research report.

The study found that 93% of Australian organisations said AI had accelerated their network modernisation plans, with 29% saying it had significantly accelerated them. Budget pressures are constraining these efforts, as nine in ten respondents said limited budgets were restricting their ability to modernise networks in response to AI growth.

The report also highlighted that more than four in five Australian organisations (81%) said network upgrades would be required to support projected AI growth. This gap between AI adoption plans and the infrastructure needed to support them is a concern, as two-thirds of Australian organisations are more confident in their AI strategy than in their network's ability to support it.