Data centres are the backbone of the UK’s digital infrastructure. With the potential to contribute an additional £44 billion to the UK economy by 2035, as highlighted in a recent techUK report, the sector is poised for unprecedented growth. The report also underscores the industry's capacity to drive innovation, support high-quality jobs, and stimulate national and regional development.
Recognising their strategic importance, the UK Government has designated data centres as Critical National Infrastructure (CNI). As computing environments become increasingly dispersed, interconnected, and complex, the need for synchronised timing and resilient infrastructure is more critical than ever—especially with the surge in cloud-based applications and demand for new facilities.
Agenda:
| Time |
Item |
Lead |
| 11:00-11:05 |
Welcome and introduction |
Tales Gaspar, techUK |
| 11:05-11:15 |
Opening remarks |
Elena Parsons, NPL |
| 11:15-11:55 |
Panel discussion |
TBC |
| 11:55-12:00 |
AOB and close |
Tales Gaspar, techUK |
Objectives
This webinar will explore the technical and strategic challenges of resilient time delivery in data centres, aiming to:
To ensure resilient time delivery across the UK’s digital infrastructure, it is essential to examine the existing and emerging standards that govern timing synchronisation in data centres. As global computing environments become more interconnected, the international policy landscape and evolving threat environment present new challenges and opportunities for the UK sector. Addressing these requires a coordinated approach to interoperability—ensuring systems, services, and equipment can work seamlessly together across diverse platforms and vendors.
Equally important is the need to strengthen supply chain assurance and risk mitigation strategies, particularly as timing becomes a critical dependency for AI, cybersecurity, and data-driven services. Robust security and resilience frameworks must be developed and adopted to protect against disruptions and malicious interference. The sector also faces a pressing skills gap, which must be addressed to build the expertise needed for future innovation. Finally, establishing clear frameworks for access to trusted time sources and ensuring the reliable distribution of time across Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) will be key to maintaining integrity, performance, and trust in the UK’s digital economy.
Why Join This Webinar?
As data centres evolve into increasingly complex, distributed, and cloud-driven environments, precise and resilient timing becomes a foundational requirement—not just for infrastructure operators, but for the entire digital ecosystem.
This webinar is essential for:
-
Digital Services Providers: From financial services to telecoms and cloud platforms, timing impacts performance, compliance, and service continuity.
Whether you're part of the data centre supply chain, a technology innovator, or a policy stakeholder, this session will provide valuable insights into the standards, risks, and opportunities shaping the future of timing resilience in the UK’s digital infrastructure.
Join us for this timely and essential conversation as we bring together experts, stakeholders, and innovators to shape the future of resilient timing in the UK’s data centre ecosystem.
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Meet the team
Sophie Greaves
Associate Director, Digital Infrastructure, techUK
Sophie Greaves is Associate Director for Digital Infrastructure at techUK, overseeing the Communications Infrastructure and Services Programme at techUK, and the UK Spectrum Policy Forum.
Sophie was promoted to Head having been Programme Manager for Communications Infrastructure and Services, leading techUK's telecoms activities, engagement and policy development. Previously, Sophie was Programme Assistant across a variety of areas including the Broadband Stakeholder Group, Central Government, Financial Services and Communications Infrastructure programmes.
Prior to joining techUK, Sophie completed a masters in Film Studies at University College London; her dissertation examined US telecoms policy relating to net neutrality and content distribution.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- 020 7331 2038
- Twitter:
- @SJMJames1,@SJMJames1
- LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophiegreaves/,https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophiegreaves/
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Tales Gaspar
Programme Manager, UK SPF and Satellite, techUK
Tales has a background in law and economics, with previous experience in the regulation of new technologies and infrastructure.
In the UK and Europe, he offered consultancy on intellectual property rights of cellular and IoT technologies and on the regulatory procedures at the ITU as a Global Fellow at the European Space Policy Institute (ESPI).
Tales has an LL.M in Law and Business by the Getulio Vargas Foundation (FGV) and an MSc in Regulation at the London School of Economics, with a specialization in Government and Law.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- +44 (0) 0207 331 2000
- Website:
- www.techUK.org
- LinkedIn:
- www.linkedin.com/in/talesngaspar
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Josh Turpin
Programme Manager, Telecoms and Net Zero, techUK
Josh joined techUK as a Programme Manager for Telecoms and Net Zero in August 2024.
In this role, working jointly across the techUK Telecoms and Climate Programmes, Josh is responsible for leading on telecoms infrastructure deployment and uptake and supporting innovation opportunities, as well as looking at how the tech sector can be further utilised in the UK’s decarbonisation efforts.
Prior to joining techUK, Josh’s background was in public affairs and communications, working for organisations across a diverse portfolio of sectors including defence, telecoms and infrastructure; aiding clients through stakeholder engagement, crisis communications, media outreach as well as secretariat duties.
Outside of work, Josh has a keen interest in music, painting and sailing.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- 020 7331 2038
- LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-turpin/
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