Archaeology, Punk Rock & TeleGeography - Patrick Christian | Coffee Pump (E103)

Konnichiwa Fam, On E103, I sit down with Patrick Christian, Senior Manager at TeleGeography, to talk about one of the most unusual career journeys we've had on the podcast.Before spending more than two decades covering the global telecommunications industry, Patrick studied archaeology, worked on excavation sites, lived in France and the United States, and spent time in the punk rock scene before eventually finding his way into the world of internet infrastructure.We talk about:• Growing up in Arizona and spending time in France• Studying archaeology and working on excavation sites• Punk rock culture, music, and Patrick's younger years• How he ended up at TeleGeography• The early days of the internet and international telecommunications• The rise of submarine cables and global connectivity• Cloud computing and how it transformed the industry• AI, hyperscalers, GPU infrastructure, and the next wave of technology investment• Why Africa may not see major AI deployments in the near term• The future of data centres, connectivity, and internet infrastructure• Starlink, satellite connectivity, and the changing telecom landscape• The role Africa will play in the next phase of digital growthWe also get into Route 66, travel, the evolution of mobile phones, BlackBerry Messenger, conference culture, movies, conspiracy theories, and much more.Hope you enjoy the episode.Best,Team Coffee PumpJoin Our Membership and get access to videos early: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkZKGnWZWb-S9wJdz9IGDTw/joinFind Patrick Christian:- LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-christian-83053086/- Connect with him: https://resources.telegeography.com/author/patrick-christian- TeleGeography: https://www2.telegeography.comFind our host Sajid Vayani:- Linktree: https://linktr.ee/sajvayaniCoffee Pump Spotify, Apple and Socials: - Linktree: https://linktr.ee/sajvayaniDisclaimer:The content of The Coffee Pump Podcast is intended for entertainment and informational purposes only. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed by the hosts and