How Megaport Built A Thousand-Data-Center Backbone In Seconds-Driven Software

Interested in being a guest? Email us at [email protected] if spinning up a 100G connection took less time than making coffee? We sit down with Megaport’s CEO Michael Reid and technical evangelist Alexis Bertholf to explore how a fully automated, software-defined backbone turns global networking into a click-and-go experience across 1,000+ data centers.We trace their unconventional paths from aerospace to IT, then dive into the engine room: why no one logs into devices, how code drives every change, and how that design makes it possible to provision cloud on-ramps, private VXCs, and global WAN in under a minute. Michael shares how the team jumped from 10G to 100G services backed by 400G backbones, launched an automated internet product that exploded in demand, and built an AI exchange connecting next-gen inference providers to the places latency matters most. Alexis breaks down complex ideas with practical clarity and tells a standout story: a space company facing a launch deadline messaged her on TikTok when its carrier fell short—and Megaport delivered in time.We also tackle the biggest myth in cloud: leaders assume connecting to cloud is easy. The reality is that rigid telco contracts and long lead times turn networking into the long pole. Megaport’s answer is flexibility at scale—automated, diverse, and instantly adjustable—so teams can pivot as workloads shift, AI features roll out, and regions change. We unpack edge networking strategies using distributed compute stacks to host SD-WAN and security functions near cloud on-ramps, landing local traffic onto a private global backbone for consistent performance and sub-150ms AI voice targets.If you care about multicloud networking, SASE, SD-WAN, AI inference, and turning connectivity into a reliable product instead of a risky project, this conversation offers a clear blueprint. Subscribe, share with a teammate who owns the WAN, and leave a review with the cloud myth you want retired for good.Everyday AI: Your daily guide to grown with Generative AICan't keep up with AI? We've got you. Everyday AI helps you keep up and get ahead.Listen on: Apple Podcasts   SpotifySupport the showMore at https://linktr.ee/EvanKirstel