Microsoft Power Pact Raises Who-Pays Question — October 19, 2026

Today’s episode looks at a reported drone strike targeting a VK data center and the distinction between service availability and confirmed facility damage. We also cover Microsoft’s long-term Indiana power agreement, LS Electric’s equipment contract, and a demonstration of optical PCIe.

• VK data center near St. Petersburg, Russia, struck by drone — DCD
• Microsoft signs 20-year power deal with Indiana utility NiSource — DCD
• LS Electric signs power-distribution deal — finance.biggo.com
• Optical PCIe extends the reach of AI rack design — Data Center Knowledge

Chapters

00:00 Today's headlines

00:38 NiSource 20-year Microsoft power deal

02:18 LS Electric $125.23 million switchgear deal

03:30 Optical PCIe demonstrated over fiber

04:41 Drone attack targeted VK data center

07:04 VK's physical damage remains unclear

Concrete Compute is an AI-voiced podcast, built and run by a real person. Nothing in this episode is financial advice.

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More from Brian Lampert: Quickly Quantum, the daily quantum computing briefing, and Space Stakes, the business of the new space race. Transcripts and every episode: concrete-compute.kngoworld.chatgpt.site.