Yen Choi

Thirty years of turning raw technology into working infrastructure.

Yen Choi is a technology and infrastructure strategist working across telecommunications, AI infrastructure, data centres, energy, and digital transformation. He focuses on the practical systems behind digital growth — connectivity, compute, power, cooling, data sovereignty, and commercially viable infrastructure delivery — with on the ground experience of over 2 decades across Africa, Asia, the Americas, and Europe.

Experience that mirrors technology development

1980s

Apple II, no floppy drive

Typing programs in by hand. Learning computing from first principles, when nothing was handed to you.

Pre-web

A BBS on a 1200 baud modem

Running his own online system years before the web existed — dial-up multi-user systems, message boards, file transfer. The pre-internet internet.

Early 90s

One of the first ISPs in Canada

Bringing 28.8Kbps dial-up internet to market when commercial internet access barely existed — turning a raw technology into a working business.

Mid 90s

International calling, no computers required

A commercial discount calling platform built on custom VoIP over DSP boards connected to the PSTN, backhauled over international private leased circuits running IP — cheap international calls to ordinary phones, years before mass-market calling cards.

2000s

Pan-African broadband, built on the ground

Building the satellite broadband platforms, fixed-wireless networks, and enterprise fibre that carried connectivity across the continent — infrastructure that had to work in markets where nothing was handed to you.

2010s

Managed services and digital transformation

Running managed services and driving digital transformation — the bridge between raw infrastructure and what it actually delivers for people and business.

Today

AI infrastructure, data centres, fintech, advisory

The same instinct applied to the current wave: identify the technology early, understand the physics and the economics, and make it commercially viable in markets others overlook.

Sectors of focus

Infrastructure & Facilities

  • Data Centres
  • Network Design & Operations
  • Satellite Communications
  • Spacecraft Design

Energy & Power

  • Nuclear SMR
  • Solar
  • Renewable Energy

Technology & Software

  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Software Development
  • Microchips

Industry & Enterprise

  • Agriculture
  • Finance
  • Digital Banking

Execution & Delivery

  • Operational Excellence
  • Quality Management Systems

Every one of these ties back to the same thing: combining deep technical experience with business objectives — and executing them.

How he thinks

Patterns across domains

As a member of Mensa International, it's all about pattern recognition — problems, solutions, and risks repeat across industries. Data-centre cooling logic applies to agriculture. Telecoms reliability practice applies to digital banking. Seeing the pattern is where the leverage is.

Making the complex clear

Infrastructure decisions are made by boards, investors, and policymakers — not just engineers. Moving fluently between the machine room and the boardroom is what turns technical judgement into real-world outcomes.

Commercial realism

Armed with an MBA in Finance and Accounting but sees beyond it. Technology that can't pay for itself doesn't scale. Every assessment starts with power availability, operating cost, financing, regulation, and demand — not the demo.

What he's known for

  1. Clear technical judgementTelecoms, networks, wireless, satellite, data centres, power, cooling, AI infrastructure.
  2. Commercial realismCosts, business models, financing, operations — what can actually work.
  3. Local context, anywherePower reliability, affordability, connectivity gaps, regulation, local capacity, data sovereignty — read on the ground, not from a report.
  4. Practical problem solvingNo vague future talk. No copied trends.
  5. Cross-sector thinkingTechnology × property, energy, finance, public policy, infrastructure delivery.

Speaking & media

Keynotes & conferences

A sought-after speaker who has delivered keynotes and talks at industry conferences, investor forums, and public-sector briefings internationally.

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Featured in

Newspapers, articles, and news broadcasts globally — including major international TV networks, national broadcasters, and industry publications.

Startups & mentoring

Yen actively supports young entrepreneurs and startups — mentoring, technical guidance, and helping founders turn ideas into executable, commercially viable plans. If you're building something in connectivity, compute, or energy, get in touch.

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Beyond the desk

The technical depth is real — he builds, operates, and breaks things. RF and antennas at the bench, resilient systems in the field, precision and human factors in the sim.

Want the full picture?

This site is intentionally brief. For his detailed experience, background, and career history, visit his LinkedIn profile.