National Grid starts work on new substation

National Grid, the UK's largest electricity distribution network, is starting work on its new Uxbridge Moor substation in Buckinghamshire which will connect over a dozen new data centres to its network. The new site forms part of National Grid’s upgrade to its transmission network to meet growing demand for electricity, ensuring it can continue to support the growth of new sectors such as data centres as well as the economic and employment benefits they can bring. The site will feature two substations – one 400kV and one 132kV – both of which will be indoor gas-insulated facilities (GIS), reducing the footprint of the development by around 70% and minimising its impact on the environment. Uxbridge Moor will be among the first GIS substations in the country to be free of sulphur hexafluoride (SF6), a commonly used electrical insulator that is also a potent greenhouse gas. Using an alternative insulating gas means the project marks another key step towards National Grid’s ambition to reduce SF6 emissions from its network by 50% by 2030. Principal contractor Murphy will build the Uxbridge Moor substation, as well as delivering ancillary facilities, underground cabling, and associated work to connect the 400kV substation to the nearby overhead transmission line. National Grid is planning £35 billion of investment between 2026 to 2031 to connect both large sources of demand (such as data centres and gigafactories) and new sources of electricity generation (such as wind and solar). The requests from data centres to connect at Uxbridge Moor will require around 1.8GW of new capacity, equivalent to adding a mid-sized city to the grid on the outskirts of London. When built, it will be the largest new substation on National Grid’s network by gigawatt capacity. The new substation site borders National Grid’s existing Iver 400kV substation in Buckinghamshire, which has reached capacity and cannot be expanded to meet the demand from data centres and other customers for connections in the area. Energy Minister Michael Shanks says, “Upgrades to the electricity network like this are at the heart of building the industries of our future and support our Plan for Change to deliver economic growth and skilled jobs across the UK. “It comes as we progress our reforms to the grid connections queue that will speed up the time it takes to get high-growth firms, like data centres and AI hubs, plugged into the grid, while also fast-tracking projects that will scale up clean, homegrown power by 2030.” Laura Mulcahy, Project Director at National Grid Electricity Transmission, comments, “Our new Uxbridge Moor substation will provide vital access to power for data centres that are at the heart of Britain’s innovation and economic growth. It will enable new jobs and investment in Buckinghamshire, and will support the UK's digital future. “Alongside these significant benefits, we are working to keep the substations’ environmental impact to a minimum. By using the latest SF6-free, gas-insulated switchgear, we’re reducing the size of this crucial site by around 70% and ensuring its technology is sustainable and resilient long into the future.” Liam Corr, Managing Director of Energy at Murphy, states, “Since 1951 Murphy has been a leading provider of innovative and integrated energy solutions – today we support groundbreaking transmission and distribution projects across the four countries in which we work. “We are proud to be delivering this project in the UK’s capital and building on our strong working relationship with National Grid to help to ensure energy security for decades to come.” For more from National Grid, click here.

Vodafone and Three merger completed in UK

Vodafone, a leading global telecommunications company, and CK Hutchison Group Telecom Holdings (CKHGT), a wholly owned subsidiary of CK Hutchison, have today announced that the merger of Vodafone UK and Three UK successfully completed on 31 May 2025. The combined business, named VodafoneThree, is 51% owned by Vodafone and 49% by CKHGT. Vodafone will fully consolidate VodafoneThree in its financial results and the Chief Executive Officer is Max Taylor, who currently leads Vodafone UK. Three UK’s Darren Purkis is appointed Chief Financial Officer. VodafoneThree intends to invest £11 billion over the next 10 years. In its first year, VodafoneThree plans to invest £1.3 billion in capex. This should enable the company to accelerate its network deployment, and the combined business is expected to deliver cost and capex synergies of £700 million per annum by the fifth year after completion. The transaction is expected to be accretive to Vodafone’s Adjusted free cash flow from FY29 onwards. Full alignment to Vodafone’s accounting policies is ongoing and the company states that pro forma financials will be provided in due course. High quality network connectivity is critical to many elements of daily life. It is also central to the UK’s economic growth prospects, important for the UK’s science and technology sectors, as well as for improving public services. This investment in a 5G standalone network is being made with the stated aim to propel the UK’s mobile infrastructure to the forefront of European connectivity. Margherita Della Valle, Vodafone Group Chief Executive, says, “The merger will create a new force in UK mobile, transform the country’s digital infrastructure, and propel the UK to the forefront of European connectivity. We are now eager to kick-off our network build and rapidly bring customers greater coverage and superior network quality. The transaction completes the reshaping of Vodafone in Europe, and following this period of transition we are now well-positioned for growth ahead.” Canning Fok, Deputy Chairman of CK Hutchison and Executive Chairman of CKHGT, comments, “As we have demonstrated in other European markets, scale enables the significant investment needed to deliver the world-beating mobile networks our customers expect, and the Vodafone and Three merger provides that scale. In addition, this transaction unlocks significant shareholder value, returning approximately £1.3 billion in net cash to the Group.” For more from Vodafone, click here.

CDM to deliver modular data centre solutions

Compu Dynamics Modular (CDM), a newly launched company drawing on Compu Dynamics’ two decades of experience and focusing exclusively on modular solutions, today announces its market debut with a stated mission: to simplify and accelerate the deployment of high-density, energy efficient digital infrastructure through engineered, prefabricated data centre modules. With digital transformation surging across AI, HPC, neocloud, and enterprise markets, CDM aims to offer prefabricated, turnkey solutions that are scalable, transportable, and designed for the next generation of compute. The company serves a range of customers, from neocloud infrastructure providers and AI innovators to OEMs that integrate high-end compute clusters directly into modular platforms. "At CDM, our vision is to support the seamless, rapid deployment of digital infrastructure tailored to each customer’s unique application needs. We deliver fully tested, modular data centre solutions designed for efficiency, reliability, and scalability," says Ron Mann, Vice President of Compu Dynamics Modular. "We are not building containers — we are delivering high-performance, factory-integrated data centre solutions that are fully operational from day one." Each module is an integrated, self-contained data centre system including mechanical, electrical, and cooling infrastructure that is designed to support advanced applications such as AI model training, GPU clusters, and edge inference engines. The company provides end-to-end lifecycle services including: • Design & Engineering: Customisable to power densities, cooling strategies, and deployment constraints. • Fabrication & Assembly: Built in controlled environments. • Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT): Aiming to ensure systems are deployment-ready before shipping. • Deployment & Commissioning: Nationwide and international delivery, and on-site integration. • Ongoing Support & Maintenance: Lifecycle services tailored to operational continuity. “Compu Dynamics Modular represents the next phase of innovation in our industry,” comments Steve Altizer, President and CEO of Compu Dynamics. “CDM is built to meet the modular demands of tomorrow’s compute landscape, where speed-to-market, flexibility, and high-density performance are critical.” For more from Compu Dynamics, click here.

Principal acquires data centre complex in Düsseldorf

Principal Asset Management, a global investment management business, has acquired a key data centre complex in the Rhine-Ruhr region of Germany. The 36,429m² complex, known as Connecta Park, is located in Düsseldorf and let to a number of tenants, including Digital Realty, Colt, Pluserver, Comtrance, 1&1 Versatel, Telia, Vodafone, and Zayo. It benefits from fibre connectivity for the Nordics, Amsterdam, Berlin, and Frankfurt and is home to the DE-CIX and ECIX (Megaport) internet exchanges. Connecta Park is the sixth asset to be acquired for Principal European Data Centre Fund I, which raised €297 million from 14 investors and is now closed to new investors. The fund is focused on manage-to-core data centre assets and has acquired five assets in Barcelona, the UK, Amsterdam, Dublin, and Frankfurt. Paul Lewis, Managing Director, European Data Centres at Principal Asset Management, says, “The acquisition of this key data centre hub in Düsseldorf marks a strategic addition to Principal European Data Centre Fund I, further strengthening our presence in key European digital infrastructure markets. “North Rhine-Westphalia is experiencing increased demand from hyperscalers and this asset, offering access to a broad range of fibre networks and strong connectivity to the Nordics, Amsterdam, Berlin, and Frankfurt, is well positioned to benefit from that trend. With a high-quality tenant mix and significant technical capability, we believe this asset will continue to attract strong occupier interest as demand accelerates."

UK Government announces new apprenticeship initiative

Young people in the UK are set to benefit from 120,000 new training opportunities as part of what the Government calls a "radical skills revolution," giving them the chance to develop skills where they are most needed across the workforce to "rebuild Britain." An overview of the announcement: · Construction, health and social care, engineering, and the digital sector are among those set to benefit the most from the new opportunities. · There is a refocusing of funding away from Level 7 (masters-level) apprenticeships from January 2026 – which has been criticised. · There is to be an implementation of a 32% increase in the Immigration Skills Charge, which will deliver up to 45,000 additional training places to upskill the domestic workforce and reduce reliance on migration in priority sectors. In response to this announcement, within which the digital sector has been cited as one of the key areas benefitting from the new opportunities, comments have been by Mike Meyer, Managing Director of Portman Partners and Board Member of the Data Centre Alliance. Mike has an extensive background in recruitment and talent development within the digital infrastructure sector, having spent over 25 years within the industry with first-hand experience across Datacenter, Digital Infrastructure, IT, and Telecoms prior to moving into Executive Search. He has also spoken numerous times on the topic of talent development and bringing up the new generation of data centre professionals, notably at the East London University and at the Tech Capital International Finance Forum. “It's encouraging to see the Government investing in skills development across sectors for the next generation of young talent,” says Mike. “With the digital sector being among those set to benefit, I hope to see investment in the skills required for the digital infrastructure industry to help attract and nurture young professionals that the sector desperately needs to sustain itself. “With the growing demand for data centre capacity continuing to create the need for larger facilities, this has brought with it an unyielding need to fill the ever-increasing job openings in the sector. Though growth is an excellent problem to have, a future pool of fresh, young talent is imperative in a sector that is rapidly aging, with an average age of 53. “The Government’s ambitions to strengthen the UK's leadership in advancing and applying AI is creating demand for even larger, more powerful data centres. Alongside significant capital investment, such as the planned construction of the UK’s largest AI data centre in Essex in 2026, there will be an ongoing need for a steady pipeline of skilled talent to design, construct, and manage data centres. The new initiative from the Government is a positive sign that the industry is heading in the right direction.”

Ecolab launches new cooling management technology

Ecolab, a global sustainability leader offering water, hygiene, and infection prevention solutions, has announced the launch of a new technology to drive high-performance data centre cooling. The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) has created exponential growth for data centres, with US data centre energy demand expected to grow from 25 GW in 2024 to more than 80 GW by 2030. By aiming to enable reliable uptime, reduce water consumption, and optimise energy efficiency, Ecolab's technology intends to help operators address the water, energy, and performance demands of AI-driven computing. As part of the launch, Ecolab will highlight the full portfolio in Booth 102 at Datacloud Global Congress 2025, taking place in Cannes, France, from 3 to 5 June. “The accelerated growth of AI, which is driving rapidly increasing rack densities, creates complexity for data centre operators as they address competing resource and business demands,” comments Mukul Girotra, Vice President and General Manager, Global High Tech. “By integrating monitoring, performance insights, and global expertise, we can help data centres prepare with scalable solutions that enable them to navigate the pressure of reliably doing more with less.” The new development is referred to as 3D TRASAR Technology for Direct-to-Chip Liquid Cooling, and has been designed for next-generation server environments. The system delivers real-time monitoring of coolant health, tracking coolant concentration, temperature, pH, flow rates and other fluid health indicators to help protect direct-to-chip servers and critical cooling infrastructure. The new solution is supported by Ecolab’s Water Quality IQ performance insights, which provide data and recommended actions for operators. It also includes field service and lab analysis provided by multiple research facilities around the world, with results advertised to be available in as little as five days. “Data centre operators need cooling systems that can keep pace with rapidly advancing heat loads,” says Mukul. “This portfolio, anchored by 3D TRASAR Technology for Direct-to-Chip Liquid Cooling, expands our capabilities with advanced cooling technology for the data centre white space.” Ecolab’s full suite of cooling management solutions also consists of previously established programs: • 3D TRASAR for Cooling Water — which aims to help enhance cooling tower and chiller efficiency while minimising water use. • 3D TRASAR for Adiabatic Cooling — which seeks to optimise direct evaporative cooling system performance through continuous water quality monitoring, and to support longer asset life and consistent operation with maintenance-free conductivity sensing. • Water Flow Intelligence — which aims to deliver real-time visibility into water usage at the enterprise, site, and asset levels. For more from Ecolab, click here.

Pure Storage and SK Hynix announce collaboration

Pure Storage, a provider of data storage technology and services, today announced a collaboration with SK Hynix, a South Korean semiconductor company, to deliver QLC flash storage products that aim to meet the high-capacity, energy efficient requirements for data-intensive hyperscaler environments. Modern data centres require solutions that can provide high storage density capabilities without sacrificing performance or energy efficiency. Data bottlenecks can lead to decreased productivity and high energy costs, affecting overall company performance. Traditional storage solutions such as hard disk drives (HDDs) have limitations as they are unable to handle the high-capacity, data-intensive workloads of hyperscale data centres in the AI era. Pure Storage intend to deliver future DirectFlash Module products with SK Hynix’s QLC NAND flash memory that will be purpose-built for demanding hyperscaler environments. Benefits could include: • Sustained High Performance — Integrating Pure Storage's data storage platform with SK Hynix's QLC NAND technology to enable low-latency solutions geared towards exascale, data-intensive workloads. • Increased Energy Efficiency — Collaborating to provide lower energy consumption, helping customers overcome power availability constraints, lower operating costs, and decrease an organisation's overall carbon footprint. • Improved Scalability & TCO — The combined solution seeks to provide highly rack-dense and scalable systems. “This collaboration with SK Hynix is an exciting step in our mission to deliver superior all-flash storage technology to hyperscalers. By combining SK Hynix's advanced QLC products with Pure Storage’s host-based flash management architecture, we can deliver an optimised solution for the hyperscale production environment and AI infrastructure,” says Bill Cerreta, GM, Hyperscale, Pure Storage. “Hyperscalers are constantly searching for data storage technology that doesn’t limit their potential innovation, but propels it to unforeseen levels. SK Hynix's NAND technology, combined with Pure Storage's robust platform, presents a formidable option for data centre operators focused on maximizing performance, efficiency, and scalability. Together, we are empowering hyperscale environments to tackle burgeoning data volumes with cutting-edge, sustainable storage solutions,” comments Sam Lee, EVP, Head of Global Sales and Marketing, SK Hynix. For more from Pure Storage, click here.

ZOI to connect the Middle East and Europe

Zain Omantel International (ZOI), the Middle East's leading regional wholesale business with access to more than 20 international submarine cables in the region, has announced a partnership with Horizon Scope Telecom, Iraq's leading ICT solutions provider, and the Iraqi Telecommunications and Information Company (ITPC), a government-owned company under the Iraqi Ministry of Telecommunications and Iraq's leading connectivity company. This partnership enables ZOI to create a digital telecommunications corridor stretching from the Middle East to Europe through Iraq, offering alternative terrestrial connectivity options. The route will use terrestrial fibre connectivity that utilises Iraq’s position as a digital gateway, aiming to create more reliable services that are less susceptible to interruptions. It will pass through Turkey and make its way up to Frankfurt, Germany. The new corridor will act as an alternative to traditional subsea routes by bypassing some turbulent areas. The route is intended to enable international businesses, telecom operators, and hyperscalers to expand their reach via low-latency infrastructure, ensuring connectivity between the Middle East and Europe. “We are delighted to announce that, in the presence of Her Excellency Dr. Hiyam Al-Yasiri, the Iraqi Minister of Communications, we have signed a strategic frame agreement with our partners Horizon Scope and ITPC to establish a new connectivity corridor from the Middle East to Europe. By combining ZOI’s pan-Middle East network with the robust infrastructure of Horizon Scope Telecom and ITPC, we’ve created a route that extends from Iraq into the heart of Europe,” says Sohail Qadir, CEO at ZOI. “By working together, we will enhance regional and international connectivity, offering higher capacity, security, and efficiency for businesses, operators, and hyperscalers across continents. This initiative aligns with our mission to bridge markets, drive digital transformation, and enable new growth opportunities, further reinstating ZOI as the global gateway for our region.” As a licensed ISP, Horizon Scope Telecom will facilitate direct peering with other networks and interconnection with global internet exchanges. With ZOI and ITPC, it seeks to improve speed and capacity and reduce latency for enterprises and hyperscalers looking to take advantage of Iraq’s rising presence as a regional hub. “We recognised ZOI and ITPC’s commitment to building resilient and seamless networks that empower global telecommunications through the identification of the world’s next global hubs,” comments Ahmed Abdulsalam, the Managing Director of Horizon Scope. “Offering alternative terrestrial connectivity routes is a critical way to protect against infrastructure vulnerabilities, ensuring that enterprises can capture more opportunities and scale with reliable connectivity.” “This partnership marks a significant milestone in strengthening Iraq’s position as a connectivity corridor, especially by providing an alternative path to Europe. We are committed to delivering connectivity solutions that the people of Iraq can trust and use to enable seamless global connectivity. We’re excited to see this partnership succeed as we aim to foster economic growth for both local and international enterprises operating in and around Iraq,” states Ali Y. Dawood, the Director General of ITPC.

A-Gas joins the European Data Centre Association

A-Gas, a global company specialising in Lifecycle Refrigerant Management (LRM), announces that it has officially joined the European Data Centre Association (EUDCA), the organisation that has represented the interests of the European data centre community since 2011. A-Gas joined as a member of the Technical Committee, whose mission is to bring together industry experts and foster discussion on the latest trends and emerging technologies. The goal is to support the development of a sustainable and sovereign digital infrastructure for Europe, enabling more conscious and digital transitions. The EUDCA, in collaboration with over 60 member organisations, represents the collective interests of the European data centre community. It provides a platform for operators to engage with policymakers and industry leaders, promoting a sustainable and sovereign digital infrastructure that supports Europe’s twin green and digital transition. As a new member, A-Gas says it looks forward to sharing its expertise in refrigerant management, particularly in relation to F-Gases. The recent update to the EU F-Gas Regulation introduces stricter controls on high GWP refrigerants, many of which are still in use in data centre cooling systems. These changes include equipment phase-outs and stricter leak detection rules, urging operators to adjust maintenance strategies and prioritise sustainable design in new builds. “Becoming a member of EUDCA Technical Committee represents a great opportunity for A-Gas to bring to the table our expertise on refrigerants and refrigerant management. A-Gas works with stakeholders to understand their objectives, risks, and challenges, and offers a suite of Lifecycle Refrigerant Management based solutions that addresses the multi-faceted challenges faced by stakeholders as they seek to manage their refrigeration needs. The data centre cooling industry sees a high influx of capital investments on the back of cloud-based computing and AI development. Considering the size and environmental impact of these centres globally, transitioning towards sustainable solutions is critical,” comments Vincent Homrighausen, A-Gas EMEA Managing Director.

ABM wins technical cleaning contract

ABM, a leading provider of facility, engineering, and infrastructure solutions, has been awarded a contract by Iron Mountain Data Center’s (IMDC) UK team to provide technical cleaning services at the global information management and data storage company’s first data centre. The secure site occupies 4.5 acres in Slough and was originally built for one of the world’s largest banking institutions. The data centre offers multiple infrastructure designs with six data halls and Power Usage Effectiveness as well as a loading dock, offices, conference rooms, and break out spaces. ABM will deploy four permanent onsite team members who will undergo training bespoke to IMDC. They are supported by mobile technicians and an in-house, out-of-hours helpdesk to respond and adapt to evolving business needs. The yearly rolling contract will see ABM’s Critical Solutions division provide elevated technical cleaning services using sustainable cleaning products within data room and server spaces, as well as window and carpet cleaning, waste removal, and feminine hygiene management. ABM is employing local people for this contract and will be working closely with IMDC to strengthen its CSR objectives. In addition to the use of specialist equipment and PPE, IMDC will see the use of ABM’s proprietary technology with the ability to log in and review data and trends to inform business decisions and aid cost savings, operational improvements, and maximise productivity. Lewis Cannell, Head of Critical Solutions at ABM, comments, “What began as a one-off technical cleaning project in a data hall has evolved into a long-term partnership with IMDC, aimed at elevating operational standards at their flagship data centre. This achievement is testament to the expertise and dedication of our highly trained specialists who consistently deliver world-class service in complex environments. Moving forward, the entire ABM team will collaborate closely with IMDC to implement a shared strategy centred on innovation, safety, technology, sustainability, and people.” Adam Gilio Miet, Senior Data Centre Operations Manager, says, “There has been a notable uptick in quality since ABM has taken over the contract, with regular site visits by the area manager ensuring that we are all aligned on expectations and delivery.”