Echelon secures €1.7bn loan financing for European expansion

Echelon Data Centres, an Irish-headquartered developer and operator of large-scale data centre infrastructure, has announced the successful closing of an initial €1.7 billion (£1.4 billion) in loan financing provided by investment bank and financial services company Morgan Stanley. The data centre operator says the financing "further strengthens [its] capital base to continue its planned expansion across Europe." Echelon now has eight campuses across Europe, totalling 1.2 GW of capacity, of which 400MW is operational or under development. The company notes that this "new multi-billion-euro financing facility enhances [its] ability to scale [its] development pipeline, invest in enabling power infrastructure, and grow [its] campus portfolio across Ireland, the UK, Spain, and Italy." David Smith, Deputy CEO of Echelon Data Centres, comments, “Ireland is one of Europe’s most important and supply-constrained data centre markets, and we have established the leading position in the Irish market through the delivery of large-scale campus developments supported by innovative power solutions developed in partnership with customers, regulators, and grid stakeholders. “Over the past 15 months, we have expanded into Spain - in joint venture with Europe’s largest utility, Iberdrola - and into Italy, extending our development model into new strategic markets. “We are incredibly proud of the growth Echelon has achieved over the past several years and [we are] excited for the opportunity ahead. "Demand for digital infrastructure across Europe is substantial and long term, and our ambition is to continue expanding our platform to support the growth of our customers in key strategic markets.” Continuing growth Charlie Etheridge, Head of Investments at Echelon Data Centres, adds, “This €1.7 billion financing strengthens our capital position and provides the flexibility to execute on our pipeline at scale and at pace. “It reflects the quality of our platform and the strong institutional support behind our strategy. We are pleased to continue our valued partnership with Morgan Stanley as we advance the next phase of our European expansion.” Echelon was advised by A&O Shearman and Arthur Cox. For more from Echelon, click here.

AECOM calls for sovereign UK data centre framework

AECOM, a US multinational infrastructure consulting firm, is advocating for the establishment of a sovereign data centre framework to protect critical digital infrastructure and ensure the UK benefits from the rapid growth of AI. As AI becomes embedded across public services and regulated sectors, questions of where sensitive data is hosted and who controls the infrastructure that underpins it are becoming more critical. In a new report, Data centres, energy and regional growth: a road map to success, AECOM cautions that while global investment in data centres is accelerating, the UK risks losing strategic control and economic value unless growth is guided by clearer national priorities, coordinated planning, and stronger alignment between energy, infrastructure, and regional development. The report makes the case that delivering secure, UK-based infrastructure for sensitive AI and public-sector workloads will require clearer long-term signals and greater coordination between government and industry, alongside continued private investment. “Data centres are now critical national infrastructure in every meaningful sense”, says Mary-Ann Clarke, UK and Europe Data Centre Lead at AECOM. “A clear sovereign framework would give developers and investors greater certainty, strengthen resilience, and help ensure the UK retains control over a critical layer of its digital economy.” The report’s key recommendations include: • Establishing a sovereign data centre infrastructure framework for sensitive public-sector and regulated workloads, supported by clear demand signals and long-term contracting models • Actively steering where digital demand is located, directing high-intensity computing towards locations that support the energy system, unlock powered land, and enable regional growth • Incentivising system-positive data centres that strengthen the energy system through flexible demand, waste heat reuse, and on-site generation • Positioning data centres as anchors for regional growth, aligning major developments with skills, energy, and regeneration strategies “The UK has made important progress in recognising the strategic role of data centres and AI-enabled infrastructure, particularly through recent planning and energy reforms,” notes Adrian Del Maestro, Vice President, Global Energy Advisory at AECOM. “The next step is to build on that momentum by providing clearer long-term signals on where critical digital infrastructure should be located, how it is powered, and how sensitive workloads are secured.” For more from AECOM, click here.

atNorth confirms 'mega' 300MW data centre in Sweden

atNorth, a Nordic high-density data centre provider, has confirmed plans to develop a 300MW data centre in Sollefteå Municipality, Sweden. Located at Hamre Industrial Park in Långsele, the new site will be developed on a 50-hectare (202km²) plot (Hamre 1) and is expected to be operational in the first half of 2028. The industrial park is fully zoned for development, which the company says supports a shorter construction timeline as demand grows for AI and high-performance computing infrastructure. Renewable energy and heat reuse The site was selected for its grid capacity and access to renewable energy. The campus will follow atNorth’s modular design approach and is intended to support both colocation and built-to-suit deployments. The company states it will pursue heat reuse partnerships so that excess heat from the facility can be redirected for local use. Eyjólfur Magnús Kristinsson, CEO at atNorth, says, “We face a critical point in time right now, where we must balance unprecedented growth in high-density workloads with an increasingly urgent need for sustainable, scalable digital infrastructure. "Our Sollefteå campus represents a significant milestone for the company and demonstrates our commitment to building data centre ecosystems that deliver both technical excellence and long-term value for local communities.” The announcement follows recent expansion projects in Iceland and Stockholm. For more from atNorth, click here.

RETN launches Tallinn–Cēsis backbone route

RETN, an independent global network services provider, has launched a new backbone route between Tallinn and Cēsis, designed to strengthen connectivity between Northern and Central Europe. The route was tested shortly before entering service when a fibre break affected the primary backbone path in late 2025. During pre-service testing, engineers redirected live traffic onto the new Tallinn–Cēsis link. More than 40 DWDM (Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing) backbone channels across multiple European segments were rerouted within 60 minutes. According to the company, latency and jitter remained within normal operating parameters during the transfer. Additional capacity and route diversity The new line forms part of RETN’s wider network expansion strategy, aimed at increasing route and supplier diversity. It provides an additional terrestrial path between Finland, the Nordics, and Central Europe. The deployment includes a new core point of presence at Greenergy Data Centre in Tallinn and adds capacity of up to 40Tbps, with additional DWDM spectrum available for future services and traffic resilience. Tony O’Sullivan, CEO of RETN, says, “Modern backbone networks have to be engineered on the assumption that outages are inevitable. Therefore, the network design should be resilient from the start. "The Tallinn–Cēsis route was built as part of a deliberate resilience strategy, adding diversity at both the route and supplier level so that when a failure occurs, traffic can be shifted quickly without compromising performance.” For more from RETN, click here.

Data Centre Alliance, Clear Decisions launch Regulatory Radar

The Data Centre Alliance (DCA), a UK trade association for the data centre sector, and Clear Decisions, a regulatory compliance and sustainability reporting platform for data centre operators, have launched Regulatory Radar, a regulatory intelligence platform developed specifically for the data centre sector. The platform is designed to provide structured, real-time updates on policy and regulatory developments across the UK and EU, including energy reform, planning policy, sustainability regulation, and AI infrastructure strategy. Regulatory Radar combines AI-based analysis with expert review. The organisations state this approach is intended to ensure updates are interpreted in context and linked to potential operational and commercial impact. Tracking policy change across UK and EU The platform includes forward-looking analysis of planning, energy, and sustainability reform, alongside monitoring of digital and AI policy developments. It also identifies emerging compliance and reporting requirements. According to the DCA and Clear Decisions, the aim is to consolidate regulatory developments into a single source and provide greater visibility of potential risks and strategic considerations for data centre operators and investors. Steve Hone, Chief Executive of the Data Centre Alliance, says, “The regulatory landscape for digital infrastructure is evolving faster than ever. Our sector cannot afford to operate on partial information or delayed insight. "Regulatory Radar combines AI-driven intelligence with expert oversight to give operators and investors the foresight required to anticipate change, shape engagement, and protect long-term value. This collaboration sets a new benchmark for industry intelligence.” Regulatory Radar is available to DCA corporate members and Clear Decisions subscribers. For more from the DCA, click here.

Daikin to showcase data centre solutions at DCW 2026

Daikin, a Japanese manufacturer of air conditioning and refrigeration systems, will participate in Data Centre World London 2026, where it will exhibit at Stand B140. The company says it will use the event to demonstrate how advanced cooling technologies and specialist expertise can support the sustainable growth of Europe’s rapidly expanding data centre sector. Building on its strong market track record, Daikin Applied will showcase solutions designed to meet the evolving needs of colocation providers and hyperscalers. Visitors to the stand will be able to engage directly with Daikin’s data centre specialists and explore how the company supports projects from early design and engineering through to commissioning, operation and long-term service. Data Centre World London is a key meeting point for operators and suppliers seeking practical, future-proof approaches to balancing performance, reliability, and sustainability. Daikin’s presence underscores its commitment to helping customers meet rising capacity demands, tighter energy efficiency targets, and increasingly complex data centre designs. A trusted partner for mission-critical environments At the show, Daikin will present an overview of its data centre portfolio, covering cooling solutions for a wide range of applications and design philosophies. A key feature of the stand will be a mock-up of the new Pro-W Slim fan array unit, designed to deliver high efficiency, scalability, and operational flexibility. The unit supports modular design concepts and is optimised for reliability, ease of maintenance, and precise airflow control. The company will also showcase its new coolant distribution unit (CDU), designed to support liquid-cooled architectures and high-density applications. Alongside these innovations, Daikin’s portfolio includes air- and water-cooled chillers, heat pumps, air handling units, CRAH systems, and integrated control solutions. Combined with specialist engineering support and lifecycle services, the company delivers tailored, end-to-end cooling solutions for data centres of all sizes and complexity levels. For more from Daikin, click here.

Secure I.T. completes Qatar financial data centre design

Secure I.T. Environments (SITE), a UK design and build company for modular, containerised, and micro data centres, has completed a full server room design programme for a financial institution in the State of Qatar. The company delivered the engineering and layout documentation, enabling local procurement and installation. The project involved a new server room within an existing building footprint - covering approximately 110m² - and included a separate staging area to improve security and operational flow. The design includes eight IT racks and three communications racks, based on a target density of 6kW per IT rack. Power infrastructure features dual 50kW UPS systems operating in parallel, alongside additional UPS provision for communications equipment. Capacity, cooling, and resilience Cooling is based on an N+1 direct expansion configuration using three air conditioning units, providing around 80kW of sensible cooling capacity. The total estimated site load is approximately 145kVA within a 150kVA allowance. Environmental monitoring and fire protection systems were also incorporated, with humidity control and condensate management designed for high ambient temperatures. The design follows the ISO/IEC TS 22237 data centre facility standards and related international guidance covering power, environmental control, security, and management. Chris Wellfair, Projects Director at Secure I.T. Environments, comments, “For overseas data centre and server room projects, getting the design decisions right up front is what de-risks delivery. "This programme focused on producing a complete, buildable design for a controlled, resilient environment, with clear capacity assumptions, practical access planning, and standards-led engineering across power, cooling, fire, and security. "Having our work in demand internationally is a testament to the work of our design team.” For more from Secure I.T. Environments, click here.

Johnson Controls to acquire Alloy Enterprises

Johnson Controls, a global provider of smart building technologies, has signed an agreement to acquire Alloy Enterprises, a developer of liquid cooling technology for high performance data centres and industrial facilities. Founded in 2020 and based in Boston, USA, Alloy Enterprises develops direct liquid cooling components designed to improve heat removal and reduce pressure drop in cooling loops. The company states the approach can improve thermal efficiency by up to 35% while lowering cooling system energy use. The acquisition is intended to expand Johnson Controls’ data centre cooling portfolio, which already includes chillers, coolant distribution units, and waste heat recovery systems. Liquid cooling capability expansion Johnson Controls says Alloy’s manufacturing and materials engineering capabilities will complement its existing cooling equipment, including chillers and liquid cooling distribution platforms. The technology is designed to support cooling of GPUs, CPUs, memory, and network interfaces in high density computing environments. Lei Schlitz, President, Global Products & Solutions at Johnson Controls, says, “This acquisition is about enabling our customers to stay ahead of fast-changing compute demands by adding another core technology that enables us to optimise the overall thermal management architecture of a data centre. "It will also strengthen our core technology capabilities that can scale across the Johnson Controls portfolio and reinforces our long-term commitment to lead more broadly in advanced thermal management solutions for mission critical applications.” Alison Forsyth, co-founder and CEO of Alloy Enterprises, says, “We’ll continue to work closely to solve the industry's most urgent challenges in data centres and other mission-critical environments. "We look forward to this new chapter and continuing to scale with one of the world's most respected and experienced leaders in thermal management innovation.” The transaction is expected to complete in the company’s fiscal third quarter, subject to regulatory approvals. Financial terms were not disclosed. For more from Johnson Controls, click here.

How Elevate is redefining data centre infrastructure

It feels like yesterday that Elevate – Future Faster launched at Data Centre World 2025. Since then, the team have been working closely with operators, integrators, and partners to understand where white space designs struggle under pressure, namely: how density is increasing, how airflow and power must evolve, and how programmes need to accelerate without increasing operational risk. Now, as Elevate returns for year two at Data Centre World on Stand B180, it isn’t “new for the sake of new”; it’s a platform that closes the gap between what modern data centres demand and what infrastructure can realistically deliver – more density, more control, and more scale, without complexity creeping in through the back door. Elevate was built as an integrated ecosystem: fibre, racks, aisle containment, power, and security engineered to work together with clean installation, clear labelling, and predictable operation. In its second year, that ecosystem has expanded significantly, with wider choices for high density fibre, more robust airflow strategies, and smarter power and physical security options designed to make scaling easier. Addressing today’s data centre challenges Modern data centres face a familiar set of pressures: rising density, faster change cycles, and tighter operational guardrails. Elevate is designed to help teams keep pace. Densification is no longer optional. Port counts rise, but physical space doesn’t. Elevate’s high-density fibre solutions – VSFF, MPO, and modular ODF architectures – deliver more ports in the same rack unit space while maintaining front access, bend radius control, and clear labelling. The goal isn’t only to fit more, but to manage more. Thermal performance is another sticking point. As loads increase, improvised airflow tactics break down. Elevate’s hot and cold aisle containment is engineered to integrate properly with racks, cable pathways, and power routes. The result is stable airflow separation and higher cooling efficiency across mixed hardware environments. Power, too, needs to evolve. It is no longer enough to energise a rack; operators need visibility, telemetry, and control. Elevate’s high-density intelligent power provides meaningful insight – usage, load, switching – so day two operations become more predictable and less prone to surprises. Deployment speed matters as much as performance. To avoid delays and rework, Elevate prioritises pre-connectorised designs and engineered pathways. Pre-configured fibre assemblies and pre-populated ODF trays reduce on site variability, shorten install windows, and improve “first time right” outcomes. Moreover, as estates grow, clarity becomes critical. Structured labelling, clean patch presentation, and tray level guidance help maintain consistency long after the initial build and far beyond the day one installation. Fast, reliable availability rounds out the approach. Predictable supply chains and standardised configurations help teams maintain design intent and execute programmes without interruption. Advancing the Elevate Platform for 2026 This year, Elevate introduces a number of key additions designed to meet the demands of increasingly dense, increasingly dynamic data centres: 1. VSFF ultra high density pre-connectorised fibre optics deliver far higher port density within standard 1U and 2U panel formats, reducing splicing, test cycles, and deployment time. 2. Hot aisle containment supports facilities optimised around hot air capture and reuse, improving thermal stability as densities rise. 3. High density intelligent power adds the visibility and control required to balance loads, automate switching, and support safe change windows. 4. Intelligent rack locking delivers scalable, auditable access control. 5. High-density ODFs with pre-connectorised trays provide structured, repeatable patching fields with predictable routing and clear documentation. Alongside these additions, the DCR Rack Series, cold aisle containment, and MPO high-density, pre-connectorised solutions return with refinements that make dense builds easier to construct, cool, and maintain. These aren’t isolated features; they’re responses to real operator pressures, helping teams design once, scale confidently, and maintain operational clarity. Experience the Elevate platform at DCW London The most reliable way to evaluate infrastructure is to see the engineering up close. At DCW London, Stand B180, you can explore ODF trays, routing paths, containment interfaces, intelligent power options, and rack level access control, as well as discuss how Elevate can support your growth, densification, or refresh plans for 2026. And while you’re there, enter Elevate’s on-stand competition for a chance to win a pair of Apple AirPods. For more from Elevate, click here.

EXFO launches high fibre count data centre testers

EXFO, a Canadian provider of test, monitoring, and analytics equipment for data centres and telecommunications networks, has introduced a high fibre count data centre testing platform with two new instruments designed for hyperscale and AI infrastructure deployments. The testers will be demonstrated at Data Centre World London 2026 on 4–6 March (Stand B202), alongside a separate showcase at OFC 2026 in Los Angeles on 17–19 March (Booth 523). The release includes two native 24-fibre capable instruments: the FTB-Lite simplex, duplex, and multi-fibre bidirectional certifier, and the PXM/LXM duplex and multi-fibre optical loss test set (OLTS). The equipment is intended to support certification and troubleshooting across large fibre installations in and around data centres. Etienne Gagnon, General Manager Test & Measurement at EXFO, says, “EXFO is trusted by all major hyperscalers to support the accelerated pace of data centre and network builds happening today. “Our high fibre count solution, now reinforced with the only native 24-fibre testers on the market, simplifies testing and enables scaling-up faster to give our customers a competitive advantage as they respond to exponential growth in AI-driven demand.” Testing, certification, and diagnostics The platform supports Tier 1 certification, optical return loss measurement, and Tier 2 troubleshooting across fibre counts up to 24 fibres. Features include automated bidirectional testing, referencing tools, and connector end-face analysis. EXFO says the system is designed to address the increased number of links, connectors, and handling requirements associated with high-density fibre deployments, while reducing the risk of testing errors during large-scale construction projects. For more from EXFO, click here.