ZIEHL-ABEGG updates ZAplus fan design

ZIEHL-ABEGG, a German ventilation manufacturer, has introduced the ZAplus Next Generation axial fan, aimed at improving airflow, efficiency, and acoustic performance in data centres and other cooling applications. The updated design builds on the existing ZAplus platform, incorporating a slimmer housing and revised aerodynamic components to increase air output and pressure within the same footprint. The company says this allows larger fan sizes to be deployed in existing spaces, supporting upgrades without requiring significant changes to system layouts. The housing, available in sizes from 450 mm to 1,000 mm, has been developed using computational fluid dynamics to optimise airflow. It is manufactured using plastic injection moulding to reduce weight and improve corrosion resistance. Design changes focus on airflow and efficiency The system includes FE2owlet and FE3owlet blade designs, alongside guide vanes and a compact diffuser to stabilise airflow and improve pressure performance. Additional nozzles are used to help smooth airflow and reduce turbulence. The company notes that these elements are designed to support efficient operation while maintaining a consistent footprint. The fan also enables variable speed control, allowing airflow to be adjusted to demand, which can help reduce energy use over time. The ZAplus Next Generation is available with both AC and ECblue motor options, providing flexibility for both retrofit and new-build data centre environments. ZIEHL-ABEGG says its composite construction is intended to support durability and reduce maintenance requirements in long-term operation.

Huawei Cloud: The first choice of multicloud provider for LATAM

On 17 March 2026, Huawei Cloud hosted COMPASS, its annual flagship event for Latin America in Shenzhen and Dongguan, China. The event convened more than 150 attendees including public sector decision-makers, business leaders, tech partners, and industry experts from Latin America. They explored cutting-edge Chinese technologies, witnessed AI's power in daily life, and discussed how cloud technologies can enable a better future. Named "COMPASS" to represent exploration and guidance, the summit brought together Huawei Cloud and its Latin American customers and partners to advance digital and intelligent transformation efforts. Latin America: A vital pillar of Huawei Cloud's global strategy Peter Zhou, CEO of Huawei Cloud, highlighted Latin America as a vital pillar of Huawei Cloud's global strategy during his keynote speech. He stated that Huawei Cloud leads the region with the most extensive cloud regions, broadest coverage, and fastest growth. Huawei Cloud has become the go-to provider for businesses adopting hybrid and multi-cloud solutions while supporting governments and organisations in major industries in their shift toward intelligent operations. In 2026, Huawei Cloud aims to drive customer transformation in Latin America by focusing on three strategic areas: 1. Continuous innovation: In line with the deeper AI adoption into production systems, Huawei Cloud plans to expand its AI compute service in Brazil and Mexico while ramping up investments in a full-stack solution that involves cloud computing, diverse AI models, and application platforms, combining public cloud flexibility and hybrid cloud security to meet a wider range of customer needs. 2. Deepened industry focus: Huawei Cloud will integrate AI best practices from both China and globally with regional insights in Latin America to assist customers in solving real-world business challenges. 3. A robust cloud foundation: Security and stability are the lifeline of Huawei Cloud. Huawei Cloud boasts 955 days of secure, uninterrupted operation. Moving forward, Huawei Cloud will converge its cloud foundation and data security centres into end-to-end security solutions, which ensure sound and efficient cloud migration. Strong local presence: The trusted partner for LATAM Daniel Zhou, President of Huawei Latin America, emphasised the company's strong, long-term dedication to the region during his keynote speech. By 2025, Huawei has had over 20 offices and employed more than 4,400 people across Latin America, with over 70% local hires. The company indirectly creates over 100,000 jobs and ranks as a top employer in several countries. Through its carrier business, Huawei reaches more than half of Latin America's population. It collaborates with thousands of partners and customers in areas like enterprise solutions, digital power, and consumer products. As a leading provider of digital infrastructure and smart devices, Huawei is a dedicated, trusted partner in driving Latin America's digital innovation and sustainable growth. Huawei Cloud has become the go-to cloud for Latin American businesses by focusing on five key strengths, as highlighted by Daniel Zhou: • Systemic AI capabilities: Huawei Cloud provides advanced AI infrastructure, a Model as a Service (MaaS) platform, and an agent platform to help industries across Latin America solve their unique challenges with AI. • State-of-the-art hybrid cloud: As the sole provider supporting complete AI deployment - from infrastructure to model services - on local data centres, Huawei Cloud ensures local access to powerful AI tools while keeping critical data secure within customer premises. • Trust by industry leaders: With deep expertise in Latin America and a strong grasp of industry needs, Huawei Cloud is the go-to multi-cloud solution provider for major players in government, finance, carrier, and retail sectors. • Reliable and compliant: Keeping a track record of zero major incidents for more than 900 days, Huawei Cloud fully complies with Latin America's security, privacy, and financial regulations. • Always-on support: 24/7 Spanish and Portuguese support with the fastest response times in the industry guarantees uninterrupted service for local customers. Enhanced performance, increased trust, and "1+3" solution Mark Chen, President of Huawei Cloud Latin America, shared key updates on the company's growth and plans: Huawei Cloud leads in public cloud revenue growth in Latin America, outpacing competitors and solidifying its position as the third-largest player in the IaaS market. Partner revenues grew over 50%. Major customers like SMU (Chilean retail leader), Claro (leading telecom provider), and Dataprev (Brazilian public sector IT company) trust Huawei Cloud for digital transformation in finance, retail, carrier, and government sectors. In addition, customer satisfaction rises to a new height: 92 points according to a third-party survey, with 83.4% of users recommending Huawei Cloud, reflecting the success of the company's customer-centric approach. Such achievements are backed by stronger localised service teams. Huawei Cloud has improved its team structure, increasing local hires by 10% and boosting bilingual Chinese staff proficient in Spanish and Portuguese by 15%. On behalf of Huawei Cloud Latin America, Mark Chen expressed the company's gratitude to customers for their ongoing support, emphasising collaboration with the saying: "Alone we go fast, together we go far." Over the past year, many new partners have contributed to this shared path towards sustainability and success. Huawei Cloud's "1+3" solution - featuring one cloud foundation and three key capabilities (AI, application modernisation, and big data) - empowers industry leaders in Latin America to achieve significant breakthroughs. Embracing AI transformation: Empowering quick actions on the right track Tim Tao (pictured above), President of Huawei Cloud Solution Sales, highlighted that AI now impacts nearly 90% of enterprise daily operations, evolving from a tool to a productivity partner. He stressed that enterprise intelligence must focus on core business requirements and deploying AI in high-value areas first. Huawei Cloud has helped customers in more than 500 scenarios across more than 30 industries achieve intelligent upgrades. With innovative products, technologies, and global experience, Huawei Cloud is poised to pave the way for enterprises towards greater business success. Tim showcased major use cases and proven practices across government, finance, and retail sectors. Governments focus on digitising services, enhancing information systems, and enabling smart governance. Financial institutions adopt distributed cores, data-driven operations, and intelligent innovations. Retailers leverage cloud to streamline promotions, omnichannel operations, and AI-powered customer service. Tim also presented innovative offerings - Huawei Cloud Foundation (HCF), AI DataLake, TaurusDB, ModelArts, AgentArts, and CodeArts - spanning cloud infrastructure, data, AI, and application enablement. Additionally, Huawei Cloud shared its success in supporting global customers, including those in Latin America, by building a reliable and secure cloud foundation, multimodal AI data platform, and one-stop AI development platform. These efforts empower businesses to thrive in the AI era. Success stories with Huawei Cloud from top customers • Latin America's top bank created an automated cloud foundation with Huawei Cloud and smoothly migrated 100% of its systems to the cloud, especially its core transaction system. • Dataprev, Brazil's premier public sector IT company, developed a national cloud platform using Huawei Cloud. The hybrid cloud architecture meets data sovereignty requirements, supports cross-cloud disaster recovery, and enables centralised O&M. By leveraging state-of-the-art AI technologies, Dataprev enables administrative organisations to deliver better public services to Brazilian citizens. • iFLYTEK, a top Chinese intelligent voice and AI company, collaborates with Huawei Cloud to combine its AI expertise with Huawei's compute resources. Together, they create industry-specific AI models and expand their global reach. • Stefanini, a leading technology consulting firm in Brazil, represents Huawei Cloud as a trusted advisor and solution provider. Via its extensive delivery network, Stefanini facilitates businesses across Latin America to adopt Huawei Cloud to accelerate digital transformation. COMPASS is not only an annual event of Huawei Cloud, but also a key indicator of Latin America's digital progress. Ready to shape a collaborative future, Huawei Cloud invites customers and partners to join forces today. For more from Huawei, click here.

Duos Edge AI expands Amarillo data centre footprint

Duos Technologies Group, through its subsidiary, Duos Edge AI, a provider of edge data centre (EDC) systems, has deployed a second EDC in the Amarillo, Texas market. The carrier-neutral facility is located on land in Potter County, adjacent to a major colocation site in the Texas Panhandle. It is designed to support regional demand for low-latency computing, including AI applications, enterprise workloads, and public sector services. The deployment builds on the company’s initial Amarillo site and forms part of a wider expansion across Texas, with additional locations in Lubbock, Waco, Victoria, Abilene, and Corpus Christi. The facility is designed to provide local processing capacity, reducing reliance on data centres in larger metropolitan areas and supporting improved network performance. Regional expansion and edge infrastructure strategy Duos Edge AI says the site will deliver high-density computing, increased bandwidth availability, and secure data processing capabilities for organisations operating in the region. The expansion reflects a broader strategy to develop edge infrastructure in underserved and high-growth markets. Dave Irek, Chief Operations Officer at Duos Edge AI, says, “This expansion enhances capacity and capability in the region. We are creating a robust, carrier-neutral ecosystem designed to support innovation, attract investment, and drive long-term economic growth.” Potter County Judge Nancy Tanner adds, “This collaboration with Duos Edge AI represents a significant investment in our community's future. [It] will attract new businesses, improve connectivity for our residents and schools, and position Potter County as a leader in digital infrastructure.” The new facility is expected to become operational in the coming months. For more from Duos Edge AI, click here.

Corning expands AI data centre connectivity

Corning, a US manufacturer of optical fibre for telecommunications and data centres, has expanded its data centre connectivity portfolio through a licensing agreement with US Conec. The agreement enables Corning to use PRIZM TMT optical ferrule technology, designed to increase fibre density within data centre environments, particularly for AI infrastructure. The technology supports higher fibre counts in limited space, addressing growing demand for connectivity as AI workloads scale and data centre architectures evolve. Mike O’Day, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Corning Optical Communications, comments, “AI infrastructure is pushing optical connectivity into new and more demanding environments. “By licensing PRIZM TMT, Corning is strengthening its ability to deliver scalable, fibre-rich solutions that help customers build larger, faster, and more efficient AI clusters, while aligning closely with the broader industry ecosystem.” Supporting higher-density AI infrastructure As AI deployments expand, data centres are increasing the number of connected accelerators and shifting towards optical connections in place of traditional copper links. This change is driving higher fibre density within server and switch racks, increasing the need for compact, high-performance connectors. The PRIZM TMT ferrule uses expanded beam technology with precision-aligned microlenses, rather than direct fibre contact. This approach is intended to improve installation reliability, reduce sensitivity to contamination, and support faster deployment. According to the companies, these characteristics are suited to large-scale AI environments, where high connection density and consistent performance are required. For more from Corning, click here.

Antin acquires NorthC

Antin Infrastructure Partners, a private equity firm specialising in infrastructure investments, has completed its acquisition of NorthC Datacenters, a data centre operator in Northwest Europe, from DWS and other minority shareholders. Headquartered in Amsterdam, NorthC operates 25 data centres across The Netherlands, Germany, and Switzerland, with more than 140 MW of secured gross grid capacity across existing and upcoming greenfield sites. The company plans to expand into new regions and begin construction of facilities in Frankfurt, Basel, and Geneva this year. Continuing regional expansion Alexandra Schless (pictured above), CEO of NorthC Datacenters, comments, “The finalisation of this acquisition marks a key milestone in the NorthC journey. "Now, with Antin Infrastructure Partners officially on board, we have gained a new strategic partner whose deep expertise in digital infrastructure perfectly aligns with our regional leadership and expansion goals. "We are ready to accelerate our growth across the Benelux and DACH regions, leveraging our 140 MW of secured capacity to meet the surging demand for AI inference workloads and enterprise digital transformation. "Our focus remains on delivering high-quality, regional colocation solutions with the scale and backing of a global infrastructure leader.” Stéphane Ifker and Maximilian Lindner, Managing Partner and Partner (respectively) at Antin Infrastructure Partners, add, “We are delighted to be working with NorthC as we jointly embark on the company’s next growth phase. "This closing signifies the start of an ambitious new chapter. We are fully committed to supporting Alexandra and her management team as they expand their footprint, modernise their facilities, and continue to serve as the backbone for Europe's most critical digital infrastructure sectors.” For more from NorthC, click here.

Siemens, Rittal partner on data centre power

German multinational technology company Siemens and Rittal, a German manufacturer of industrial enclosures, IT racks, and climate control systems, have formed a partnership to develop power distribution infrastructure for data centres, targeting increasing demands from AI workloads. The collaboration focuses on standardised systems designed to support higher rack power densities, improve deployment speed, and streamline data centre construction. Power demands in AI environments are continuing to rise, with rack densities already exceeding 100 kW and expected to increase further over the coming years. The companies aim to address these requirements through updated approaches to power distribution, cooling, and heat management. Focus on scalable power infrastructure One of the first developments from the partnership is a sidecar power system, installed within the white space of a data centre. The system uses a dedicated power rack to supply server racks, supporting a modular and scalable approach to power delivery. The design aligns with Open Compute Project standards and is intended to simplify deployment while maintaining operational reliability. “To enable the rapid growth of AI, we need smart, reliable, and scalable power supply solutions for data centres and we need them quickly,” comments Andreas Matthé, CEO Electrical Products at Siemens Smart Infrastructure. Further joint work includes the development of standardised low-voltage distribution systems for modular and containerised data centres, alongside measures aimed at improving operational and personnel safety. The partnership builds on existing collaboration between Siemens and the Friedhelm Loh Group, Rittal’s parent company, and is expected to expand into additional applications beyond data centres. For more from Siemens, click here.

Report: AI boom driving US data centres off grid

The rapid expansion of off-grid data centres across the US is emerging as a possible answer to the power constraints reshaping the AI-driven digital economy, according to a new report from law firm Troutman Pepper Locke. As artificial intelligence accelerates demand for compute capacity, the firm's report - Off-Grid Data Centers: A Potential Power Solution for AI - finds that developers, hyperscalers, and energy companies are increasingly turning to behind-the-meter and ‘island-moded’ generation to secure reliable, scalable electricity while avoiding grid congestion and regulatory delays. According to projections cited in the analysis, global data centre investment could reach $6.7 trillion (£5 trillion) by 2030, with approximately $2.7 trillion (£2 trillion) of that invested in the US market. Nowhere is the transformation more visible than in Texas, where the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) forecasts that data centre electricity demand could rise by 22 GW between 2025 and 2031, reaching 78 GW (or roughly 36% of total statewide demand). At the same time, AI-specialised server racks now require 50–100 kW each, up from 5–10 kW in traditional configurations just a few years ago. As microchips become more powerful and energy intensive, the report concludes that power - not silicon - has become the primary constraint on AI expansion. Natural gas as the bridge to scale One of the report's central findings is the decisive shift towards natural gas as the preferred near-term solution for off-grid facilities. Developers are prioritising dispatchable generation that can deliver the "five nines" reliability (99.999% uptime) demanded by hyperscale AI operations. While renewables remain a central part of long-term decarbonisation strategies, the analysis suggests that wind and solar alone cannot yet provide consistent, 24/7 baseload power at the scale AI requires without substantial overbuild and storage. Battery capacity, though advancing, "remains limited" in duration for utility-scale deployments. Small modular nuclear reactors reportedly hold promise but are not yet commercially deployable at scale. Natural gas generation, by contrast, can be deployed relatively quickly and offers dependable output, which the report argues makes it the dominant choice for early off-grid adopters, particularly in Texas, where fuel supply and land availability align. However, the report also cautions that turbine supply chains are tightening, and competition for equipment, skilled labour, and transmission infrastructure is intensifying as AI-driven projects accelerate nationwide. Interconnection bottlenecks fuel off-grid momentum Grid interconnection queues are increasingly congested, delaying projects in key markets. Developers are therefore reportedly pursuing behind-the-meter solutions as a bridge to eventual grid connection - or, in some cases, as a long-term strategy to maintain operational autonomy. Texas's deregulated electricity market and advanced behind-the-meter framework make it a focal point for this shift. Yet, regulatory oversight is also evolving. Senate Bill 6, passed with bipartisan support in 2025, introduced new obligations for large-load users, including requirements tied to backup generation and infrastructure cost allocation. At the federal level, policymakers are responding to the AI "gold rush" with measures designed both to accelerate data centre permitting and protect grid reliability. Proposed initiatives such as the Decentralised Access to Technology Alternatives (DATA) Act and large-load interconnection reforms could further clarify the treatment of private off-grid facilities and reduce compliance burdens. The report suggests that regulatory clarity - rather than deregulation alone - will be essential to sustaining investment momentum while safeguarding broader system stability. Community scrutiny and the $64 billion delay factor Beyond infrastructure, the report highlights mounting community resistance. Research referenced in the analysis indicates that as of early 2025, approximately $64 billion (£48.2 billion) in US data centre developments had faced delays due to bipartisan local opposition, often centred on energy costs, water use, and property impacts. Off-grid systems can mitigate some of these concerns by reducing strain on public grids and shielding residential ratepayers from infrastructure cost allocation. Nevertheless, proactive community engagement and transparent economic value propositions remain critical. The report also explores alternative models, including modular data centres colocated with renewable assets to absorb curtailed power, demonstrating that innovation in design and siting can complement traditional off-grid approaches. The partner imperative With gigawatt-scale campuses carrying price tags exceeding $1 billion (£753 million) per facility, counterparty strength and supply chain resilience are paramount, according to the report. Developers and energy providers "must conduct rigorous due diligence" on turbine manufacturers, engineering teams, landholders, and off-takers. In an off-grid environment, there is no utility fallback. Creditworthiness, long-term commitment, and technical capability become central risk determinants. The report underscores that competition is fierce and that some early entrants may struggle to scale without robust financial backing. Reliability first and always Ultimately, the report concludes that reliability eclipses all other considerations. Hyperscalers racing to lead the AI market prioritise guaranteed uptime over short-term cost arbitrage or energy trading opportunities. The business case for AI infrastructure depends on uninterrupted power, and developers are reshaping generation strategies accordingly. Brandon Lobb, Partner in Troutman Pepper Locke’s Energy Transactional Practice Group, says, "AI has shifted the centre of gravity in the energy market. Power availability - not just price - is now the defining variable in digital infrastructure strategy. "Off-grid solutions are emerging as a pragmatic response to interconnection delays, reliability demands, and community pressures. Companies that align regulatory strategy, supply chain discipline, and creditworthy partnerships will be best positioned to lead in this next phase of AI growth." As federal and state frameworks continue to evolve, off-grid data centres appear set to become a structural feature of the US energy and technology landscape, rather than a temporary workaround.

Schneider, NVIDIA to advance AI data centre design

Global energy technology company Schneider Electric has expanded its collaboration with NVIDIA to develop validated designs and digital tools for large-scale AI data centres. Working alongside AVEVA, the companies outlined new developments in designing, simulating, building, and operating AI infrastructure during NVIDIA GTC in San Jose, USA. These include a reference design for NVIDIA’s latest rack-scale systems, integration of digital twin capabilities, and testing of AI-driven tools for managing data centre alarms. The announcements focus on supporting large-scale AI deployments, sometimes referred to as “AI factories”, with an emphasis on power, cooling, and operational efficiency. Reference design and digital twin integration A new reference design has been developed for NVIDIA’s Vera Rubin NVL72 rack architecture, covering power distribution and cooling requirements. The design supports higher supply voltage, improved thermal efficiency, and clustered rack configurations for AI workloads. It has been validated using electrical system and airflow modelling tools to assess performance before deployment. In parallel, AVEVA has introduced a lifecycle digital twin architecture integrated within the NVIDIA Omniverse environment. This enables simulation of power, cooling, and operational conditions, allowing operators to test and refine designs prior to construction. According to the companies, this approach is intended to reduce design cycles, improve accuracy, and support more efficient deployment of AI infrastructure. Manish Kumar, Executive Vice President, Secure Power & Data Centers at Schneider Electric, comments, “As AI workloads scale in both size and complexity, the margin for error in data centre design becomes incredibly small. “Delivering AI at scale requires tightly integrated electrical, cooling, and digital architectures that can support both unprecedented performance demands while maintaining peak energy efficiency. "By combining advanced software, digital twins, and validated reference designs, operators can simulate and optimise infrastructure before a single rack is deployed. This approach reduces risk, accelerates deployment, and ensures the efficiency and resilience needed to power the next generation of AI factories.” Vladimir Troy, Vice President of AI Infrastructure at NVIDIA, adds, “Gigawatt-scale AI factories demand a fundamentally new class of energy-efficient and highly predictable infrastructure. “Together, NVIDIA and Schneider Electric are providing the power, cooling, and digital twin architectures needed to accelerate time-to-token for our customers worldwide.” AI-based alarm management testing Schneider Electric also confirmed testing of an AI-based alarm management capability using NVIDIA Nemotron models. The system analyses real-time data from multiple sources to identify root causes of issues and recommend corrective actions. The aim is to support data centre operators in resolving incidents more quickly and consistently, while reducing unnecessary maintenance activity. The latest developments build on ongoing collaboration between the companies, including work on digital twin environments, power system modelling, and support for higher-voltage data centre architectures. For more from Schneider Electric, click here.

SUBCO expands Australia network route diversity

SUBCO, an Australian developer of undersea fibre optic cable networks, has expanded its Australian network with additional route diversity between Sydney and Melbourne, alongside new data centre access points across major cities. The company says its Sydney–Melbourne connection now operates across two geographically independent paths, combining subsea and terrestrial infrastructure to improve resilience on one of the country’s busiest corridors. On the Sydney–Perth route, the Indigo Central and SMAP systems provide two separate cable paths with distinct geographic routes. Both systems operate independently, with separate landing stations, submarine line terminal equipment, and data centre connections to reduce the risk of disruption from a single incident. Bevan Slattery, founder and Co-CEO of SUBCO, explains, “Diversity has traditionally been something customers needed to engineer themselves, engaging multiple providers and hoping the underlying paths were physically separate. SUBCO’s strategy has been to own and operate diverse assets and deliver them as a single, fully integrated offering.” Expanded data centre connectivity SUBCO has also introduced new access points across Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, and Perth, extending connectivity to its domestic and international cable network. New connection locations include facilities operated by NextDC, Equinix, AirTrunk, and CDC Data Centres. The update forms part of a wider infrastructure expansion programme, which also includes the APX East subsea cable project. This planned system is expected to connect Australia directly with the mainland United States, with service targeted for late 2028. According to SUBCO, APX East will provide a direct subsea route without intermediate landing points, and will land north of Sydney’s existing cable protection zone to increase geographic separation.

NetApp launches new EF-Series storage systems

NetApp, a US provider of data storage and cloud infrastructure management, has announced new additions to its EF-Series storage portfolio, designed for high-performance workloads across AI, high-performance computing (HPC), and transactional databases. The latest models, EF50 and EF80, are intended to support increasing data demands in enterprise environments, including emerging applications such as sovereign AI clouds and AI-driven manufacturing. The systems are designed to work with parallel file systems such as Lustre and BeeGFS, supporting HPC simulations and GPU-intensive workloads through high-performance scratch storage. Performance and efficiency improvements According to NetApp, the new systems deliver over 110GBps of read throughput and 55GBps of write throughput, representing a 250% increase compared to previous generations. The systems also offer a power efficiency of 63.7GBps per kW, alongside storage density of up to 1.5PB within a 2U form factor. This is intended to support high-performance requirements while maintaining efficient rack usage. The EF-Series is positioned to support a range of use cases, including AI development, media production workflows, and large-scale data processing, with built-in data protection features. Clayton Vipond, Senior Solution Architect at CDW, says, “As we navigate the AI era, many enterprises are finding that they need to maximise their raw performance to extract the most value from their data. “The refreshed NetApp EF-Series deliver the throughput and capacity businesses need to scale high-powered workloads that transform data into insights and outcomes.” Simon Robinson, Principal Analyst at Omdia, adds, “By delivering a high-performance storage system that supports parallel file systems like Lustre and BeeGFS, NetApp is making its mark as emerging industries - such as neocloud - emerge to support the AI-Era.” NetApp states that the EF-Series platform builds on its existing installed base, with more than one million deployments globally. For more from NetApp, click here.