Debunking the myth: The world is not running out of data centres

Concerns about resource depletion are not new to economists. From fears of "peak oil" to anxieties over food shortages, history has shown that as demand surges, supply mechanisms adapt accordingly. Today, a similar narrative is emerging around data centres. A closer examination, however, reveals that, despite burgeoning demands, the industry is not approaching a resource-constrained peak. Instead, data centre infrastructure is evolving dynamically to meet increasing needs, driven by advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, and the expansion strategies of hyperscale companies. Daniele Viappiani, Portfolio Manager at GC1 Ventures, explores this further: The evolution of data centres: Scaling to meet demand Data centres are intricate ecosystems requiring stable electricity, advanced cooling systems, robust connectivity, and stringent security measures. While, theoretically, they can be constructed anywhere, optimal locations are chosen based on factors such as minimal natural disaster risk, proximity to essential infrastructure, and favourable environmental conditions. The industry is witnessing the emergence of massive, highly sophisticated data centres alongside smaller, modular facilities. These two complementary approaches combine to suitably address growing demand. Modular data centres are prefabricated units that offer rapid deployment and scalability, addressing the need for swift expansion. According to reports, the global market for modular data centres is projected to grow significantly, reaching $93.3 billion (£68.6 billion) by 2030, driven by the demand for plug-and-play solutions that can be deployed quickly to meet immediate needs. Addressing challenges: Labour, construction, and utilisation The complexity of data centres requires highly specialised labour, including engineers, electricians, and network experts, who are currently in high demand. Constructing large-scale data centres is a capital-intensive endeavour with lengthy lead times. While smaller facilities may take months, large centres can require up to three years to become operational.​ Despite this, existing data centres often operate below full capacity, allowing for short-term scaling. Many facilities are intentionally over-provisioned to manage utilisation peaks and accommodate growth, often running at under 50% utilisation. This design allows for the addition of servers or workloads within hours or days, provided the physical infrastructure supports it. Upgrading older servers to more efficient models can further enhance capacity, though limitations are primarily dictated by electrical and cooling infrastructures. Power constraints and regulatory hurdles Rapid expansion faces obstacles such as power grid limitations and zoning regulations, particularly in urban areas. The surge in electricity demand from data centres has led utilities to grapple with unprecedented power requests. For instance, Oncor Electric in Texas, USA, received requests totalling 119 gigawatts, far exceeding its current capacity. Utilities are responding by increasing capital spending and exploring infrastructure expansions, though challenges like overbuilding and rising construction costs persist. Zoning regulations also pose challenges, as finding suitable locations near physical infrastructure without overwhelming existing systems requires careful planning. In response, the industry is adopting innovative strategies, including the repurposing existing real estate such as old malls and factories, and expanding into emerging markets in Southeast Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Sustainability initiatives: Embracing renewable and nuclear energy With high energy consumption, sustainability becomes a priority, so investments in renewable energy, passive cooling, and nuclear power to overcome grid limitations are key. In 2024, renewable sources like wind, hydro, and solar provided a record 32% of global electricity, surpassing the 30% share in 2023. This growth aligns with the data centre industry's shift towards greener operations. Some companies are exploring nuclear power as a solution to provide massive, always-on power, free of carbon emissions. The US Department of Energy has identified federal sites, including major national laboratories, as potential locations for data centres aimed at accelerating AI development, leveraging existing energy infrastructure and the potential for expedited permitting, especially for nuclear energy projects. The AI boom: Assessing future demand The proliferation of AI has exacerbated concerns over increases in data centre demand. Training large models requires substantial computational power, contributing to a significant rise in electricity consumption. However, it's also possible that we may see diminishing marginal returns from using more data centres for AI and, eventually, demand growth could slow down. Emerging AI models requiring fewer processing chips may reduce future power needs, indicating that while current demand is high, future growth may stabilise. While concerns about data centre shortages are understandable given the rapid advancements in technology and increasing digital demands, the industry is demonstrating resilience and adaptability. Through the development of both massive and modular data centres, strategic location planning, investment in sustainable energy sources, and continuous innovation, the data centre sector is well-equipped to scale efficiently. The challenges remain significant, but with proactive strategies and technological advancements, the industry is poised to meet the demands of the digital era without approaching a resource-constrained peak.

EfficiencyIT announces partnership with MSSL

EfficiencyIT, a technology and data centre company providing consultancy, design and build services, and maintenance support, has today announced a formal partnership with Michael Smith Switchgear (MSSL), a UK-based manufacturer of sustainable electrical control and distribution equipment. With the intention to meet soaring demand for secure, scalable, and eco-conscious modular AI infrastructure in the UK and Europe, the alliance unites EfficiencyIT’s data centre engineering experience with MSSL’s switchgear manufacturing and installation capabilities. Building on EfficiencyIT’s ModularDC solutions and aligning with the UK Government’s recently published AI Opportunities Action Plan, the partnership seeks to help organisations across the governmental, enterprise, and life sciences sectors deploy resilient, scalable AI compute environments while achieving increases in sustainability. By collaborating from concept to delivery, EfficiencyIT and MSSL aim to reduce the time-to-deployment, cost, and environmental impact typically associated with accelerated computing infrastructure for HPC (high-performance computing) and artificial intelligence (AI) workloads. A partnership founded on sustainability Both EfficiencyIT and MSSL place an emphasis on sustainable innovation. EfficiencyIT holds PlanetMark accreditation and was recently recognised by its partner, Schneider Electric, as one of 16 EcoXpert partners globally for its sustainability impact. In recognition of its ongoing engagement in sustainable critical infrastructure operations, the company was also awarded a Royal Warrant of Appointment into the Place and Quality of Supplier of IT Infrastructure Services by His Majesty King Charles III, recognising the company's delivery of sustainable IT infrastructure to the British Royal Household. MSSL, meanwhile, is also a Schneider Electric Sustainability Impact Award winner and has spearheaded multiple sustainability initiatives in recent years, halving its carbon footprint, introducing renewable energy programs, and achieving carbon-neutral status for the first time in 2022. This track record has resulted in the company’s recognition through accolades and government case studies, most notably during COP26. Most recently, MSSL was honoured with The King’s Award for Enterprise for Sustainable Development, highlighting its long-term commitment to sustainability in manufacturing. The new channel partnership aims to give customers access to prefabricated data centre systems manufactured and integrated in the UK, including next-generation UPS, low-voltage (LV) switchgear, and power equipment. Additionally, by sourcing and manufacturing ModularDC systems in the UK, both companies aim to help customers decarbonise the supply chain by reducing Scope 3 emissions, strengthening local supply networks, and aligning with the UK government’s call for “sufficient, secure and sustainable infrastructure foundations for AI.” A shared commitment to decarbonisation “As demand for AI infrastructure intensifies, the data centre industry cannot afford to compromise on security, sustainability, or resilience,” argues Nick Ewing, Managing Director at EfficiencyIT. “By formalising our partnership with Michael Smith Switchgear, we’re ensuring that organisations across the public and private sectors can rapidly scale their data centre and AI compute environments without compromising on environmental commitments, supply chain security, or regulatory compliance.” Sean Smith, Managing Director at MSSL, comments, “EfficiencyIT shares our passion for environmental stewardship and supporting UK-based manufacturing with the highest standards of sustainability. Our combined experience provides a powerful proposition for customers looking to accelerate their AI and high-powered data centre, energy, or electrical projects, and we look forward to collaborating to help meet and exceed these ambitions.” For more from EfficiencyIT, click here.

Macquarie and CareSuper join forces

Macquarie Cloud Services, an Australian cloud services provider for business and government and part of Macquarie Technology Group, has been appointed by CareSuper to lead a major cloud transformation program, marking a high-profile shift away from VMware Cloud on AWS and towards a more modern Azure environment. The agreement is seeing Macquarie Cloud migrate and recalibrate CareSuper’s VMware Cloud on AWS (VMC) environment – made up of hundreds of applications and petabytes of data – into a Managed Edge Azure Local offering. “Our goal is to optimise every part of our operation so we can deliver long-term value to our members,” states Simon Reiter, Chief Technology Officer at CareSuper. “Cloud decisions must serve that mission – not just today, but five years from now. Macquarie Cloud Services stood out as a partner who could deliver both the technical transformation and the ongoing managed service maturity required.” Macquarie’s Azure-led approach consolidates CareSuper’s Technology estate into a unified platform. The engagement includes migrating workloads from VMware Cloud on AWS into a new Azure landing zone, modernising databases and implementing platform-as-a-service (PaaS) offerings with the aim to streamline performance and efficiencies for the fund. “We’re seeing a wave of repatriation from AWS,” comments Naran McClung, Head of Azure at Macquarie Cloud Services. “For many organisations, rising costs and architectural limitations have made them re-evaluate. But it’s not just about moving away, it’s about moving forward. That’s where our team adds value.” Macquarie has assumed the risk of the migration project, delivering the transformation with zero upfront cost to CareSuper and full accountability for outcomes. “What we’ve found in partnering with Macquarie Cloud Services is a team of experts who can transform, refactor, migrate, and ensure we get the best operational value from our cloud environment. That the company backs itself by taking on the cost risk of the migration phase is telling of its capabilities and commitment to putting customers first,” continues Simon. Four years as an Azure Expert MSP Macquarie Cloud Services is one of only a handful of partners across Asia Pacific to retain its Microsoft Azure Expert Managed Services Provider (MSP) status for four consecutive years. “We’ve seen our Azure team and business expand by about 20% every year since we set it up in 2020,” claims Naran. “Becoming an Azure Expert MSP is not a lifetime achievement, it takes incredible dedication, assessments requiring dozens of the team to come together, and – most importantly – an ability to deliver value to customers time and time again.” For more from Macquarie, click here.

Get ready to ‘Elevate’ your infrastructure

Elevate is the premium data centre white space and equipment room solution from Excel Networking, meeting tomorrow's infrastructure demands today. AI, HPC, and data volumes generally are increasing demands on compute resources at a pace never seen before, leading to more fibre in the same, if not less, rack space, exponential increases to power density, unprecedented cooling challenges, and legislative requirements to manage, report and protect. All while deployment schedules tighten. Elevate transforms complexity into competitive advantage through superior passive infrastructure solutions, including ultra-high-density fibre optic connectivity built on Senko low loss MPO and VSFF ready to support multi-terabit applications, intelligent rack systems with smart power and enhanced security, and aisle containment and fibre ducting systems. Strategic partnerships with nVent and Sunbird complement the infrastructure offer, bringing precision cooling, high density intelligent power, and best-in-class DCIM. Excel Networking recognises that efficient, on-time deployment needs more than just the right solution. Supply chain capability and support is critical, and here is where Excel Networking changes the game. Responsive, proactive pre-sales, lead times measured in days not months, pre-terminated UK assembled fibres, pre-configured racks, and high production capacities slash project timelines. The ability to deliver at scale is assured thanks to being part of Sonepar: the world's largest electrical distributor with a revenue of over €30 billion (£25.6 billion) across more than 40 countries, ensuring supply chain excellence, consistent EMEA-wide support and financial stability. Talk to Excel Networking’s dedicated team today to learn more about Elevate and how the company can support your next build. For more from Elevate – Future Faster, click here.

Siemens enters collaboration with Microsoft

Siemens Smart Infrastructure, a digital infrastructure division of German conglomerate Siemens, today announced a collaboration agreement with Microsoft to transform access to Internet of Things (IoT) data for buildings. The collaboration will enable interoperability between Siemens' digital building platform Building X and Microsoft Azure IoT Operations, a component of this adaptive cloud approach, providing tools and infrastructure to connect edge devices while integrating data. The interoperability of Building X and Azure IoT Operations seeks to make IoT-based data more accessible for large enterprise customers across commercial buildings, data centres, and higher education facilities, and provide them with the information to enhance sustainability and operations. It enables automatic onboarding and monitoring by bringing datapoints such as temperature, pressure, or indoor air quality to the cloud for assets like heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, valves, and actuators. The system should also allow customers to develop their own in-house use cases such as energy monitoring and space optimisation. The collaboration leverages known and established open industry standards, including World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) Web of Things (WoT), describing the metadata and interfaces of hardware and software, as well as Open Platform Communications Unified Architecture (OPC UA) for communication of data to the cloud. Both Siemens and Microsoft are members of the W3C and the OPC Foundation, which develops standards and guidelines that help build an industry based on accessibility, interoperability, privacy, and security. “This collaboration with Microsoft reflects our shared vision of enabling customers to harness the full potential of IoT through open standards and interoperability,” claims Susanne Seitz, CEO, Siemens Smart Infrastructure Buildings. “The improved data access will provide portfolio managers with granular visibility into critical metrics such as energy efficiency and consumption. With IoT data often being siloed, this level of transparency is a game-changer for an industry seeking to optimise building operations and meet sustainability targets.” “Siemens shares Microsoft’s focus on interoperability and open IoT standards. This collaboration is a significant step forward in making IoT data more actionable,” argues Erich Barnstedt, Senior Director & Architect, Corporate Standards Group, Microsoft. “Microsoft’s strategy underscores our commitment to partnering with industry leaders to empower customers with greater choice and control over their IoT solutions.” The interoperability between Siemens’ Building X and Azure IoT Operations will be available on the market from the second half of 2025. For more from Siemens, click here.

Anritsu, Fujikura confirm equivalent core crosstalk results

Anritsu Corporation, a Japanese multinational corporation manufacturing test and measurement equipment for telecommunications, in collaboration with Fujikura, a Japanese manufacturer of cables and optical fibres, has measured inter-core crosstalk in weakly-coupled multi-core optical fibres using multiple methods and has confirmed that the results are equivalent. Both companies presented their results at the international OptoElectronics and Communications Conference (OECC 2025) in Sapporo, Japan. With the growing adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud services, the demand for higher transmission capacity in optical submarine cables and data centre interconnects is rapidly increasing. Today’s optical communications rely on single-mode fibre (SMF) and advanced signal optimisation technologies to achieve high data throughput. However, as the transmission capacity per fibre continues to grow, these technologies are approaching their physical and performance limits. Consequently, recent R&D has focused on weakly-coupled multi-core optical fibre with multiple independent cores in a single optical fibre. While this type of fibre significantly increases transmission capacity, inter-core crosstalk – caused by interference resulting from light leakage between each core – degrades the quality of transmission. This varies not only due to the optical fibre design and manufacturing, but also depending on the installation conditions, requiring evaluation of inter-core crosstalk in field conditions. Although various companies and research institutions have proposed different methods for measuring inter-core crosstalk, the measured results from each method have not yet been adequately validated. In the presented comparative evaluation, Anritsu, collaborating with Fujikura, measured inter-core crosstalk using four methods: two using optical power meters, and two using Anritsu's OTDR (Optical Time Domain Reflectometer) for measuring optical fibre loss and reflection. The evaluated four-core weakly-coupled multi-core optical fibre manufactured by Fujikura features a standard cladding diameter of 125 µm. The measured results from each measurement method were all within ±1.0 dB at 1550 nm. Consequently, any of these four measurement methods can be chosen according to the weakly-coupled multi-core optical fibre application scenario, such as R&D, Manufacturing, and Installation and Maintenance (I&M), with assured consistent correlation regardless of which method is used. Furthermore, these results should assist with future standardisation of weakly-coupled multi-core optical fibre. Anritsu says it will continue to contribute to the practical implementation of next-generation optical communications technology by providing test solutions for weakly-coupled multi-core optical fibres.

nLighten appoints Andreas Herden as MD for Germany

nLighten, a European edge data centre platform, has appointed Andreas Herden as Managing Director for Germany. In his new role, Andreas will lead the strategic development of the German market and drive the expansion of the local data centre network. Andreas brings decades of experience in the data centre and digital infrastructure sector. Prior to joining nLighten, he served as Senior Vice President of Sales for Continental Europe at Green Mountain. His career also includes acting as Chief Sales Officer at Lefdal Mine Data Centers and various positions at Equinix, including Sales Director for the automotive, finance, and manufacturing sectors. This background, the company believes, has solidified his reputation as a recognised industry expert. At nLighten, Andreas will focus on strengthening the company’s presence in Germany’s industrial and metropolitan regions to support its mission to deliver sustainable, high-performance edge infrastructure. Commenting on his appointment, Andreas says, “nLighten’s data centres are not only state-of-the-art from a technological perspective, but also follow a holistic approach that balances customer needs and environmental requirements. This is exactly what the market needs and where I want to make an impact. By creating an ecosystem that combines connectivity, performance, and sustainability at a new standard, nLighten is truly ahead of the pack.” Harro Beusker, CEO and Co-Founder of nLighten, adds, “We are delighted to welcome Andreas to our leadership team. His extensive experience and strategic vision will allow him to play a key role in expanding our presence in Germany and realising our vision of a sustainable, sovereign digital infrastructure.” For more from nLighten, click here.

Arista expands AI-driven campus and branch networking offerings

Arista Networks, a provider of cloud and artificial intelligence (AI) networking systems, has announced several AI-driven enterprise products that deliver an expanded set of switching, Wi-Fi 7 access point, and WAN capabilities. In conjunction, Arista has acquired the VeloCloud SD-WAN portfolio from Broadcom. This combination hopes to bring operational ease through zero touch operations, proactive monitoring, and automated troubleshooting across the broad set of client-to-cloud networking domains. As organisations seek real-world business value from generative and agentic AI, they are adopting centres of data strategy that connect the algorithms and models to key, distributed data stores across the enterprise - from the data centres to the campus, the branches, and remote offices. Reliable networks that are always on, easy to operate, and with built-in security are, therefore, more important than ever. Arista says it continues to embrace this challenge with "an expanding set of hardware and software solutions optimised for various customer needs." VeloCloud offers cloud-delivered SD-WAN solutions with integrated security. It comprises of a range of edge hardware platforms, featuring integrated firewalling and application-optimised SD-WAN, available with a choice of integrated Wi-Fi and/or 5G mobile connectivity. This portfolio intends to provide expanded choice and to enable global WAN services to interconnect data centres and distributed campus offices, whilst adding to Arista's existing CloudEOS routing stack and 7000-series WAN routers. “We have been using Arista and VeloCloud in production environments,” states Alan Davidson, CIO of Broadcom. “The addition of the VeloCloud edge strengthens and scales the enterprise WAN network.” Arista is also introducing the AWE-7220R WAN router with regional connectivity. Together with the previously announced AWE-7230R and AWE-7250R systems, the company suggests customers can build a hub-spine and VeloCloud micro-edge ​​WAN topology. Arista's new campus portfolio features PoE capabilities in a compact form factor switch, along with a wider range of Wi-Fi 7 indoor and outdoor access points for branch deployments, enabling newer IoT applications, such as ESL (Electronic Shelf Label). "We’re thrilled with Arista's access point integration with VusionGroup's Electronic Shelf Labels,” comments Dean Penebacker, IT Director, Pan Pacific Retail Management (PPRM) Hawaii. “This seamless integration with our existing systems means we can manage pricing dynamically and reduce labour costs, all while ensuring accuracy at the shelf edge. It’s the innovative technology we need to stay competitive in today’s retail landscape." Key additions to the switching and wireless portfolio include:• A new, compact, fanless 12-port PoE switch that is also 60W capable in the 710 family of access switches, designed for remote office and branch deployments.• A new, ruggedised outdoor Wi-Fi 7 access point, the O-435, designed for harsh industrial and outdoor environments, featuring a 2x2 tri-radio and a fourth dedicated tri-band multi-function radio.• A new, entry-level 2x2 tri-radio Wi-Fi 7 indoor access point, the C-400, targeted for high-volume service provider-managed (MSP) branch environments, including SMBs, multi-dwelling units, and small remote offices. “Arista Networks’ new, compact, fanless switch platform and entry-level Wi-Fi 7 access point are a perfect fit for our clients with small distributed offices and branches,” claims Neil Dearman, CTO EMEA, High Point Solutions. “As a channel partner, we can address the unique needs of our clients with enterprise-grade technology that’s easy to deploy and manage, all while keeping costs in check. It’s a win-win for us and our customers." Arista CloudVision AGNI (CV AGNI) now supports a fully on-premises deployment model, seeking to enable customers with strict regulatory and data compliance requirements to benefit from scalable AI-driven network access control from large campuses to distributed locations - while the new 1G and 10G virtual ZTX platforms extend Arista MSS identity-based micro-segmentation to remote branches and small campuses. "For years, we searched for a solution to secure our network and district resources without adding complexity, financial strain, or management challenges,” notes Najeeb Qasimi, Director of IT, Oak Grove School District. “Arista CV AGNI allows us to effortlessly implement and maintain policies, while its secure client connectivity ensures every student, teacher, and device - whether on district-provided or personal equipment - remains protected. This powerful, hassle-free tool has revolutionised how we safeguard and operate our network." The availability of the products are currently as follows: • O-435 and C-400 will ship in Q2 2025.• 710XP will ship early Q3 2025.• The AWE-7220R WAN router is shipping now.• On-premises CloudVision AGNI is shipping now.• Arista MSS virtual ZTX appliances are shipping now. For more from Arista Networks, click here.

DigitalBridge and La Caisse complete acquisition of Yondr

DigitalBridge and La Caisse (formerly CDPQ) have announced the successful completion of the acquisition of Yondr Group, a global developer, owner, and operator of hyperscale data centers, from Cathexis Holdings. This investment furthers DigitalBridge and La Caisse’s history of partnership in digital infrastructure investing, positioning Yondr to accelerate its expansion in strategic markets and attempt to meet the surging demand for hyperscale and AI-driven data centres. La Caisse is investing alongside DigitalBridge-managed investment vehicles and has assumed joint control of Yondr. In connection with the completion of the acquisition, Aaron Wangenheim has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer, and Sandip Mahajan as Chief Financial Officer, effective immediately. Yondr develops and operates data centres to address data centre capacity demands of large technology companies. The operator has more than 420MW of capacity committed to hyperscalers and additional land to support a total potential capacity of over 1GW. The company believes it is well-positioned to capitalise on the growing demand for advanced data processing capabilities driven by ongoing digital transformation, the expansion of cloud solutions, and the rise of AI.​ “We’re thrilled to finalise our acquisition of Yondr alongside La Caisse,” announces Jon Mauck, Senior Managing Director and Head of Data Centers at DigitalBridge. “With a diverse global portfolio of campuses, Yondr further strengthens DigitalBridge’s world-class data centre portfolio and reinforces our focus on being a global partner to the leading hyperscale, technology, and AI companies that are driving the digital economy. We look forward to working alongside Aaron and Sandip, who bring extensive leadership experience, as we support Yondr’s strategy of developing and operating scaled capacity to meet the demands of AI and cloud computing. We are also very pleased to partner again with La Caisse, who shares our partnership-orientated approach to long-term value creation.” “Over the past few years, we have explored various direct investment opportunities in the data centre space and Yondr has stood out as a compelling platform to capitalise on the growth of the sector. At the end of 2024, we joined forces with DigitalBridge – a trusted partner – to invest in Yondr’s next development phase under renewed leadership and ownership,” adds Emmanuel Jaclot, Executive Vice President and Head of Infrastructure at La Caisse. “This investment reflects our conviction in the value of digital infrastructure and our confidence in Yondr’s ability to scale with agility, innovate, and deliver AI-ready data solutions at pace.” DigitalBridge and La Caisse have a longstanding track record of partnership in the digital infrastructure sector. In 2019, La Caisse acquired a 30% stake in Vertical Bridge, a private owner and operator of communications infrastructure in the United States and a DigitalBridge portfolio company. In 2024, DigitalBridge and La Caisse supported Vertical Bridge's $3.3 billion (£2.4 billion) tower transaction with Verizon. "I am proud to have supported Yondr on its journey since its formation in 2018. Yondr has become a vital infrastructure partner to many of the world's largest technology companies, and I believe DigitalBridge and La Caisse are the right partners to support Yondr through its next stage of growth. I look forward to seeing what the business will achieve," says William Harrison, CEO of Cathexis. Aaron, who joins Yondr as Chief Executive Officer, brings over two decades of data centre leadership and extensive experience overseeing the development and operations of data centre campuses around the world. He spent over a decade at T5 Data Centers in roles of increasing responsibility, including eight years as Chief Operating Officer. Most recently, he served as an advisor and developer of customised data centre solutions, where he worked with numerous investors evaluating both the property and operating aspects of the evolving data centre industry. Sandip, who joins Yondr as Chief Financial Officer, brings over three decades of financial leadership and infrastructure investment experience, including expertise in leveraged finance, equity and debt raising, and financial transformation. He has served as Chief Financial Officer at Mitie Group, a publicly-listed, UK-based support services business, and was earlier at Balfour Beatty, a publicly-listed construction services business in a number of roles, including as a project finance leader specialising in infrastructure equity investments. “Yondr has an impressive track record as a leading developer, owner, and operator of hyperscale data centres, and I’m excited to be joining the company as Chief Executive Officer at such a pivotal time for the business and the industry,” comments Aaron. “I look forward to leading Yondr through its next phase of growth with the backing of two world-class investors that appreciate the critical role we play in supporting our clients.” Aaron succeeds Paul Cossell, who is retiring from the Chief Executive Officer role after two and a half years at Yondr and a nearly three-decade career in the construction and infrastructure industry. Sandip succeeds Chester Reid, who is stepping down from the Chief Financial Officer role after more than two years at Yondr to pursue other business interests. For more from Yondr, click here.

RETN deploys new fibre route between Milan and Padua

RETN, an independent global network services provider, has announced the launch of a new fibre optic route between Milan and Padua as part of its national expansion strategy, aiming to deliver increasingly high-performance, low-latency connectivity. The new route, spanning 360km and adding to RETN’s 140,000km global network, takes an optimised path and introduces a key improvement: the segment from Milan to Ponte San Pietro (Bergamo) is the shortest connection available on the market, which the company says brings "significant benefits," particularly for latency-sensitive sectors like finance. By leveraging points of presence at Milan’s Caldera Campus and the Padua VSIX, and transiting through the Aruba Data Center in Ponte San Pietro, the route seeks to ensure enhanced performance and network efficiency. As a carrier neutral provider, Aruba supports the route by providing a strategic location for RETN’s network deployment. Designed to serve organisations that consider connectivity a strategic asset, the new route hopes to guarantee ultra-fast response times and high stability. Furthermore, RETN aims to provide companies with greater bandwidth capacity to meet their hyperscaling needs and support increasingly complex digital business models. “This new route reaffirms our ongoing commitment to the Italian market and represents a concrete milestone towards interconnecting with RETN’s Eastern European network, delivering increasingly widespread and integrated connectivity on a Eurasian scale,” comments Milko Ilari, Head of Southern Europe at RETN. “Milan and Padua are two strategic hubs for national data traffic: connecting them through an optimised infrastructure offers Italian businesses a tangible advantage in terms of performance, scalability, and global market access.” For more from RETN, click here.