Insights into Data Centre Investment & Market Growth

VIRTUS Data Centres names new CEO

VIRTUS Data Centres, a UK data centre owner-operator and part of ST Telemedia Global Data Centres (STT GDC), today announced the appointment of Adam Eaton as Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. Under Adam’s leadership, VIRTUS says it will continue to "expand [its] portfolio of high-efficiency, sustainable data centres, building on a decade of rapid growth across the UK and Europe." The company adds that it "remains committed to [its] vision to deliver world-class, energy-efficient infrastructure that supports the growth of the digital economy." Bruno Lopez, President and Group CEO at STT GDC and Chairman at VIRTUS Data Centres, comments, “We are delighted to welcome Adam to VIRTUS at an exciting time. "His insight and proven ability to scale complex operations make him the ideal leader for the business as VIRTUS continues to grow its footprint and strengthen its position as one of Europe’s leading data centre operators. "We look forward to this new chapter of leveraging Adam’s knowledge, expertise, and stakeholder management skills for further growth across the business.” Adam says, “I first met the VIRTUS team over 15 years ago. Since then, I’ve watched the company evolve into one of Europe’s leading data centre operators. "Helping VIRTUS scale and support its next phase of growth is an exciting opportunity. I’m privileged to build on the foundations laid by the existing team, embracing one of the most exciting leadership roles in the industry today.” Decades of experience Adam brings a combination of commercial and operational expertise to VIRTUS. With over 20 years of experience spanning the data centre, cloud, and managed services sectors, he brings a track record of strategic leadership, business transformation, and operational performance. Most recently, Adam served as Executive Group Director for Europe at Global Switch, where he led the business across the FLAPM (Frankfurt, London, Amsterdam, Paris and Madrid) markets and drove transformation plans to strengthen the business’ performance and scale. Adam steps into the CEO role previously held by Thomas Ee, Group Chief Operating Officer of STT GDC, in an interim capacity for the past nine months. For more from VIRTUS, click here.

CapitaLand India Trust divests data centre stakes

CapitaLand India Trust (CLINT), a Singapore-listed business trust investing in data centres, IT parks, industrial facilities, and logistics across India, has entered into definitive agreements to divest 20.2% stakes in three data centre assets under development to CapitaLand India Data Centre Fund (CIDCF). The transaction has an estimated total purchase consideration of ₹7.02 billion (S$99.73 million; £57.8 million). The consideration is based on 20.2% of the combined enterprise value of the three assets, amounting to ₹51.97 billion (S$738.2 million; £428.3 million) as of 31 December 2025. This valuation will be adjusted for liabilities, working capital, and capital expenditure, and remains subject to post-completion adjustments. According to the Trust, the agreed enterprise value was negotiated on a willing-buyer and willing-seller basis and represents a premium to the independent valuation of ₹45.70 billion (S$649 million; £376.6 million) as at 31 December 2025. Details of the data centre assets The three data centres included in the transaction are located in Mumbai, Chennai, and Hyderabad. In Navi Mumbai, CapitaLand DC Mumbai consists of two towers in Airoli. Tower one is completed with an IT power capacity of 34MW and a gross capacity of 50MW, while tower two remains under development with planned capacities of 37MW IT and 55MW gross. CapitaLand DC Chennai, located in Ambattur, is under development and is expected to provide 34MW of IT capacity and 53MW of gross capacity. CapitaLand DC Hyderabad, situated in Madhapur, is also under development, with planned capacities of 27MW IT and 42MW gross. In September 2025, CLINT divested CyberVale in Chennai and CyberPearl in Hyderabad, marking the Trust’s first divestment since its listing in 2007. The partial divestment of its data centre portfolio follows this earlier transaction and forms part of what CLINT describes as its broader approach to managing and realising the value of its development assets. Commenting on the transaction, Gauri Shankar Nagabhushanam, Chief Executive Officer of CapitaLand India Trust Management, the trustee-manager of CLINT, says, “The partial divestment reflects continued execution of our portfolio reconstitution strategy. "By unlocking value earlier in the development cycle while retaining a significant stake in the assets, we are able to support our development pipeline and enhance financial flexibility. “We are pleased to be partnering with CIDCF and remain invested in the future growth of India’s data centre sector through our remaining stake in the portfolio. "The partnership with CIDCF also provides CLINT the right to participate in a partial stake in future data centre developments by our sponsor and potentially buy back the assets or explore exit options such as an initial public offering of the assets. "Post-transaction, CLINT remains well-positioned to pursue accretive and higher yielding investment growth opportunities in key Indian cities to create value for our Unitholders.”

AirTrunk expands Japan's hyperscale data centre capacity

Australian hyperscale data centre operator AirTrunk has announced plans to develop a second hyperscale data centre in Osaka, expanding its platform in Japan and increasing total national capacity to around 530 MW. The new facility, OSK2, will be located in East Osaka and is planned to deliver up to 100 MW of IT capacity. It will complement AirTrunk’s existing OSK1 site in West Osaka, which provides 20 MW, adding regional diversity across the Kansai area. The development forms part of a wider investment programme of approximately $8 billion (£5.9 billion; ¥1.2 trillion) across AirTrunk’s existing and planned projects. With OSK2, AirTrunk’s Japanese portfolio becomes part of a broader hyperscale platform spanning Asia Pacific and the Middle East. The company states that the new site is intended to support increasing demand linked to cloud adoption and AI workloads. Investment in Osaka and national growth OSK2 will be AirTrunk’s 14th data centre across six markets, contributing to a wider platform with more than two gigawatts of capacity from operational sites with secured power. Since entering Japan, AirTrunk has invested around $1.57 billion (£1.1 billion; ¥244 billion) to support construction activity, operational roles, and local supply chains. Robin Khuda, founder and CEO of AirTrunk, says, “Japan plays a pivotal role in AirTrunk’s platform growth across Asia-Pacific. As Japan’s cloud and AI adoption accelerates, our continued investment in Osaka and Tokyo reflects our long-term commitment to building the scalable infrastructure that underpins this transformation. "Japan is not only a key market for us, but a partner in shaping the future of hyperscale and AI innovation. AirTrunk’s Japan investment is one of the largest investments by an Australian company and brings Australia closer to Japan.” The company recently opened a new Japan headquarters in Roppongi Hills Mori Tower, expanding office space to accommodate team growth. AirTrunk currently employs more than 100 staff in Japan and says it plans to increase headcount to support ongoing development. Nori Matsushita, AirTrunk Country Head, Japan, adds, “OSK2 represents a significant milestone in our commitment to Japan. By expanding in Osaka, we’re not only meeting the growing demand for hyperscale and AI infrastructure, but also creating new opportunities for local talent, suppliers, and communities. "This investment strengthens Japan’s position as a digital leader in Asia-Pacific and ensures our customers have the resilient, scalable capacity they need to innovate.” Japan’s national digital initiatives, including Society 5.0 and the Priority Plan for Digital Society, place cloud and AI infrastructure at the centre of economic and social development. AirTrunk says its expansion is aligned with these programmes by increasing available hyperscale capacity within the country. Yamada Kenji, Member of the House of Representatives and State Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry, notes, “Japan is committed to building a robust digital foundation that accelerates innovation and strengthens our global competitiveness. "Continued investments like AirTrunk’s new Osaka hyperscale data centre are vital to supporting our national priorities, including Society 5.0 and the responsible adoption of AI. "By partnering with leading technology companies, we are ensuring that Japan remains at the forefront of sustainable digital infrastructure and economic growth.” For more from AirTrunk, click here.

InfraRed invests in Spanish data centre platform

InfraRed Capital Partners, an international mid-market infrastructure asset manager, has made a majority investment in NxN Data Centers, a Spain-based data centre platform focused on meeting growing demand for computing and data storage services. NxN was formed in 2023 as a joint venture between Nethits Telecom Group and asset manager Adequita Capital. The platform is aimed primarily at regional enterprise customers and is developing facilities to support increasing requirements linked to digitalisation and AI-driven workloads. InfraRed will invest alongside minority shareholder Adequita to support the development of NxN’s first site, a 5 MW data centre in Valencia, as well as potential expansion across the Iberian Peninsula. Construction at the Valencia site has already started, with the facility scheduled to open in 2027. Once operational, it will provide colocation infrastructure designed to support high-density and AI-ready computing. Expansion plans in an underserved market Spain is attracting increased interest from data centre investors due to strong enterprise demand, data sovereignty considerations, and access to renewable energy. Despite this, the market remains relatively under-supplied compared with other European regions. Pilar Banegas, Partner at InfraRed, comments, “NxN represents an opportunity to establish a data centre platform within Spain’s expanding digital landscape. "We are pleased to be working with Adequita, whose experience and relationships across Spain will support the company’s development. We will also draw on our experience developing nexspace, our DACH data centre business, as we support the NxN management team.” NxN’s leadership team brings experience across telecommunications, data centre operations, and enterprise services. The company says this background positions it to deliver its planned growth strategy in Spain. Javier Salas, founder and Executive Chairman of Nethits and NxN Data Centers, says, “We are delighted to partner with InfraRed to deliver high-quality, energy-efficient data centres in Spain. "By leveraging InfraRed’s experience in growing data centre businesses, we are well positioned to execute our vision for NxN.” Josep Adsera, Principal at Adequita, adds, “We welcome InfraRed as the majority investor in NxN. Their investment reinforces the platform and enables it to move into its next phase of development. We look forward to continuing our collaboration.”

Pure DC signs Europe’s largest hyperscale DC lease for 2025

Pure Data Centres Group (Pure DC), a designer, developer, and operator of hyperscale cloud and AI data centres, today announced it has signed 2025’s largest standalone hyperscale data centre lease in Europe. A hyperscale customer is leasing the entire 78MW campus, situated in Westpoort, Amsterdam, with Pure DC investing over €1 billion (£877 million) to develop the site. As part of the lease deal, Pure DC has purchased a site and secured planning permissions and 100MVA of power via a private substation. The land was purchased on a long leasehold from the Port of Amsterdam. Securing the site, combined with permitting approvals, power, and supply constraints within Amsterdam, reportedly required complex negotiations and creative partnership over many months to secure the deal. Regional growth and energy resilience The company believes this infrastructure investment is set to play a pivotal role in supporting the region’s digital growth and energy resilience. As well as the Euro investment by Pure DC, the development will provide over 1,000 jobs and support more roles through the extended supply chain. This hopes to drive demand for skilled positions, utilising local companies wherever possible. Once complete, the data centre will provide approximately 80 permanent skilled jobs including engineers, maintenance, security, and administrative staff. Designated AMS01, Pure DC’s data centre campus will comprise of three 85-metre towers, powered by a private substation with a firm connection into the 50kV grid. Each of the three towers will house 26MW of data halls, designed to support high density compute with high efficiency cooling and to achieve the Netherlands energy efficiency target PUE of 1.2. The private substation is already constructed and live, with development of the data halls expected to begin in January 2026. Dame Dawn Childs, CEO of Pure Data Centres, says, “Amsterdam is one of Europe’s most constrained markets for digital infrastructure and Pure DC has again demonstrated its ability to unlock new, low-latency, high-quality capacity. "This deal demonstrates how our specialist teams have the creativity and approach to deliver compelling proposals for even previously distressed assets - delivering solutions for local authorities, potential customers, and our supply chain.” Pure DC says it is committed to working with local communities near current and future operational locations, noting that, in Amsterdam, it aims to replicate programs running in its other projects - including working with local schools and universities to provide training, career guidance, and outreach programs; supporting local charitable organisations; and working with community partners on environmental conservation projects. For more from Pure DC, click here.

UK Chancellor urged to use AI for economic growth

UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves has been urged to use the opportunity afforded by AI to ‘Make Britain Great Again’. The news comes as the Government announced that thousands of new AI jobs and billions of pounds of investment will be poured into the next parliament to help stimulate economic growth. New AI Growth Zones Amongst the package of measures proposed for the budget today include a new AI Growth Zone in South Wales, which will create more than 5,000 new jobs for local communities over the next decade, and a further £137 million to support key scientists to drive breakthroughs and develop new drugs, cures, and treatments. Patrick Sullivan, CEO of think tank Parliament Street, argued that with limited options at the budget, only AI can ‘Make Britain Great Again’. He claims, “With limited options due to Labour’s absurd manifesto pledge to rule out income tax rises, the Chancellor is now forced to cobble together a quick fix solution to fill a black hole which is entirely of her own making. "However, the one saving grace is the advent of mass AI adoption, a technology that will bring mass savings at a time when the Government needs it most. “This is Labour’s chance to show that it gets private enterprise and recognises that by supporting tech talent, AI can truly Make Britain Great Again.” Tech expert Graeme Stewart, Head of Public Sector at Check Point Software, says, “The case for investing billions in AI to drive growth and reboot the economy is clear, yet little has been said about the cyber and regulatory risks associated with mass adoption. “Whether it’s attacks on the NHS, nurseries, or local councils, cyber criminals have already proven that nothing in the public sector is off limits. That’s why it’s vital the Chancellor’s AI rollout is backed up with a robust action plan for protecting critical national infrastructure and minimising cyber risk. "We also need to hear more about the Government’s plans to protect the public and private sector from the new wave of AI-enabled cyber-attacks, which require a cohesive national strategy.” Graeme continues, “Mastering AI to drive growth is the right thing to do, but this approach must always go hand-in-hand with the necessary cyber strategy, to ensure the government stays one step ahead of the increasingly lethal cyber threat.” Kenny MacAulay, CEO of Acting Office, a software platform for accounting practices, adds, “With businesses still reeling from the £25 billion National Insurance increase, the Chancellor has a tough task ahead to win the back trust from the private sector. "Proposals for a nationwide AI rollout and investment in infrastructure can help kickstart economic growth, but only alongside a clear action plan to get businesses hiring again. “The industry needs to embrace the opportunities that AI can bring, in terms of centralising technology investment and improving customer service.”

atNorth expands team to meet AI demand

atNorth, an Icelandic operator of sustainable Nordic data centres, has established a new director-level structure within its development organisation, appointing four country leads to support the delivery of new high-density, AI-ready data centres across the Nordics. The roles include one internal promotion and are intended to strengthen operational development as the company expands its regional footprint and continues to grow its portfolio of high-performance facilities, driven by rising demand for AI-focused infrastructure. The new directors will oversee project delivery in Iceland, Finland, Denmark, and Sweden, ensuring consistency across design, construction, and commissioning activities. The appointments Hallgrímur Örn Arngrímsson has been appointed Director of Delivery for Iceland, responsible for end-to-end project execution. He brings more than 15 years of experience in civil engineering and infrastructure, including geotechnical engineering and large-scale civil works. His previous roles include senior positions at Verkís Consulting Engineers and Sweco Norge. Toni Germano becomes Director of Delivery for Finland. With over 25 years of experience in digital transformation and infrastructure strategy, he will manage delivery operations across the country. He previously held leadership roles at Cisco, including serving as CTO for SP EMEAR North. Dave O’Brien has been named Director of Delivery for Denmark. He has more than a decade of experience in data centre construction and engineering, including project management and electrical systems delivery. Before joining atNorth, he worked at Mercury, leading retrofit and new-build projects in Denmark. Daniel Kolm, promoted internally, is the new Director of Delivery for Sweden. He joined atNorth in 2022 and has a background in mechanical engineering and energy systems. His previous experience includes roles at CBRE and DigiPlex, where he led multidisciplinary projects from initial study to commissioning. Strengthening Nordic delivery capabilities Together, the four directors support atNorth’s pan-Nordic delivery model, combining local market knowledge with regional coordination. Their remit spans feasibility assessments, site acquisition, design, deployment, and operational readiness, supporting customers in hyperscale, enterprise, and AI-focused sectors. Anna Kristín Pálsdóttir, Chief Development Officer at atNorth, comments, “We are pleased to welcome such a talented group of development professionals at this crucial time of accelerated growth. “Their combined expertise ensures we are fully equipped to meet the demands of today’s compute-intensive workloads, whilst delivering projects with the speed, scalability, and quality that our customers expect.” For more from atNorth, click here.

UK Government unveils major AI investment package

The UK Government has announced a comprehensive package of AI-focused reforms and investments to accelerate national renewal, boost economic growth, and cement the UK’s position as a global leader in artificial intelligence. The new investment places AI at the centre of the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, unlocking billions in private investment and enabling new opportunities for businesses, researchers, and local communities across the country. AI Growth Zones A new AI Growth Zone in South Wales, developed with Vantage Data Centers and Microsoft, will receive £10 billion in private investment and create more than 5,000 jobs over the next decade. Spanning multiple sites along the M4 corridor, including the former Ford Bridgend Engine Plant, the zone will serve as a major hub for AI infrastructure, research, and advanced digital industries. Each AI Growth Zone will benefit from £5 million in government support to help local businesses adopt AI technologies and develop specialised skills in their workforce. Sachin Agrawal, Managing Director for Zoho UK, comments, "The UK’s bold commitment to harnessing artificial intelligence for national renewal is both timely and visionary. This investment represents a crucial step towards ensuring the benefits of AI and data innovation are distributed fairly across the country. "For businesses, the real opportunity lies not only in adopting AI tools, but in developing the skills, governance, and readiness to apply them responsibly at scale. Keeping data privacy at the centre of any AI strategy creates the right foundation to make informed decisions and adopt AI responsibly. "AI literacy and strong data protection standards will be essential to ensure initiatives are credible and built for long‑term impact. Structured implementation, starting with clearly defined pilot programmes underpinned by automation, governance, and security, will help businesses move beyond experimentation and ensure AI drives sustainable competitive advantage. "With the right guidance and accountability in place, AI can support transformative growth across the UK.” To keep UK firms at the front of global AI capability, the Government is launching a new programme to expand free and low-cost compute access. Up to £250 million will be deployed to help British researchers and startups train models and pursue scientific breakthroughs. Alongside this, a new advance market commitment, worth up to £100 million, will allow the Government to act as an early customer for UK AI hardware startups, supporting domestic chip innovation and ensuring British-designed hardware plays a role in future data centre deployments.

Vertiv, Caterpillar to expand joint energy offerings for AI DCs

Vertiv, a global provider of critical digital infrastructure, and Caterpillar, a manufacturer of construction equipment, have agreed to collaborate on energy optimisation for AI data centres, combining power generation, distribution, and cooling expertise in a set of integrated reference designs. The aim is to support operators facing rising demand for on-site power and thermal management as AI workloads expand. The undertaking will connect Vertiv’s power distribution and cooling portfolio with Caterpillar’s and Solar Turbines’ experience in power generation and combined cooling, heat, and power (CCHP). The companies intend to offer pre-designed architectures intended to streamline deployment and standardise performance across sites. Integrated approach to power and cooling Caterpillar and Solar Turbines will provide natural gas turbines and reciprocating engines for scalable on-site power and thermal output for CCHP configurations. Vertiv will contribute power and cooling technologies packaged as modular, pre-designed blocks to reduce design time and support consistent deployment across facilities. According to the companies, this approach is intended to shorten deployment time, improve operational efficiency, and offer global lifecycle support through established service networks. Gio Albertazzi, CEO at Vertiv, comments, “This collaboration with Caterpillar and Solar Turbines is a cornerstone of our 'Bring Your Own Power & Cooling' strategy and aligns seamlessly with our grid-to-chip framework by offering resilient, on-site power generation solutions. This is optimal for customers looking to reduce or eliminate grid dependence. “By combining our complementary technologies, portfolios, and expertise, we are enabling coordinated integration. Our pre-engineered, interoperability-tested building blocks let customers execute design, build, and deploy concurrently, with predictable system performance.” Jason Kaiser, Group President of Caterpillar Power & Energy, adds, “As AI-driven workloads continue to accelerate, the demand for robust and scalable power infrastructure and cooling is becoming increasingly critical. Our collaboration with Vertiv will enable us to deliver integrated, on-site energy solutions that lower PUE and meet customers’ evolving needs.” The companies state that the undertaking will support data centre operators facing energy constraints by helping them deploy AI-ready facilities with improved efficiency and more predictable commissioning. A Memorandum of Understanding between Vertiv and Caterpillar establishes the framework for further development of this joint ecosystem. For more from Vertiv, click here.

Carbon3.ai to invest £1bn in UK’s AI infrastructure network

Carbon3.ai, a UK sovereign AI infrastructure company, has announced a £1 billion commitment to develop a nationwide network of data centres that aims to transform legacy industrial and energy infrastructure into secure, fully sustainable, AI-ready hubs. Designed, owned, and operated by Carbon3.ai, the network will seek to deliver high-performance, low-carbon compute capacity to fuel the digital readiness of UK enterprise, research, and public services. All infrastructure and data processing will be located within the UK and fully subject to UK jurisdiction and regulatory oversight. The company has already completed a successful proof of concept and is moving into full-scale rollout with its first 5MW site in the East Midlands, set to open in March 2026, and planning permission submitted for a second facility in Derbyshire. New appointments for further expansion To drive this next phase of growth, Carbon3.ai says it has strengthened its leadership with a team that "brings together deep expertise across government, finance, and national security." Sana Khareghani, former Head of the UK Government Office for Artificial Intelligence, joins as Chief Strategy Officer, leading the company’s strategy on national AI infrastructure and seeking to ensure its network advances the UK’s digital competitiveness and long-term energy transition. Sana is supported by advisors Richard Collier-Keywood, former Vice Chair of PwC’s Global Board, and Sir George Zambellas, former Navy Chief. Sana comments, “If the UK is to lead in AI, we must first secure the foundations that make it possible: compute, power, and data. Carbon3 is building those foundations here at home, transforming legacy energy sites into a sovereign, renewable, AI-ready infrastructure network. "This isn’t a vision on paper, we’re making it happen now on the ground. By putting critical infrastructure back under UK control, we’re creating sustainable capacity and national capability that will power innovation, research, and enterprise for decades to come.” Tom Humphreys, CEO of Carbon3.ai, adds, “The UK’s competitiveness in AI depends on infrastructure that is truly sovereign, sustainable, and resilient. It’s not enough to invest in data centres; we need a national backbone for AI that’s owned, powered, and secured right here at home. "Our goal is to ensure that British enterprise, researchers, and public institutions have access to world-class compute capacity without relying on foreign-controlled infrastructure. "The Government recognises the urgency; that is why they have said we need 6GW of sovereign AI capacity by 2030. Together, we can get there, securing a foundation for innovation, investment, and long-term national advantage.” Carbon3.ai asserts that these developments support the UK Government’s AI and digital infrastructure agenda of strengthening national resilience, creating regional opportunity, and ensuring the benefits of technological progress are rooted in British infrastructure and communities. By converting brownfield and legacy energy sites into renewable-powered compute hubs, the company says it aligns directly with the Government’s priorities for AI growth zones and the designation of data centres as critical national infrastructure.