Data Centre Business News and Industry Trends

XYZ Reality appoints new COO and CFO

XYZ Reality, a provider of augmented reality (AR) and real-time project controls, has appointed Bruno P.S. Rocha as Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Soroosh Keshtgar (pictured above) as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at a time when demand is increasing across data centre construction projects. The company says adoption of its construction delivery platform is rising across hyperscale data centre and mission-critical environments, with projects increasing in scale and complexity. The appointments are intended to support operational growth and long-term expansion. As COO, Bruno will be responsible for operational execution, aligning teams, and strengthening consistency across delivery as the company expands across markets and customers. His remit also includes shaping the operating model and supporting planned fundraising activity. He has previously held senior roles at Palantir and Gecko Robotics, with experience in engineering-led and robotics organisations. He joins XYZ Reality with a background focused on applying technology to physical-world operations. Soroosh joins as CFO as the company scales into larger projects and prepares for further international growth. His role will focus on strengthening financial systems, processes, and governance to support decision-making and future investment. He began his career in aerospace engineering before qualifying as a chartered accountant at PwC. He has since held senior finance roles in high-growth organisations, with experience in scaling finance functions during periods of rapid expansion and organisational change. Leadership to support mission-critical growth David Mitchell, founder and CEO of XYZ Reality, says, “As we scale the business, it’s critical that we strengthen our leadership team alongside the customer base and technology. "Bruno and Soroosh bring the experience, perspective, and operational discipline we need to support increasingly complex projects and build a resilient company for long-term growth.” Bruno Rocha, COO at XYZ Reality, comments, “XYZ Reality is at a real inflection point. The technology is proven and the momentum is clear; now it’s about building a company that can scale well beyond a single product or market. "This is about solving real problems in construction. With the right people and ambition, there’s a genuine opportunity to rethink how construction is delivered end to end.” Soroosh Keshtgar, CFO at XYZ Reality, adds, “As XYZ Reality scales into larger, more complex projects, financial clarity becomes critical. "My focus is on building the systems, transparency, and insight that allow the business to make confident, data-informed decisions, supporting customers, investors, and the wider team as we grow.” For more from XYZ Reality, click here.

FTTH Council Europe welcomes the DNA

The FTTH Council Europe, a European industry association promoting fibre-optic broadband deployment across Europe, has said it welcomes the Digital Networks Act, as put forward by the European Commission. The mission of the FTTH Council Europe is to see the widespread availability and use of FTTH (Fibre to the Home) in Europe as quickly as possible. It therefore maintains that it is important to ensure that the regulatory framework incentivises investment and fosters effective competition, adding that that these two objectives must remain at the core of any access policy. The FTTH Council Europe positively welcomes the proposal for the switch-off of copper networks. The process, it claims, strikes the right balance between the need to incentivise the take-up of future-proof networks, the necessity to consider national specificities, and avoiding unintended consequences for consumers. The association says it is convinced that copper switch-off is an important driver for investments and that it will positively contribute to the competitiveness of the EU, supporting the digital transition and the enhancement of the Single Market. Therefore, it invites the co-legislators to support the European Commission approach on this topic. The FTTH Council Europe further considers that the current regulatory framework has delivered positive outcomes. It believes maintaining the SMP process in the proposed DNA is central to preserving competition and demonstrates the Commission’s commitment to a stable and predictable regulatory environment, something critical to supporting investors and enabling the continued development of sustainable competition. The Council also notes the proposed harmonised access products but believes that any remedies should start by being tailored to the specific realities of national and market contexts, which can vary significantly between countries and market segments. National Regulatory Authorities (NRAs), it propounds, are best positioned to define, where necessary, appropriate SMP obligations that reflect the unique characteristics of their markets. The FTTH Council Europe also acknowledges the provisions on security and resilience in the DNA that recognise the critical importance of communications infrastructure. However, the body invites the co-legislators to make clear that any obligation that may arise should be adequately supported by national and European resources in the next MFF and not create excessive burdens for a sector that is investing heavily in the achievement of the Digital Decade targets. There are other aspects that need refinement, according to the FTTH Council Europe, and there are certain issues where it believes a different approach should be taken, not least regarding the availability of licence-free spectrum for RLAN. The FTTH Council Europe says it looks forward to working constructively with co-legislators to share its insights and experience in refining this proposal.

DE-CIX, Nomad Futurist partner to tackle skills gap

The Interconnection Academy, founded by internet exchange (IX) operator DE-CIX and the Universitat Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona, has formed a partnership with the Nomad Futurist Foundation, a nonprofit organisation advancing education in digital infrastructure, to widen access to free training covering networking, data centres, and interconnection. The collaboration aims to support skills development as digital infrastructure roles expand and organisations report difficulty filling technical posts. Industry research points to growing demand for skills in areas including networks, security, AI, and data, alongside an expected fall in available talent as experienced network engineers retire over the coming years. Through the agreement, both organisations will share selected online learning content and training modules, with new Interconnection Academy courses on networking and interconnection scheduled to launch in January and April 2026 and additional material planned later in the year. Shared content and new training pathways The Interconnection Academy is an online education initiative created to improve understanding of digital infrastructure and interconnection. It works with industry specialists and partner organisations to produce accessible technical and market-related material, aimed at supporting people entering the workforce as well as existing staff needing to update their knowledge. The Nomad Futurist Foundation is a non-profit organisation focused on raising awareness of the digital infrastructure sector through education and engagement. Its associated academy provides introductory and specialist learning covering data centre development, interconnection, and related areas. As part of the agreement, selected modules - beginning with content explaining data centre infrastructure - will be made available through the Interconnection Academy platform. The partnership announcement coincides with meetings between the organisations in Hawaii on 16 and 17 January, where Interconnection Academy founder and DE-CIX Chief Executive Ivo Ivanov will take part in the annual PTC Beyond Masterclass educational programme. Ivo notes, “With the advent of AI, we are facing the newest industrial revolution, in which we will need to further up-skill and re-skill workers for tomorrow’s industries.” Yolandi Cloete, Manager of the Global Interconnection Academy, comments, “Working with the Nomad Futurist Foundation enables us to expand access to high-quality educational offerings and co-create and share industry-relevant learning modules with a trusted partner. "The two organisations are united by a shared passion for education and innovation in the digital infrastructure space.” Nabeel Mahmood, co-founder and CEO of the Nomad Futurist Foundation, adds, “Digital infrastructure touches every part of modern life, yet very few people truly understand how it works or the opportunities it creates. "By partnering with the Interconnection Academy, we’re bridging that gap, making complex concepts approachable, and helping people see a future for themselves in this industry. Education is the on-ramp to inclusion, innovation, and long-term impact.” For more from DE-CIX, click here.

BCS Consultancy appoints new COO

BCS Consultancy, a global data centre consultancy, has appointed Chris Coward as its new Chief Operating Officer following the departure of co-founder Scott Shearer after ten years with the business. Chris steps into the role as BCS says it continues to grow internationally and expand its work with customers across the data centre lifecycle. Chris joined BCS in 2017 as one of its earliest employees. Over the past eight years he has worked with founders James Hart and Scott Shearer as the company expanded from a small UK-based consultancy to a global business with more than 165 specialists across five international offices. During that period, BCS has supported more than 300 projects, advised on over £20 billion of investment, and generated annual revenue in excess of £22 million. Chris has led the development of the company’s project management capability and helped build its talent pipeline, including launching an apprenticeship programme designed to address skills shortages within the data centre sector. BCS says Chris will help guide the company through its current phase of overseas expansion, focusing on strengthening internal operations, supporting digital adoption, and maintaining a customer-first culture. New leadership during a global growth phase Commenting on his appointment, Chris says, “I’ve had the privilege of working closely with James and Scott for much of my career, and want to thank them both for their leadership and trust, which have shaped both my journey and the culture of BCS. "As BCS becomes an increasingly global business, my primary focus is to ensure we have the right operational structure, technology, and support in place to deliver consistently for our clients while staying true to the ethos that makes BCS different.” BCS reports that demand for data centre expertise remains strong. According to the company's Q4 Data Centre Commercial Report, 92% of surveyed professionals expect continued sector growth through 2026. However, the report also highlights challenges such as increased AI-driven workloads, skills shortages, power and supply chain constraints, and the need for more resilient infrastructure. BCS states that Chris’s appointment reflects its commitment to supporting customers entering the AI era and strengthening operational capability as the company continues to expand internationally.

Schneider Electric names new VP

Global energy technology company Schneider Electric has appointed Matthew Baynes as Vice President of its Secure Power and Data Centre division for the UK and Ireland. Matthew takes up the role as both countries see rapid growth in digital infrastructure investment, driven by rising demand from artificial intelligence workloads, accelerated data centre construction, and government-backed initiatives. Experience across data centre leadership Matthew has worked in Schneider Electric’s data centre business for nearly 20 years. His most recent position was Global Vice President for Strategic Partners and Cloud and Service Providers, where he led a global team supporting colocation, cloud, and hyperscale customers. Earlier roles included Global Colocation Segment Director, where he launched the company’s first multi-country account programme, now established as a core element of its global approach. Matthew has also held senior leadership positions in the UK and Ireland since Schneider Electric acquired APC in 2007 and worked for several years in the Netherlands supporting European operations. Alongside his corporate responsibilities, Matthew has contributed to industry bodies including techUK and the European Data Centre Association, supporting policy engagement and sustainability initiatives. Commenting on his appointment, Matthew says, “The UK is one of Europe’s most important and vibrant digital infrastructure hubs and, with AI accelerating demand, the next few years present a major opportunity to strengthen its global leadership position. "At the same time, Ireland continues to play a critical role in the region’s digital ecosystem, with its data centre market serving key customers globally. “Data centres are engines for jobs and competitiveness, supporting growth that benefits the digital economy, local communities, and empowering innovation. This is a pivotal moment to shape their role in the UK and Ireland’s digital future, and I’m delighted to accept this new role at such a crucial time.” Pablo Ruiz-Escribano, Senior Vice President for the Secure Power and Data Centre division in Europe, adds, “Matthew’s deep experience in global strategy and both local and regional execution makes him uniquely positioned to lead our Secure Power business in the UK and Ireland during this critical period of growth.” Matthew assumes the role with immediate effect. For more from Schneider Electric, click here.

Nostrum, JLL partner for 800MW development in Spain

Nostrum Data Centers, a developer of sustainable data centre infrastructure across Spain and Europe, has engaged JLL, a global commercial real estate and investment management company, to advance its AI-ready platform in Spain. Leveraging JLL’s global data centre experience, Nostrum says it is aiming to strengthen its customer engagement strategy and advance Spain’s emergence as a next-generation connectivity hub. In December 2025, Nostrum announced its data centre assets will be available in 2027, with power and land secured across all sites. The company is developing 500 MW of sustainable IT capacity across Spain, with an additional 300 MW planned for expansion. The company’s six data centre developments are strategically located throughout Spain to leverage existing connectivity and power infrastructure. Each facility is in alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), offering a PUE of 1.1 and a WUE of zero, eliminating water usage for cooling. Sustainable development in Spain Gabriel Nebreda, Chief Executive Officer at Nostrum Group, comments, “Nostrum Data Centers has a long-term vision for balancing innovation and sustainability. "We offer our customers speed-to-market and scalability throughout our various locations in Spain, all while leading a green revolution to ensure development is done the right way as we position Spain as the next connectivity hub. “We are confident that our engagement with JLL will be able to help us bolster our efforts and achieve our long-term vision.” Jason Bell, JLL Senior Vice President of Data Center and Technology Services in North America, adds, “Spain has a unique market position with its access to robust power infrastructure; its proximity to Points of Presence (PoPs), internet exchanges, subsea connectivity; and being one of the lowest total cost of ownership (TCO) markets. “JLL is excited to be working with Nostrum Data Centers, providing our expertise and guidance to support their quest to be a leading data centre platform in Spain, as well as position Spain as the next connectivity hub in Europe and beyond.” For more from Nostrum Data Centers, click here.

Global data centre build-out projected to require $3tn

The global data centre sector is poised for continued unprecedented expansion, with capacity expected to nearly double from 103 GW to 200 GW by 2030, according to real estate and investment management company JLL’s newly released 2026 Global Data Center Outlook report. Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping the data centre landscape, and JLL anticipates AI workloads will represent half of all data centre capacity by 2030. Despite rapid growth, the fundamentals for the sector remain healthy and property metrics do not point to a bubble. The explosive growth will require up to $3 trillion (£2.2 trillion) in total investment over the next five years, including $1.2 trillion (£887 billion) in real estate asset value creation and approximately $870 billion (£643 billion) in new debt financing, marking an infrastructure investment supercycle. “We’re witnessing the most significant transformation in data centre infrastructure since the original cloud migration,” notes Matt Landek, Global Division President, Data Centers and Critical Environments at JLL. “The sheer scale of demand is extraordinary. Hyperscalers are allocating $1 trillion (£739 billion) for data centre spend between 2024 and 2026 alone, while supply constraints and four-year grid connection delays are creating a perfect storm that’s fundamentally reshaping how we approach development, energy sourcing, and market strategy.” AI drives transformation AI workloads could represent 50% of all data centre capacity by 2030, compared to approximately 25% in 2025. JLL anticipates a critical inflection point in 2027 when AI inference workloads will overtake training as the dominant requirement. “We’re witnessing the emergence of an entirely new infrastructure paradigm where AI training facilities demand 10x the power density and command 60% lease rate premiums over traditional data centres,” explains Andrew Batson, Global Head of Data Center Research at JLL. “Beyond the economics, AI has become a matter of national strategic importance, driving countries to develop domestic capabilities through sovereign infrastructure investments that represent an $8 billion (£6 billion) CapEx opportunity by 2030.” AI chips are projected to grow their total revenue share from 20% to 50% of the semiconductor market by 2030, with custom silicon expected to capture 15% market share as hyperscalers develop their own processors. The future could include emerging technologies like neuromorphic computing for ultra-efficient inference tasks that could reduce infrastructure demands and enable data centres to be more power-efficient. Regional growth patterns The Americas will maintain its position as the largest data centre region, representing about 50% of global capacity and achieving the fastest growth rate through 2030. The Asia-Pacific (APAC) region is projected to expand from 32 GW to 57 GW, while Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) will add 13 GW of new supply. Each region faces distinct market dynamics that will shape development strategies. In APAC, colocation is leading growth, while on-premise capacity is projected to decline 6% as enterprises continue cloud migration. EMEA’s growth forecast is fuelled by strong demand from hyperscalers, with growth concentrated in established European hubs like London, Frankfurt, and Paris, alongside emerging Middle Eastern markets pursuing digital transformation strategies. The US continues to drive most activity in the Americas, accounting for about 90% of regional capacity. Market fundamentals remain strong Property metrics do not indicate a bubble, as JLL’s analysis indicates the sector maintains healthy fundamentals with 97% global occupancy and 77% of the construction pipeline pre-committed to tenants. Global lease rates are forecast to increase at a 5% CAGR through 2030, with the Americas leading at 7% annual growth due to severe supply constraints. Despite developers preordering materials up to 24 months in advance, more than half of projects in 2025 experienced construction delays of three months or more. The average equipment lead time globally is now 33 weeks, a 50% increase from pre-2020 levels. The industry is responding through modular construction solutions, with annual sales of modular systems and micro data centres projected to reach $48 billion (£35 billion) by 2030. “The increase in equipment lead times is affecting APAC just as it is globally, but strong pre-commitment levels demonstrate continued confidence in the market,” says Glen Duncan, JLL Data Center Research Director, Asia Pacific. Energy and sustainability challenges Energy sourcing remains a critical challenge, with average grid connection lead times exceeding four years in primary markets. Due to utility interconnection delays and mounting pressure from rising grid electricity costs, some operators are moving to directly fund their own energy generation, and several markets have implemented de facto 'bring your own power' mandates, including Dublin and Texas. Data centres are also adopting diverse regional energy strategies to address grid constraints. Natural gas is projected to play a major role in alleviating grid constraints in the US, both for temporary bridge power and increasingly for permanent on-site power generation. The four primary hyperscalers are already fully matching their US data centre portfolios with renewable energy. In EMEA, projects combining renewables and private wire transmission can reduce the cost of power for tenants by 40% compared to the grid. Battery energy storage systems (BESS) are gaining momentum, enabling cost-effective handling of short-duration outages and positioning the technology as a dynamic grid asset to speed up interconnection timelines. Additionally, solar-plus-storage will become a key component of global data centre energy strategies by 2030, with renewable energy costs projected to outcompete fossil fuels across all major regions. “As regulatory and stakeholder expectations around renewable energy sourcing increase globally, data centre operators will face heightened scrutiny over their energy procurement,” suggests Martin Jensen, EMEA Division President, Data Centers at JLL. “While renewables like solar and wind remain the dominant focus of clean energy strategies, power sources such as nuclear are gaining attention for their ability to provide reliable electricity and help balance sustainability requirements with operational continuity; however, significant new nuclear capacity is unlikely to be widely deployed before the 2030s.” Capital markets evolution The sector is experiencing significant capital markets maturation, with core investment strategies now representing 24% of fundraising activity, up from less than 10% previously. More than $300 billion (£221 billion) in global M&A activity has occurred since 2020, though future investment is expected to shift towards recapitalisations and joint ventures as the market matures. Global data centre core fund capital formation could top $50 billion (£37 billion) in 2026, with strategies targeting returns of 10% or more. ABS and CMBS securities are quickly becoming a solution for financing rapid sector expansion, with issuance volumes roughly doubling every year since 2020 and projected to reach $50 billion (£37 billion) in 2026. For more from JLL, click here.

Jabil acquires Hanley Energy Group

Jabil, a US provider of electronics manufacturing and supply chain services, has completed the acquisition of Hanley Energy Group, a provider of energy management and critical power systems for the data centre infrastructure market. The transaction was completed on 2 January 2026 and was valued at approximately $725 million (£536 million), with contingent consideration of up to $58 million (£42.8 million) linked to future revenue targets. The acquisition was completed as an all-cash transaction. TM Capital acted as exclusive financial adviser to Hanley Energy Group, while UBS Investment Bank advised Jabil. A focus on data centre power management Jabil says the acquisition is intended to strengthen its capabilities in data centre power management, particularly as demand increases from artificial intelligence workloads. Hanley Energy Group operates across 13 locations globally - with headquarters in Stamullen, Ireland, and in Ashburn, Virginia, USA - employing around 850 staff. Founded in 2009, Hanley Energy Group works across the design, supply, installation, and commissioning of power and energy management systems, supporting infrastructure from the grid through to the data centre rack. The company also provides lifecycle services, including maintenance and operational support. Matt Crowley, Executive Vice President of Global Business Units, Intelligent Infrastructure at Jabil, comments, “We're excited to welcome Hanley Energy Group and their extensive expertise in power systems and energy optimisation to the Jabil team. "Their know-how and capabilities complement Jabil’s existing power management solutions for data centres and will help us deploy and service them down to the rack level.” Ed Bailey, Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, Intelligent Infrastructure at Jabil, adds, “Data centre power management will only become more critical as hyperscalers ramp the availability of their AI technologies. "This acquisition of Hanley Energy Group, coupled with our growing thermal management capabilities, aligns well with Jabil’s strategy to deliver custom solutions for the world’s AI leaders across the data centre lifecycle.” Clive Gilmore, CEO of Hanley Energy Group, notes, “Joining forces with Jabil will supercharge our ability to deliver end-to-end, scalable, and energy-efficient solutions for the world’s most demanding data centre environments. "Our customers will benefit from the expanded reach of Jabil’s global manufacturing footprint and supply chain, access to broader capabilities across the data centre lifecycle, and opportunities for sustainable growth to meet the evolving needs of AI hyperscalers.” Dennis Nordon, Managing Director at Hanley Energy Group, concludes, “This is more than an acquisition; it’s a catalyst for the future of data centre power management. By joining with Jabil, we are positioned to lead the charge in delivering intelligent, sustainable solutions that empower hyperscalers to unlock the full potential of AI.”

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.”