Infrastructure Management

ESR closes SLL in Hong Kong for a data centre project

ESR Group, together with its subsidiaries and support from CLP Power Hong Kong, has closed the first sustainability-linked loan (SLL) in Hong Kong for a brown field data centre project.  The HK$1.6bn SLL will be used to fund the conversion of a building in Kwai Chung into the modern and sustainable, ESR Kwai Chung Data Centre HK1, which has a design IT power load of 21.3MW. ESR had acquired the building in 2021 and signed a memorandum of understanding with CLP Power in 2022 on green initiatives for future data centres and logistics centres in Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area. The five-year secured, committed facility has a tiered incentive mechanism where ESR will be entitled to an interest reduction when the project’s sustainability targets are achieved. It is targeting data centre tenants which have strong sustainability related credentials to rent the premise.  CLP Power, which is committed to enhancing customers’ energy efficiency, is providing energy audit and advisory services to ESR to formulate the KPIs of the SLL. These include sustainable features, such as a diesel generator-free construction site and a green wall in the facade. In support of ESR’s efforts to further strengthen its ESG commitments, Crédit Agricole CIB acted as the sole sustainability advisor and coordinating bank, and SMBC and UOB acted as sustainability agents. All three lenders are also mandated lead arrangers.  To date, ESR Group has closed a total of seven SLLs with approximately US$4bn, as it continues to integrate ESG into all aspects of its financial management, operations and development. Click here for latest data centre news.

DF&I celebrates successful partnership with DataBridge Sites

Dark Fiber and Infrastructure (DF&I) has announced that it has continued to advance its partnership with DataBridge Sites, a data centre provider that supports off-site business critical IT environments. DataBridge Sites earlier announced that it had added its Maryland facility on net to DF&I’s Express Connect network. DF&I's network features a proprietary under-river crossing from Maryland to Ashburn, Virginia, ensuring the most direct route that results in substantially lower latency for critical data. Express Connect’s direct route traverses the Potomac River, avoiding the congested data routes in Washington DC to provide a faster access to Ashburn from Maryland. “With the Express Connect network, DataBridge Sites can offer the quickest, highest performing route, due to the path being the shortest and most direct,” explains Jim Weller, CEO, DataBridge Sites. The exclusive river crossing route is not the only advantage to DataBridge Sites’ customers, who also benefit from on net access via DF&I's dark fibre route, because they have direct fibre interconnection to other data centre facilities, carriers and cloud on the Virginia-Maryland pathway. “The Express Connect network offers many great cross connects to our clients, as it’s on net to the most relevant data centres across the region,” says DF&I’s Co-Founder and Chief Revenue Officer, John Schmitt. “DF&I's Express Connect network not only covers Ashburn, but also ties in with other major networks and peering points in Maryland and northern Virginia.” Click here for latest data centre news.

Accelevation acquires Instor Solutions

Accelevation Holdings has acquired Instor Solutions to integrate Instor’s data centre white space installation and project management expertise with its data centre containment and caging solutions business, Conatech, to form the Accelevation Data Centre Business Unit. The acquisition has established a new, vertically integrated data centre business unit comprising both brands to create a single, customer-facing entity and forming the USA’s large integrated data centre services solutions provider. Together, the Accelevation Data Centre Business Unit will solve key challenges for hyperscale, colocation and enterprise customers, including faster product design, manufacturing and supply chain capabilities, with dedicated white space integration, services and project management expertise. By combining both leading brands, it has created the only organisation within the US market capable of providing fully integrated, data centre infrastructure product manufacturing, with self-performing, fit-up solutions design and project delivery. This comprehensive services offering will propel hyperscale, colocation and enterprise data centre operators to benefit from speed and efficiency, offering enhanced value throughout the entire lifecycle and delivering data centre environments at accelerated pace and scale. Through its integrated sales, manufacturing and operations teams, for example, Conatech’s customers now have immediate access to the data centre white space design, build and integration services. In turn, Instor has secured access to the vertically integrated manufacturing capabilities used by Accelevation to produce its Conatech data centre products. Accelevation President and CEO, Michael Rubiera, says, “We are thrilled to welcome Instor to the Accelevation portfolio of innovative companies. Combining Instor’s 40+ sales and project management professionals to our Accelevation portfolio creates one of the most comprehensive and all-encompassing solution providers of data centre products and installations in the world. We couldn’t be more excited about the possibilities and growth this acquisition provides.” Click here for latest data centre news.

RIL partners to expand India's data centre business

Reliance Industries (RIL) has announced that it is entering into an agreement to invest alongside Brookfield Infrastructure and Digital Realty in its Indian SPVs setup for developing data centres in India. RIL will hold 33.33% stake in each of the Indian SPVs and become an equal partner. Digital Realty Trust has a joint venture (JV) with Brookfield Infrastructure, that is developing high quality, highly connected, scalable data centres, to meet the critical infrastructure needs of enterprises and digital services companies in India. RIL will become an equal partner in the JV. The JV will be branded as ‘Digital Connexion: A Brookfield, Jio and Digital Realty Company.’ The JV is currently developing data centres in marquee locations of Chennai and Mumbai. Its first 20MW greenfield data centre (MAA10), on a 100MW campus in Chennai, is expected to be completed by the end of 2023. The JV recently announced the acquisition of 2.15ac of land in Mumbai to build a 40MW data centre. Given the location of these sites, the data centres will be connected to critical terrestrial connectivity infrastructure, as well as undersea cables, and will become hubs for global connectivity for Indian companies and a gateway into India for multinational companies. Data centre capacity in India is expected to increase multi-fold over the next few years. Indians are already amongst the largest mobile data consumers globally. This will further increase significantly with increasing access to various digital services like OTT platforms, gaming and the ongoing 5G rollout. Adoption of 5G use cases by enterprises will lead to the adoption of data-intensive technologies like IoT and AI. The ongoing innovations in generative AI technology have been enabled by hardware and data centre infrastructure, and the requirement of these is only set to increase exponentially. There is also an increased emphasis on localisation of personal data within the country. These drivers will significantly increase the data centre and compute capacity requirements of the country. It will be well positioned to serve global and local enterprises, SMBs and the vibrant start-ups of India, for their cloud and colocation requirements, as they move compute resources on the cloud and off-premise. Data centres developed by the JV will leverage Digital Realty’s energy efficient data centre platform design and operating procedures, highly repeatable Pervasive Data Centre Architecture (PDx) approach and relationships with global customers, Brookfield’s in-depth knowledge of the Indian infrastructure market, and Jio’s massive digital and connectivity ecosystem and strong enterprise relationships with an existing client base of 80% of large named private enterprises in India. Click here for latest data centre news.

ESR completes ESR Kazo DC 2 construction

ESR Group has completed the construction of ESR Kazo Distribution Centre 2 (ESR Kazo DC 2) which is ESR’s 31st logistics facility in Japan and its sixth in the Saitama Prefecture. ESR Kazo DC 2 was completed on schedule in May 2023, and in June 2023, it welcomed the first tenant, which is a leading Japanese logistics firm ranked among the top transportation and logistics companies in Japan. It has a total gross floor area (GFA) of 105,414m2 across four floors in a maisonette format. The facility is strategically located at Kazo City, Saitama, to serve many manufacturing companies in the area. Covering the Tokyo metropolitan area and the Tohoku region, ESR Kazo DC 2 is one of the most strategically important wide-area distribution bases in Japan.  Built particularly for highly efficient logistics operations, ESR Kazo DC 2 is expected to meet the growing logistical needs of manufacturers who often move shipments in large lots. Column spacing at about 11m is optimised for pallet storage, and there are a total of 108 truck docks with dedicated one-way ramps for smooth flow of traffic. In addition, the facility offers vertical conveyors to transport pallets between the different levels. It has been designed to provide a safe environment for all workers and tenants in this earthquake-resistant building. Other safety measures available in the facility include facial recognition security systems and an emergency private power generator as a business continuity plan measure in the event of a disaster. The facility has barrier-free access, sufficient tenant parking spaces for cars and bicycles, and rest lounges that are available for tenants as well as drivers. To reduce environmental impact, ESR Kazo DC 2 uses 100% LED lighting, motion-sensor lights for areas with low footfall, energy efficient heat pumps and water saving equipment. Click here for latest news.

Limited grid contingency sparks data centre resilience opportunity

The announcement that British coal plants will be unavailable to support the National Grid this winter, could present an opportunity for energy intensive data centres to level up decentralisation efforts. Although, previously shuttered coal plants were brought back online last winter to support the grid, two facilities are now confirmed to be in the decommissioning process and will be unable to supplement existing supply. With the UK reliant on power imports from abroad and further strain expected, Billy Durie, Global Sector Head, Data Centres at Aggreko, is advocating facility operators to use this uncertainty as an opportunity to diversify their power mix, increase resilience and avoid downtime. He says, “Concerns raised for the data centre sector from this lack of consistent supply are not new, but the situation is becoming increasingly challenging. Combined with increasingly stringent environmental legislation, such as the expansion of the London ultra-low emissions zone, owners and operators have an opportunity to continue green progress while increasing resilience. Green and efficient decentralised energy solutions, including battery energy storage systems, supporting or working independently of existing grid supply, can help avoid downtime and relieve grid strain.” This approach to mitigating grid shortfalls and disruptions during peak periods was covered in Aggreko’s ‘Uptime on the Line’ report. Insights from 700 data centre professionals found that insufficient grid power was a key concern for operators across all major European markets, including the UK, Germany, France, Spain, the Netherlands and the Nordics. To address this, the report identifies tactical short term solutions and more strategic, long term options to lower grid dependency during this period of intense disruption, while more intermittent renewable power sources are implemented into the continent’s energy mix. Billy concludes, “There is no doubt that some industries will need more power than ever, as we evolve into a renewable future and rely increasingly on digital innovations. For the data centre sector, where uptime is absolutely crucial, it is going to pay to get ahead of the game on decentralisation to avoid falling short when the grid is under more strain. “Action must be taken now to safeguard both current and future operations, and this was the key motivator behind the development and launch of our latest report. I would urge data centre professionals to explore its findings, as they grapple with energy resilience challenges while making sustainable progress.” Click here for latest data centre news.

Data centre construction begins in Vancouver

Spencer Building Carrier Hotel has announced that it has obtained all necessary permits to commence the construction of its data centre in the heritage section of Vancouver's iconic Harbour Centre. Following a year of anticipation since the initial announcement, this milestone marks a significant advancement towards meeting the increasing IT infrastructure and connectivity needs of Vancouver's burgeoning digital landscape. Currently in its preconstruction phase, it will fully commence construction in August 2023, with completion and the launch of operations expected in the fourth quarter of 2024. Boasting an innovative, energy efficient design that will leverage free cooling opportunities, this facility is set to be an advanced and sustainable data centre, setting new benchmarks within the region’s industry for both technological prowess and ESG compliance. Overcoming the unique challenges posed by Vancouver's constrained commercial real estate market, the hub successfully collaborated with Harbour Centre to repurpose the historic Spencer Building, originally built in 1926. This ambitious project combines heritage architecture with cutting-edge IT infrastructure and connectivity services, providing enterprises, cloud providers and service providers with the fast, direct connections and expanded capacity required for advanced digital transformations. The Spencer Building Carrier Hotel not only addresses the pressing demand for superior data centre capacity in the region, but also strives to make these services more economical. In a city known for its high costs, the company aims to provide cost effective solutions to customers in a premier location close to the rich connectivity ecosystem. As a testament to the strong collaboration between the two, the unveiling of an updated logo further solidifies the partnership. The refreshed logo visually captures the strength and essence of the relationship, embodying the meeting point of long standing history and pioneering innovation. Click here for latest data centre news.

Lunar partners with Zayo to revolutionise digital landscape

Lunar Digital has announced its strategic partnership with Zayo Group. Through this partnership, Lunar will leverage Zayo's extensive network infrastructure and high performance connectivity solutions in all three of Lunar’s Manchester data centres to enhance the delivery of its services to customers. Zayo's robust network will provide Lunar Digital with reliable, secure and scalable connectivity, ensuring optimal performance and seamless integration across various platforms. The partnership marks a significant milestone as the two companies join forces to revolutionise the digital landscape and accelerate the deployment of cutting-edge technologies to customers around the globe. Together, the companies will explore innovative initiatives and collaborate on joint offerings to address the evolving needs of their customers.  "We are thrilled to partner with Zayo," says Rob Garbutt, CEO of Lunar Digital. "Zayo’s expertise in network infrastructure and connectivity solutions will enable us to deliver even greater value to our customers. By leveraging Zayo's powerful network, we can expand the reach and capabilities of our digital solutions, empowering businesses to thrive in the digital era." "The synergy between Lunar Digital’s expertise in digital solutions and Zayo’s network infrastructure provides an exciting opportunity to drive our shared values of powering the future of digital business,” says Yannick Leboyer, Chief Revenue Officer at Zayo. “Zayo's global footprint and comprehensive suite of solutions will enable Lunar Digital to extend its reach to new markets and industries, strengthening its position as a trusted provider of end-to-end digital solutions. We look forward to working together to deliver unparalleled value to customers and to support their digital business initiatives.”  The partnership between Lunar Digital and Zayo represents a significant step forward in their shared mission to enable businesses to thrive in an increasingly digital world. Click here for other latest news.

Datum Datacentres completes new data hall in Farnborough

As part of a £7 million investment, a major expansion project has been completed at Datum Datacentres’ flagship Farnborough data centre (FRN1). The design and build activities were carried out by Keysource, a global critical environment specialist and Datum’s infrastructure partner. Since designing and building Datum’s Farnborough data centre facility, Keysource has been integral to all upgrade and development projects throughout its growth. The new data hall, Hall 4, provides 380 rack positions, a cooling infrastructure for 1000kW of IT load with N+1 resilience, and a power infrastructure for 1000kW of IT load with 2N resilience. This extra capacity comes at a time when many companies are struggling to find data centre capacity due to the increase in demand for digital services, cloud computing and data storage. Hall 4 has been designed to deliver efficiency and support net zero targets, including: The use of sustainable Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) in the backup generators. An optimised cooling solution. Lithium-ion batteries in the UPS system for longer battery life and the removal of the need for additional cooling. Datum became the Datum Group in 2022 with its acquisition of leading Manchester-based colocation provider, Teledata, as part of its regional expansion strategy. The completion of Hall 4 at FRN1 is a precursor to an even larger design and build project that will be commencing soon at its Farnborough and Manchester sites. FRN2 in Farnborough will provide 600 footprints on the ground floor with scope to double this capacity on the first floor. MCR2 at the Teledata site in Manchester will offer up to 1,000 new server racks. Dominic Phillips, CEO of Datum, says, "We are pleased to be able to offer extra data centre capacity at a time when companies are struggling to find the high quality data centre footprint they need. We have proved since 2013 that our energy efficient, ‘service first’ colocation formula is a successful one, so we are delighted to be able to offer more of our services from our growing facilities." Click here for more news on data centres.

Landmark agreement signed for DRC’s data centre

Chris Wood, Group CEO of WIOCC Group and Christophe Evers, CFO of TEXAF have signed a landmark shareholder agreement for the operation of OADC Kinshasa. It will be the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)’s first open access, carrier neutral data centre, Tier-III certified by the Uptime Institute, and is expected to go live in November 2023. With a population of more than 16 million people, Kinshasa is at the epicentre of demand for digital connectivity services within the DRC. Located within TEXAF’s Silikin Village, the 2MW capable OADC Kinshasa is an important, strategic element of digital infrastructure for the DRC. It will also create rich and vibrant digital ecosystems, and provide content distribution networks and cloud content providers with access to a quality peering location in the country. The data centre will underpin and expedite further development of the country’s ICT capabilities, delivering colocation and other value-added data centre services that support the cloud infrastructure needs of a wide range of businesses and enterprises, enabling them to improve efficiency, expedite digitisation initiatives and more effectively service business and customer needs. Mohammed Bouhelal, Managing Director of Open Access Data Centres DRC, reports, “There has already been strong uptake from telcos looking to colocate in our facility, while the banking sector is leading the way in adopting OADC solutions. It is also attracting large international content providers to the DRC.” It is a strategic element within the CEO, Dr Ayotunde Coker’s innovative core-to-edge strategy, which is based on rapid deployment of appropriately scaled data centres into key business hubs, delivering transformational hosting/colocation services to major facilities across Africa. Configured with an initial 400m2 of IT white space, it will grow to 1000m of white space and will ultimately accommodate more than 550 racks. The facility embodies carrier neutral principles, maximising interconnection opportunities for all clients. Increased competition and improved operator cost efficiencies will contribute to the expected decrease in cost of internet connectivity for the Congolese people and companies, and will be a major enabler for the emergence and enhancement of the DRC’s digital ecosystem. Unique CODI offering Converged open digital infrastructure, supplemented by a rich, vibrant digital ecosystem, will help boost the DRC’s economy and expedite digital transformation in the country. It will not only offer businesses a viable alternative to self-build and self-manage data centre facilities with all the dedicated resource, expertise, management time and cost benefits that come with that, but also support the cloud infrastructure needs of a wide range of businesses and enterprises, enabling them to improve efficiency, expedite digitisation initiatives and more effectively service business and customer needs. Carriers will also benefit, because OADC Kinshasa offers them connectivity revenue opportunities and the opportunity to extend their service portfolios, by including a managed colocation service capability. Click here for more on WIOCC Group.