Data Centres

Raxio Group achieves certification for DRC data centre

Raxio Group has announced that its 1.5MW data centre in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has successfully achieved the Tier Certification of Constructed Facility (TCCF) from Uptime Institute. Raxio states that the certification reaffirms its commitment to delivering world-class, reliable, and high-performance data centre infrastructure across Africa. The Tier III certification process involved a rigorous four-day, on-site evaluation conducted by Uptime Institute engineers. Every aspect of the facility’s design and construction was thoroughly tested, inspected, and verified to ensure full compliance with Tier III standards. Successfully passing every test validates that the facility has been built entirely in accordance with the approved design documents, underscoring Raxio’s technical expertise and dedication to quality. “Achieving the TCCF for our DRC data centre is a significant milestone for Raxio Group,” says Robert Saunders, CTO at Raxio Group. “This certification not only demonstrates the resilience and adaptability of our team in overcoming many challenges, but also reinforces our commitment to building and operating state-of-the-art data centres in emerging markets.” Raxio says that the achievement would not have been possible without the dedication and expertise of its engineering team, whose technical leadership was instrumental in securing this certification. Additionally, the Project Management Office team played a crucial role in overseeing construction efforts, the company tells us, while the local Technical Operations team ensured the facility was ready for the Uptime Institute’s rigorous testing. With this latest certification, Raxio now boasts three Tier III certified facilities across its growing portfolio, further solidifying its reputation as a leading provider of cutting-edge data centre solutions in Africa. For more from Raxio Group, click here.

OADC Texaf - Kinshasa achieves certification milestone

In what is reportedly a first for the DRC, Open Access Data Centres (OADC) Texaf - Kinshasa has announced the attainment of three prestigious certifications: ISO 27001, ISO 22301 and PCI DSS. The company says that the achievement underscores its steadfast commitment to delivering secure, resilient and world-class digital infrastructure services in the DRC that meet stringent global standards. ISO 27001, the globally recognised standard for Information Security Management Systems (ISMS), validates that OADC Texaf - Kinshasa has implemented robust measures for its information security management, demonstrating its ability to reassure clients of its information security integrity. This certification also underpins the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) Certification. PCI-DSS compliance establishes OADC Texaf - Kinshasa as a trusted partner for the financial services and payments industry. This globally recognised certification demonstrates adherence to stringent payments, industry security protocols and controls, playing a key role in transforming the DRC’s financial and payments ecosystem. It also provides critical reassurance in meeting the growing demands for financial inclusion among the DRC population. Finally, ISO 22301 certification; the Business Continuity Management System (BCMS) ensures uninterrupted service delivery and rapid recovery from unforeseen disruptions, providing clients with critical assurances of operational excellence and resilience - a cornerstone of trust and reliability for business demanding the utmost in operational integrity. Mohammed Bouhelal, Managing Director of OADC Texaf - Kinshasa, remarks, “Achieving ISO 27001, ISO 22301 and PCI DSS certifications is a testament to our unwavering dedication to operational excellence and client-centric service delivery. These milestones position OADC as a leader in secure and resilient digital infrastructure, supporting the growth of the DRC’s digital economy and fostering trust among local and international businesses.” These certifications hold significance for OADC Texaf - Kinshasa’s diverse clientele, the company states, including Internet Service Providers (ISPs), telecommunications carriers, enterprise clients, banks and other financial services companies. By meeting and exceeding global standards, OADC Texaf - Kinshasa strengthens the foundation for secure and reliable digital services, enabling innovation and economic growth across the region. This achievement also bolsters the DRC’s position as an emerging hub for digital infrastructure in Africa, attracting foreign investment and fostering confidence in the country’s digital transformation journey. As the demand for secure, resilient and compliant data centre services grows, OADC Texaf - Kinshasa remains at the forefront, setting benchmarks for excellence and shaping the future of the digital economy in the DRC and central Africa. For more from OADC, click here.

Immersion cooling OCP completed at Stellium data centre

Stellium Datacenters, a colocation operator and provider of data centre infrastructure innovations, has announced the launch of an Open Compute Project (OCP) Proof of Concept at its HPC hyperscale data centre near Newcastle. This follows the integration phase of an immersion cooling system into Stellium’s OCP-Ready certified infrastructure in collaboration with Submer and its partners. Based on OCP design and engineering protocols, Submer’s installation represents the first ORv3 showcase deployed in Europe, a specification within the broader OCP concept that focuses on rack design and power supply regulation. In combination with ExxonMobil’s DC 3235 Super fluid, the compute is powered by MiTAC’s Capri 2 servers with AMD CPUs and server components provided by Circle B. Other key contributions to the project so far include TE Connectivity busbars, Murata power shelves, an Edge-Corenetwork switch, and FormericaOE immersion fibre cables. “As one of the first OCP-Ready data centres in the UK, Stellium is delighted to be at the heart of this significant engineering achievement, which is being followed with great interest by existing and prospective customers,” says Ed Bissell, Sales & Marketing Director, Stellium Datacenters. “With Submer and our OCP Partners, we are leading the way in immersion cooling technology capable of cost-effectively addressing the exponential cooling demands of high performance AI and ML computing. Our joint collaboration is an exemplar of how to achieve this goal and without compromise when it comes to reliability, processing performance and energy efficiency.” Oriol Chavanel, Submer Ecosystem Enablement Tech. Lead & OCP Lead, adds, “For Submer, having finally deployed this configuration this offers an opportunity to show an ORv3 configuration to current and future end customers. For those who are considering Immersion OCP-related solutions, visiting the facility will allow them to see a real hyper-converged set-up.” Steve Helvie, VP of Emerging Markets, Open Compute Project, comments, “We are excited to see this collaboration between OCP Members, Stellium Datacenters, Submer, MiTAC, Exxon Mobil, AMD, Murata and other key partners, driving innovation through this Proof of Concept for immersion cooling. Efforts like these exemplify the power of the Open Compute Project community working together to advance sustainable, energy-efficient solutions for the data centre industry. By working together to explore new approaches, these partners are not only validating cutting-edge technologies, but also contributing to the evolution of open infrastructure to meet the demands of a rapidly growing market.” Stellium, Submer, OCP Partners and OCP representatives will be hosting an open day at Stellium’s data centre on 12 February to showcase the immersion cooling installation to existing and prospective customers. For more from Stellium, click here.

Yondr Group holds ground-breaking for Toronto data centre

Yondr Group, a global developer, owner and operator of hyperscale data centres, has held a ground-breaking ceremony to mark the start of work on site for its 27MW Toronto data centre. The project, which Yondr is building on a 4.5-acre site, is the company’s first development in Canada. It forms part of Yondr’s global expansion, as the business continues to deliver reliable and resilient data centre capacity at speed and at scale, with projects currently completed or in progress in North America, Europe and Asia. The ground-breaking in Toronto follows the completion of the company’s 48MW data centre project in Northern Virginia, and the first ready for service (RFS) milestone for the company’s 40MW Frankfurt data centre last November. The ceremony was attended by Councillor Shelley Carroll of Don Valley North, who gave a speech highlighting the city’s thriving digital economy and emphasised Toronto’s vision of becoming a global hub for innovation and talent. The event also brought together key stakeholders all united in their vision of building a more connected and future-proofed Toronto. Situated in a strategic location within Canada’s emerging data centre hub, the project comprises a three-storey, 27MW data centre, which is scheduled to achieve RFS by mid-2026. The project has been designed by Yondr to follow the Toronto Green Standard, the city’s sustainable design and performance requirements for new developments, and this aligns with the company’s environmental goals and target for achieving net zero for scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions by 2030. The building will feature a closed loop cooling design, which means once the chilled water loop is filled, the facility will not need to consume water for cooling. Once completed, the project will have bike parking, electric vehicle charging points and will open up pedestrian walkways. The environmentally friendly landscaping plan will have native and pollinator plants, and the building’s glass will be bird-friendly, helping birds to see the building as a barrier and avoid collisions. As part of its social impact initiatives, Yondr has partnered with the University of Toronto to fund a scholarship programme. ‘The Yondr Group Scholarship’ will be available to undergraduate students at the university entering courses in Computer Science, the Rotman Commerce business programme, Life Sciences, or Mathematical & Physical Sciences. Successful applicants will receive $5,000 per year for five years, with the first awards being made to students starting their studies at the beginning of the 2025/26 academic year this coming autumn. Kent Andersson, Program Controls Director for the Americas at Yondr Group, says, “Our Toronto data centre forms a key part of our strategy for North America, where there is an urgent need to increase capacity to support the digital economy. This project will play a key role in providing the infrastructure needed to support cutting-edge cloud computing and connectivity, and enable the development of AI and future technologies in Canada and beyond. “We would like to thank the Canadian authorities, including the City of Toronto and our strategic partners, for supporting a positive approach to bringing this project from concept to site, and I look forward to seeing the data centre take shape on site over the coming months.” For more from Yondr Group, click here.

Portus Data Centers partners with Megaport

Portus Data Centers has announced a strategic partnership with Megaport, a Network as a Service (NaaS) provider based in Luxembourg. Megaport, which is actively seeking to expand across Europe, has deployed a point of presence (PoP) at Portus Data Centers Munich, allowing joint customers to benefit from wider reach and enhanced connectivity capabilities in Central Europe. “We’re thrilled to be working with Megaport in our Tier IV data centre in Munich to expand their global reach on our high-performance data centre infrastructure,” says Adriaan Oosthoek, Chairman at Portus Data Centers. “Now, we can provide more customers in Germany with Megaport’s wide range of connectivity solutions to drive business growth. This is aligned with Portus’ commitment to meeting the growing requirements of our customers who require maximum availability and agility to ensure their competitive edge.” Michael Reid, CEO of Megaport, adds, “Expanding to so many new European locations alongside such exceptional partners allows us to bring the network revolution further into Europe, giving new customers the ability to supercharge their business and build connections in less than 60 seconds.” Portus Data Centers Munich has been providing high quality, carrier-neutral edge colocation services throughout Germany and the surrounding regions since 2020. Located 9 miles from Munich city centre, the Portus facility enables enterprise customers and service providers to operate sustainable high-performance, low-latency IT infrastructure effectively and efficiently, supported by a responsive and skilled on-site engineering support team. For more from Portus Data Centers, click here.

atNorth joins UN Global Compact

atNorth, the Nordic colocation, high-performance computing, and artificial intelligence service provider, has become a signatory of the United Nations’ Global Compact as part of its ongoing commitment to business sustainability. The UN Global Compact is a voluntary initiative that enables members to align their operations and strategies with 10 universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption. Launched in 2000, the UN Global Compact is the largest corporate sustainability initiative in the world and involves an annual disclosure of responsible business practices. Corporate responsibility is a core part of atNorth’s business ethos, and the company has evidenced this through its strategic Nordic locations, proprietary data centre design, heat reuse programmes and adherence to ISO14001 and ISO 45001 guidelines. These factors allow customers such as BNP Paribas and Shearwater Geoservices to decarbonise their IT workloads. The business has been a strong voice on the topic of the environmental impact of the data centre industry and is a member of several data centre industry associations in addition to the Infrastructure Masons Climate Accord - a coalition united on carbon reduction in digital infrastructure and the Climate Neutral Data Center Pact that is an agreement to make data centres climate neutral by 2030. By joining the UN Global Compact, atNorth will continue to share insight into its sustainability journey as a whole and inspire the data centre industry to not only mitigate its ecological risk, but to strive towards positive and restorative environmental and community impact. “As awareness of the environmental and social impact of digital infrastructure continues to grow, we are committed to raising the bar and leading by example as a responsible business within the data centre industry”, says Eyjólfur Magnús Kristinsson, CEO atNorth. “By actively aligning with the globally recognised UN Global Compact, we will provide a transparent account of our progress across the board”. atNorth recently appointed Cora Olsen, Director of Sustainability, to lead the continuous development and implementation of the business’s sustainability strategy which includes coordinating its alignment and reporting to the UN Global Compact’s principles. Cora comments, “Having recently joined atNorth, I am very impressed by the high level of ambition when it comes to sustainability. Becoming a signatory to the UN Global Compact is an important step forward to demonstrate our commitment to the global sustainability agenda.” For more from atNorth, click here.

Armstrong International acquires humidity controls specialist

Armstrong International EMEA, the continental entity of the global thermal energy innovations provider, Armstrong International, has acquired HygroTemp, a Netherlands-based humidity controls specialist. HygroTemp has worked closely with Armstrong – EMEA’s Humidification Group in the Netherlands since 2007. Together they promote key technologies like the EvaPack, a hygienic and controlled evaporation system manufactured by Armstrong EMEA’s subsidiary, Devatec, located in Normandy, France. HygroTemp’s former owner and Managing Director, Rolf Bosscher, will support Armstrong’s European Humidification team in further developing and promoting the EvaPack technology. He will also continue to be HygroTemp’s Business Development Manager. “Our clients are entering into a transition from steam humidification towards adiabatic humidification and free cooling, thus facilitating decarbonisation thanks to lower evaporation temperature,” says Rossen Ivanov, Managing Director of Armstrong International – EMEA. “HygroTemp has played a key role in introducing this new technology to companies in healthcare, pharmaceutical, electronics and data centre market segments, among others.” Jean-François Frambot, Armstrong International’s Global Director of Humidification and General Manager of Devatec, will take on the role of General Manager at HygroTemp. He comments, “This acquisition strengthens our position in The Netherlands and supports expansion into other European markets, where the demand for hygienic adiabatic humidification and free cooling solutions is growing.” Armstrong says that the acquisition underscores its continued investment in sustainable, innovative technologies that foster thermal energy efficiency, decarbonisation and long-term growth.

Europe’s largest cloud and AI data centre gets approved

DC01UK’s planning application for a new state-of-the-art data centre has, as of 23 January 2025, been approved by Hertsmere Borough Council’s planning committee. The new facility has been given the green light just one week after the Government launched its AI Opportunities Action Plan. The plan outlines the economic growth opportunities presented by the AI revolution, in which new data centres will play a pivotal role. The new plan sets out long term plans for AI infrastructure needs, mitigates sustainability and includes security considerations for AI infrastructure. Last September, DC01UK’s planning application was widely reported on, when it featured exclusively in the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology’s announcement of the sector-wide reclassification of data centres as Critical National Infrastructure, which significantly bolstered the importance of data centres within the UK. DC01UK, when built, will be Europe’s largest cloud and AI data centre, with up to two million square feet of space, and the location of the data centre brings together the key pillars needed to fulfil the existing cloud shortfall and cater for the large increase in demand expected in future years. This includes a power reservation of 400MVA from National Grid, owing to its proximity to the Elstree (Letchmore Heath) substation and proximity to national and international fibre optic routes as well as nearby Availability Zones in the region. Economic projections estimate the construction value of the project at £3.75bn with a year-round generation of £21.4m in business rates once the data centre is operational. The positive economic impact of the data centre would also see the creation of 500 skilled on-site jobs during the construction phase, 200 permanent, skilled jobs once up and running and a further 13,740 indirect jobs, 10,900 of which would be in the South East. DC01UK is also estimated to generate approximately £1.1 billion per annum GVA (Gross Value Added) indirectly per year. This landscape-led scheme is set in 85 acres of grounds, 54% of which will be retained as green, open space, with a 10% net biodiversity gain. The approved plans also include a suite of local benefits, including the confirmed expansion of the local cycle hire programme, £2m of upgrades for new and existing bus routes, and improvements to cycle paths, footpaths and crossings. There is also a significant financial contribution to local employment skills and opportunities included within the plans. A spokesperson for DC01UK, commenting on their successful planning application, says, “We want to thank Hertsmere Borough Council for their open and pragmatic approach to DC01UK’s plans. They understand our ambition for both the project and the borough. It will bring huge benefits for local people through a stronger local economy, more skilled jobs and better opportunities. Our plans also include a raft of upgrades for local transport, including new and existing bus routes, expansion of the local cycle hire scheme and road improvements. “This approval will also solidify Hertsmere’s status as a leading region in the South East as a tech and media superhub, complementing other established, large technology-driven organisations and film studios in the area. “With planning for this important piece of Critical National Infrastructure now approved, the site stands ready to power the needs of tomorrow bringing a much-welcomed boost to the UK’s digital economy. Our plan will put Hertfordshire at the epicentre of the new data centre revolution, as well as creating £3.75bn for the economy during construction and almost 14,000 indirect jobs once operational.” Minister for Telecoms, Sir Chris Bryant MP, adds, “Data centres are the beating hearts of this modern age, powering the digital infrastructure that we can no longer live without. That is why I am thrilled to see that Hertsmere Council has granted planning permission to one of the largest data centre projects in Europe. “Data centres like this will not only play a pivotal role in our AI Opportunities Action Plan, but drive economic growth through the creation of skilled jobs across the South East.” Cllr Jeremy Newmark, Leader of Hertsmere Borough Council and Chair of the Hertfordshire Growth Board, comments, “This is a momentous development for our borough. Hertsmere has cleared the way to becoming the home of a data centre which will be integral to serving Britain with cutting-edge technology. It’ll be a piece of critical national infrastructure needed for many generations to come. “The project, which is aligned with the council’s vision, is set to deliver hugely significant growth and economic benefits for the area, creating jobs during and after the construction phase, as well as new businesses. This news clearly reinforces Hertsmere’s status as an extremely attractive location for business and industry, with a reputation that is getting even stronger. “The data centre will provide critical synergies for our significant local film and TV sector, with three major sets of studios in Borehamwood. “The Government’s AI Opportunities Action Plan, which was announced earlier this month, shows the impact that the AI revolution is likely to have for many years to come and data centres, such as this, will play a major part. “While outline planning permission has been granted, we will, of course, continue to listen to and engage with residents about these exciting plans as more details are firmed up. As I’ve said before, I’m sure local people will see the massive value this development could bring to our area.” Stephen Beard, Head of Data Centres at Knight Frank who is advising on the project, concludes, “DC01UK is a first of its kind. The largest data centre development in Europe in the world’s second largest market, which is perfectly positioned in its ability to service the ever-increasing cloud demand today whilst accommodating the AI needs of tomorrow. A first and great example of the UK’s shift towards becoming a dominant superpower in cloud, AI and general digital infrastructure.” For more from DC01UK, click here.

Chilean data centres to be powered with renewable energy

Atlas Renewable Energy, an international provider of renewable energy sources, has formed an agreement with ODATA, an Aligned Data Centers company and an expert in data centre construction and operations, to power Chilean data centres with 100% renewable energy. A landmark agreement for the Chile and data centre sector, this partnership continues Atlas' commitment to driving innovation in sustainable energy innovations for the rapidly growing Chilean data centre sector - with the company also supporting ODATA's strategic objectives and sustainability initiatives in the country. The agreement leverages diverse renewable energy sources, including solar power, to deliver 100% I-REC certifiable renewable energy to ODATA, empowering the organisation with the flexibility to pursue sustainable growth and expansion in the region. Ricardo Alário, CEO of ODATA, says, “We are proud to partner with Atlas Renewable Energy to support the proliferation of new technologies in this dynamic market while further advancing our sustainability goals. As a leader in data centre infrastructure for Latin America, we recognise Chile's potential as a key technology hub. With its strategic location and AI growth potential, the country provides an ideal environment for sustainable data centre growth.” Alfredo Solar, Regional Manager of Atlas Renewable Energy for Chile and the Southern Cone, adds, “At Atlas, we want to promote the implementation of innovative and cutting-edge technologies, where this agreement with ODATA represents just that - an important advance for the country, but hand in hand with sustainability. It is essential that this industry continues to develop at an accelerated pace, especially in an interconnected world in which we want to be protagonists, and for this, renewables as a way to ensure the reduction of the environmental impact of technological growth are key.” This agreement also fosters innovation and a sustainable energy transition in Chile to pave the way for an emerging and expanding data centre industry. Driven by the surge of cloud and Artificial Intelligence (AI), the data centre industry has emerged as one of Latin America's fastest-growing sectors. This rapid growth is expected to continue as demand for new technologies accelerates. In Latin America, demand is particularly high in cities such as São Paulo, Brazil, and Santiago, Chile, where capacity is still limited compared to the growing need for digital infrastructure. Likewise, AI has advanced rapidly in Chile, which is considered one of the regional leaders in AI adoption, alongside governance, infrastructure, human talent, research, and development, according to the Latin American Artificial Intelligence Index (ILIA) 2024. Given the significant growth and demand within the data centre sector, Atlas Renewable Energy, with its 8.4 GW of renewable energy projects across Latin America, is well-positioned to partner with data centres in Chile. Leveraging its expertise in solar, and battery storage, Atlas can provide clean energy solutions that support the industry's continued expansion. This partnership will not only drive sustainable energy adoption within the Chilean technology sector, but also contribute to job creation and promote a more sustainable future. For more from ODATA, click here.

Latos to accelerate AI with new edge data centres

Latos today launched a new capability to design, build, and operate a new generation of small-scale 'volumetric' data centres at the network edge. Edge data centres will play a key role in enabling what Accenture has called the 'binary big bang' – the transformation of businesses and public services using AI. Edge-based volumetric data centres enable AI to run faster and safer. Latos volumetric data centres will be built to Tier III standards, comprise as few as 24 racks with unlimited scaling opportunity, and deliver as much as 100kW of energy per rack. This is enough to support the most intensive AI training tasks: training a generative model like ChatGPT needs around 80kW per rack. The new facilities will also reflect the latest net zero building techniques. Constructed from modular components, they will feature high performance power and cooling. Latos plans to design, build, and operate volumetric data centres on behalf of customers across the UK, as well as licensing its designs to partners worldwide. Latos's announcement comes as the UK government reveals plans to expand the UK’s computing capacity 20-fold by 2030 as part of the AI Opportunities Action Plan. It is creating a number of AI Growth Zones (AIGZs) across the UK to help support private investors in data centres and other AI infrastructure. Mike Carlin, CEO of Latos Data Centres, says, “While we applaud the government for its ambition over the UK’s AI infrastructure, a handful of large-scale data centres in far-flung locations won’t be enough. We’ll need more compute facilities closer to end users – and that means the network edge. We’ve designed Latos volumetric data centres specifically to help organisations capitalise on AI. They are state of the art, quick to build, and cost-effective to run.” Latos recently announced it is moving into the construction phase of a 50,400 square metre hyperscale data centre in Cardiff and plans to open a total of 40 data centres across the UK by 2030. For more from Latos, click here.