News

HireHigher and CyrusOne drive data centre awareness

As part of HireHigher’s continued partnership with CyrusOne, a global data centre developer and operator, to address the ongoing skills shortage in the data centre industry, they recently brought together 90 sixth-form students from St Mark’s Catholic, Gunnersbury Catholic and Logic Studio Schools in West London, for the largest student-facing digital infrastructure conference in the UK. The event was hosted by the London Heathrow Marriott Hotel ahead of today’s International Data Centre Day. It also marked three years of HireHigher and CyrusOne’s partnership to help broaden awareness of the integral role data centres play in society and the job opportunities they generate, particularly amongst the Gen Z age group. Data centres provide the digital infrastructure that underpins almost every aspect of our daily lives, enabling a vast range of economic, scientific, and social activities. A recent independent survey commissioned by CyrusOne, titled 'Listening to Communities', explored how the public perceives data centres in Europe, and found that those aged 16-24 years were least likely to know that data centres play a role in enabling digital applications such as WhatsApp (35%). HireHigher states that it's not surprising that today's digitally dependent generation, which represents the future workforce, is unaware of the significance of data centres in our lives. However, the company believes that this highlights the need for the industry to engage with younger generations through events such as this to help them understand the importance of data centres, their crucial role in modern society, and the impressive range of career opportunities they offer. Adelle Desouza, Founder of HireHigher, says, “It’s a testament to CyrusOne’s commitment to attracting the best talent to the industry that they have once again joined us to host an event for sixth formers. If the industry wants to attract top talent, we need to ignite more passion in the young workforce of the future, ensuring they are well informed and inspired and understand what options there are for them in the industry.” Emma Fryer, Director Public Policy Europe at CyrusOne, adds, “We’re delighted to have partnered with HireHigher once again to deliver an outstanding event. In-person engagement is essential if we are to forge meaningful connections with the next generation of talent and show students first hand how important, relevant and exciting our industry is. My favourite part of the day was tasking the students to design a community-oriented data centre. By encouraging our students to work collaboratively and to think about meeting the specific needs of host communities, from sustainability to social equity, we brought to life the challenges that our own teams work on every day and gave them the chance to work things out for themselves.” With the additional support of Virtus Data Centres, the annual event forms an important part of HireHigher’s aim to improve careers advice in schools and partner with organisations that will help create real action within the industry. Events such as these help to attract new talent and contribute to the current skills shortage the industry faces in a positive way. As part of the day’s agenda, the students heard from a panel of graduates and apprentices from CyrusOne and HireHigher’s Rising Star Programme, who discussed their jobs and routes into the industry. Students also had the opportunity to visit one of CyrusOne’s or VIRTUS’ data centres. Vlad Tipu, Computer Science teacher at Logic School, comments, “Students have had a great opportunity to engage with professionals in a well-established sector. This will provide them with excellent perspectives and potential career paths they can pursue for their futures.” For more from CyrusOne, click here.

Digital Realty to boost global connectivity

Digital Realty, a global provider of cloud- and carrier-neutral data centre, colocation, and interconnection services, and Console Connect, PCCW Global’s on-demand platform and automated network for intelligent data movement, have announced a significant expansion of their strategic collaboration, which will extend the reach of ServiceFabric to several new markets globally. This latest move builds on the collaboration initially established in 2022 and will provide enterprises with enhanced options to connect to businesses and partners globally, across any location, at any time. Through a seamless API integration with the Console Connect platform, users of Digital Realty’s ServiceFabric gain access to on-demand connectivity to more than 100 new third-party data centres, including many located in key metros across the Middle East and Africa, where demand for connectivity from enterprises is growing. Additionally, the partnership will provide access to more than 75 new cloud on-ramps, further enriching the global connectivity options available to enterprises across PlatformDIGITAL. With the addition of these new sites, Digital Realty’s orchestration platform ServiceFabric is now accessible at more than 600 data centres globally, providing a myriad of interconnection opportunities and supporting the growing demands of digital businesses, including private connections for AI applications and joint expansion of respective AI Exchange ecosystems. “Our expanded collaboration with Console Connect underscores our commitment to providing seamless, scalable, and secure interconnection solutions for enterprises worldwide,” says Scott Mills, Senior Vice President, Product and Engineering, Digital Realty. “By leveraging Console Connect’s platform and the robust PCCW Global network, we’re enabling more customers to accelerate their digital transformation, drive AI adoption, and connect to a broader ecosystem of partners and services across diverse geographies including growing markets in Africa and the Middle East.” “With our extended collaboration, Digital Realty customers can enjoy the performance, speed and security offered by Console Connect’s privately managed network more easily than ever,” adds Michael Glynn, Senior Vice President of Digital Automated Innovation, PCCW Global. “Meanwhile, the broader availability of our on-demand services offers enterprises greater choice, flexibility and control over their global connections.” This expanded partnership strengthens Digital Realty and Console Connect’s leadership in data centre, NaaS (Network-as-a-Service), and AI Exchange solutions, empowering businesses to thrive in an increasingly digital and interconnected world. The deeper integration has already driven joint customer success, providing on-demand access to a vast ecosystem of networks, partners, and services. According to Kenny Wong, Technical Consultant at Azonne, a provider of customisable business-class Hosted PBX phone service and unified communications services based in Hong Kong, "Console Connect and Digital Realty offered Azonne a seamless, one-stop solution for our networking needs. Setting up Console Connect via a ServiceFabric port at our existing data centre location was incredibly easy, and this collaboration has enabled us to interconnect effortlessly with other data centre locations, internet exchanges, and office sites across Asia." For more from Digital Realty, click here.

ZTE showcasing FTTx innovations at FTTH Conference 2025

ZTE Corporation, a global provider of integrated information and communication technology products, is showcasing its full lifecycle FTTx innovation at the FTTH Conference 2025. The FTTx innovation indicates that the entire FTTx construction and O&M process has entered the 'zero era', including four features: Zero-touch planning: Cutting-edge AI identification technologies are used for planning and design, and project survey results are output with only one click, greatly improving planning efficiency.Zero construction threshold: The end-to-end full-stack FTTx innovation allows for full-scenario coverage, laying a foundation for smooth upgrade and continuous evolution in the future. ZTE offers a comprehensive series of ODN products in the industry to accurately meet the diversified requirements of different markets.Zero fault blind spot: The system provides the active early warning function for potential faults, and works with the end-to-end digital and intelligent network management and O&M to ensure network operation without fault dead spots.Zero idle resources: The system dynamically perceives the link status and automatically updates it in a timely manner so that the ODN end-to-end resource accuracy is 100% and idle ports are activated to avoid resource waste. The precise resource management ensures zero errors in one-time deployment, without the need for revisit. In home area, ZTE builds 'one smart home, one-key control, and AI-enabled quality life', and reconstructs a new ecosystem of digital home life through the AIoT technology. One smart home: ZTE builds a full-scenario home ecosystem. XGS-PON and Wi-Fi 7 are integrated to offer ultra-broadband access capability and ultra-gigabit network coverage in the whole home. In the Wi-Fi Mesh and all-optical FTTR three-dimensional network architecture, the topology structure of 'one master, three slaves, N extensions' is constructed, the signal coverage is increased by 300%, and the roaming handover duration is as low as 10ms. In business innovation, the 4K/8K set-top boxes (STB) are used to create smart home screens. The AI-based intelligent security components of IP cameras (IPC) are employed to build a home security butler, and the distributed NAS storage matrix is utilised to construct a home data bank. One-click control: ZTE seeks to deliver a better home experience. Its home all-terminal management platform, ZENIC ONE, supports seamless interconnection of over 200 smart devices and empowerment based on large AI models to achieve AI O&M hubs and intelligent diagnosis. The large-model-based Wi-Fi self-optimisation system reduces complaint rate by 28%. In predictive maintenance, AI evaluation of device health promotes O&M efficiency by 74%. Facing the new experience of smart life in the future, the AI FTTR 6.0 integrates sensing, computing, storage and display, creating an entrance to a smart home. AI STBs support viewing, AI fitness, AI gaming, computing, and communication, serving as a gateway for home services. The Light PON solution supports lightweight and fast deployment. The lightweight OLT is light in weight and small in size. The outdoor design supports single-person single-site installation, greatly eliminating the dependence on large equipment rooms. The equipment room rental cost drops by 90%. Efficient and lightweight ODN breaks professional limitations, so that ordinary workers can quickly lay out it as needed and operate it easily, cutting cabling costs by 50%. Intelligent and lightweight management and O&M enables on-site device plug-and-play and zero configuration, greatly decreasing O&M load and human error risks and ensuring stable network operation. The cost-effective and easy-to-maintain transport network product is also showcased. Designed to help operators and ISP customers optimise network deployment and operations, this end-to-end lightweight transport network features compact, low-power, and easy-to-maintain box-type products. By streamlining infrastructure and reducing operational complexity, the solution minimises space requirements and power consumption, significantly lowering the total cost of ownership while ensuring efficient, reliable, and scalable network performance. ZTE says that it has achieved outstanding performance in the fierce competition in the global communications field. It ranks second in global market share of FTTx in the industry, and has carried out deep cooperation with over 300 operators across more than 100 countries. ZTE takes the lead in 50G PON, and has cooperated with over 50 operators. The ODN network covers more than 30 million users worldwide, and has been successfully deployed in more than 100 turnkey projects. In 2024, the total shipment of home terminals exceeded 100 million, and PON ONT/IP STB ranked number one in market share. For more from ZTE, click here.

JLL appoints new Director of Data Centres

Yassine Rifai has joined JLL in a newly created role as Director of Data Centres, France, Belgium and Luxembourg, within the firm’s EMEA Project & Development Services business. The appointment is set to accelerate JLL’s development in the sector and strengthen its positioning in key European markets by reinforcing the firm’s senior project management capabilities. With nearly 20 years of experience within real estate, engineering, and data centres, Yassine will provide clients with strategic support, implementing and delivering key projects within his specific geographies. Yassine will assist clients in navigating French administrative procedures and local urban planning regulations, across the entire project lifecycle. Based in Paris, Yassine reports to Maxime Michaux, Head of Engineering, France. “We are excited to welcome Yassine to the business,” says Jonathan Kinsey, EMEA Lead and Global Chair, Data Centre Solutions, JLL. “His appointment brings essential expertise to our team and will help us to grow our presence in the key French-speaking markets as the sector continues its upwards trajectory.” Analysis by JLL highlights the extent of the surge in data centre demand across EMEA, estimating that 742MW of hyperscale self-build is currently under construction in the region, with a further 2,661MW worth of land banked. Based on this current pace of under construction and planned developments, the EMEA market will likely expand at a baseline 25% CAGR through 2027, compared with projected global growth of 15%. A graduate of the prestigious Skema Business School in France, Rifai has held engineering and project management roles in Morocco, Middle East and France, where he specialised in data centres. His last role before joining JLL was with Turner & Townsend in Paris, where he served as Data Centre Project Director. “France continues to be a core European market, with some specific challenges related to administrative issues and land availability,” Jonathan explains. “Yassine’s unique skillset will help us create a genuine local centre of expertise to support our clients as the sector continues to evolve. His in-depth knowledge of the local construction market and experience delivering major projects in the region will be a major asset to our team.” For more from JLL, click here.

Digital Realty announces opening of Frankfurt data centre

Digital Realty, a global provider of cloud- and carrier-neutral data centre, colocation, and interconnection solutions, has announced the opening of FRA18, Germany’s first data centre housed within a historically preserved building. The facility, located in the landmark former Neckermann headquarters, is the third data centre within Digital Realty’s Digital Park Fechenheim campus and represents a unique fusion of innovation, sustainability, and architectural heritage. FRA18 offers 8,200 square metres of colocation space and a total IT capacity of 16 megawatts (MW), designed to support high-performance computing (HPC) and artificial intelligence (AI) workloads. The facility launches with an initial capacity of 6.4MW in phase one, with an additional 9.6MW expected to come online in later phases. Optimised for AI and HPC applications, FRA18 is equipped with state-of-the-art infrastructure, including advanced liquid cooling technology that maximises efficiency and performance. Moreover, with the integration of ServiceFabric, Digital Realty enhances FRA18’s robust data security and connectivity capabilities, giving customers seamless access to SCION (Scalability, Control, and Isolation On Next-Generation Networks) - a next-generation secure internet protocol essential for industries like finance and pharmaceuticals. “Our vision for Digital Park Fechenheim is innovation at every level,” says Volker Ludwig, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, DACH, at Digital Realty. “We are committed to preserving the historic significance of the site while delivering cutting-edge technology solutions that empower our customers and enhance data security.” The repurposing of the Egon Eiermann-designed building underscores Digital Realty’s commitment to sustainability and architectural preservation. The iconic building, complete with its signature staircases, balconies, and rainwater management system, remains intact, while former distribution floors have been transformed into high-performance data halls. Sustainability is a key pillar of the Digital Park Fechenheim development. In collaboration with environmental authorities, Digital Realty is implementing a comprehensive renaturation strategy, creating extensive green spaces and restoring 10,000 square metres of land to enhance biodiversity and groundwater regeneration. Additionally, the site will incorporate an innovative heat reuse system, repurposing residual heat from the facility. “This milestone reinforces our commitment to responsible development and sustainable innovation,” Volker adds. “By working closely with the City of Frankfurt and the State of Hesse, we have developed a concept that fully aligns with heritage preservation requirements while emphasising Digital’s commitment to energy efficiency and environmental stewardship.” For more from Digital Realty, click here.

Infinidat to showcase cyber storage innovations at DTX 2025

Infinidat, a provider of enterprise storage solutions, has announced details of its participation at the Digital Transformation Expo (DTX) 2025, taking place from 2-3 April in Manchester, UK. Visitors to Booth C81 will discover how Infinidat's innovative storage platforms deliver next-generation data protection, cyber storage resilience, and AI-ready infrastructure for enterprises navigating today's most critical IT challenges. In addition, delegates will have the chance to win prizes designed to help busy enterprise IT professionals enjoy well earned ‘downtime’ on Infinidat, with two premium competitions running during the event – one at Infindat’s Booth, and the other at Infinidat’s presentation on 3 April. Being held on the Cyber Strategies Stage at 11.15am, Eric Herzog, Chief Marketing Officer at Infinidat, will deliver a presentation titled The New Frontier of Enterprise Storage: Cyber Resilience & AI. Eric's presentation will address crucial questions for IT leaders:• Is your enterprise cyber storage resilient enough to withstand the rising wave of cyber attacks?• As AI transforms your industry, can your storage infrastructure meet evolving demands?• What strategies ensure your storage investments remain future-proof? Eric comments, “The enterprise storage landscape is transforming at unprecedented speed. Organisations today face dual imperatives, simultaneously needing to protect critical data against sophisticated cyber threats, while also building enterprise infrastructure capable of powering AI innovation. Infinidat uniquely addresses both challenges, with solutions designed for maximum cyber resilience, performance, 100% availability, scalability, and return on investment." For the first competition, Infinidat invites DTX 2025 attendees to participate in its 'Take a Break' competition for a chance to win either a voucher toward a holiday, or the runners-up prize of Apple AirPods Pro 2. Entry is free and requires five simple steps: 1. Attend DTX 2025 in Manchester on April 2 or 3 2. Follow Infinidat on LinkedIn 3. Take a photo or selfie at the Infinidat booth 4. Post your picture on LinkedIn and tag @Infinidat 5. Tell Infinidat why you deserve to take a break Winners will be selected by Infinidat and contacted via LinkedIn. Full terms and conditions of the competition will be available at Infinidat's booth. In addition, all delegates who plan to attend Eric's presentation can enter into another prize draw for a holiday voucher by visiting Infinidat's booth, with the lucky winner announced immediately following the session. "We're excited to be engaging with the UK's technology community at DTX Manchester," Eric adds. "Beyond showcasing our latest innovations, these competitions reflect Infinidat's commitment to recognising the hard work of IT professionals who deserve both the best enterprise storage solutions and the chance to take some well-earned downtime." For more from Infinidat, click here.

SEGRO and Pure DC announce new London data centre

SEGRO has announced the formation of SEGRO Pure Premier Park Data Centre Limited, a 50:50 joint venture with Pure DC, a global data centre operator with over a decade of experience in the design, build and operation of data centres for hyperscale users. The joint venture has been created with the intent to develop and deliver a fully fitted data centre in Park Royal, West London. It brings together a 10-acre super-prime industrial site owned by SEGRO and 70MVA of power secured by Pure DC. It represents a highly attractive and profitable opportunity to deliver a data centre in a land and power-constrained key London Availability Zone where there is strong underlying demand; and allows SEGRO to benefit from Pure DC’s technical expertise in data centre fit-out and track record of working with hyperscalers. This will be SEGRO’s first fully fitted data centre project, building on its experience of delivering powered shells to major data centre operators for over 20 years. SEGRO sees the potential for significant value creation utilising its 2.3GW land-enabled power bank and will seek to optimise and accelerate this over the coming years. The evolution of SEGRO's data centre strategy to include fully fitted data centres will ensure that it can best access the demand in each of its markets and allows the company to deploy capital at scale to generate significant development profits. For each site, SGERO will pursue the model which offers the most attractive opportunity and risk-adjusted return. Project details The joint venture intends to develop a circa 30,000 square metre fully fitted, three-storey, data centre on the edge of SEGRO Park Premier Road in West London. The data centre will be constructed to the highest sustainability standards, in line with SEGRO’s Mandatory Sustainability Policy and Pure DC’s Healthier Earth commitments, and will deliver a highly energy efficient offering (including a closed loop liquid cooling system to minimise the potential impact on the local water supply). SEGRO Park Premier Road is a super-prime West London industrial estate which was acquired by SEGRO in 2009. The 10-acre plot that has been identified for the development is on the edge of the estate where an older warehouse, recently vacated by Matchesfashion, is currently located. SEGRO will contribute the land to the joint venture and will carry out the site clearance and remedial works. Pure DC will be contributing 70MVA of secured power to enable delivery of a 56MW IT load data centre. Park Royal sits within a key London Availability Zone where there is little competing land supply and limited power capacity, so is expected to present a very attractive proposition for global hyperscalers looking to grow their capacity in one of Europe’s largest data centre markets. The joint venture will develop the data centre, combining SEGRO’s expertise in planning and development and Pure DC’s experience of delivering operational data centres. The fitout will include mechanical and electrical elements and long lead equipment such as power distribution, cabling and cooling systems. It will not include IT equipment (racking, servers etc) which will be provided by the customer in line with normal market practice. The joint venture expects to sign a long-term (15 years or more) net lease with a global hyperscaler. Construction will start once planning has been obtained, lease commitments have been secured and financing has been arranged. The development of this project is expected to generate hundreds of jobs during its multi-year construction phase, which will be complemented by a comprehensive package of support designed to upskill the local community, with an emphasis on fostering a diverse and inclusive future workforce for the technology sector. In line with SEGRO’s Responsible SEGRO framework, which prioritises investment in local communities, the joint venture aims to establish a range of projects that will bring employment, educational, and environmental benefits to the surrounding area. David Sleath, CEO of SEGRO, says, “Building on our 20 years of experience in the powered shell data centre market, we have been exploring how best to utilise our skills and 2.3GW land-enabled power bank to maximise the opportunity in this fast-growing sector. This innovative joint venture with Pure DC allows us to develop our first fully fitted data centre, alongside a highly experienced partner with an excellent track record of delivering world-class facilities to global hyperscalers. “We expect this project to deliver an attractive risk-adjusted return and it will also help further strengthen SEGRO’s expertise in this area, enabling us to optimise and accelerate the significant value creation opportunity within our portfolio.” Dame Dawn Childs, CEO of Pure DC, comments, “SEGRO choosing to enter into a joint venture with Pure DC for its first fully fitted data centre development demonstrates our capability to create world-class digital infrastructure. Together, we will develop a 56MW data centre in central London capable of handling next-generation cloud and AI workloads. “This joint venture demonstrates Pure DC’s ability to scale in a rapidly expanding market, creating fresh opportunities for growth and investment. With over 500MW of data capacity in development or operation, Pure DC brings deep expertise building data centres and working alongside hyperscalers. SEGRO Park Premier Road, Park Royal is one of London’s most sought-after data centre locations and will help support the UK’s ambitions for digitalisation.” Secretary of State for the Department of Science, Innovation & Technology (DSIT), the Rt. Hon. Peter Kyle MP, adds, “This announcement is another powerful endorsement of Britain as a home for tech investment, which will not only bolster the local economy and create job opportunities but also pave the way for a digital and AI-powered future. “Private investment like this innovative partnership between SEGRO and Pure DC will help us ensure the UK has the digital infrastructure it needs to thrive, helping us harness the power of technology to grow the economy and raise living standards, the central missions in our Plan for Change.” The clearance of the site will begin, planning will be submitted and marketing of the data centre capacity will commence now that the joint venture has been agreed. It is anticipated that the construction of the shell will commence in 2026 with the fully fitted space available for customer use from 2029. SEGRO and Pure DC are expected to each retain a 50% share in the project through to completion. No management or incentive fees are payable to either party. In addition to contributing land, SEGRO’s estimated cash equity contribution to the joint venture is expected to be around £150 million over the total construction period. The remaining construction costs will be financed by non-recourse bank financing, prior to the commencement of the construction. For more from Pure Data Centres, click here.

Vertiv launches free cooling unit for data centres

Vertiv, a global provider of critical digital infrastructure and continuity products, has announced a significant upgrade of its thermal management product portfolio with the introduction of the next-gen Vertiv Liebert EFC free cooling unit with low-GWP (Global Warming Potential) refrigerant. It is designed to meet stringent environmental standards for data centre applications, including colocation and cloud services, and is now available across Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) with capacities ranging from 150 to 450 kW. Vertiv Liebert EFC combines the capabilities of indirect air-to-air heat exchange and evaporative cooling principles in a single unit. The innovative patented polymer heat exchanger and the new low-GWP inverter driven compressor technology significantly enhance annual efficiency by up to 19% compared to previous technologies, allowing a pPUE (partial Power Usage Effectiveness) as low as 1.05. One of the standout benefits of the Liebert EFC is its extreme flexibility, Vertiv tells us. Based on onsite-specific conditions, a live toggling control feature allows users to seamlessly and securely reduce the use of critical resources like power or water via software controls, to leverage the free cooling mode. This flexibility empowers data centre owners to reduce their climate impact while enabling continuous cooling, regardless of site-specific resources. Models are available with full direct expansion (DX) back-up with a remote condenser, to supply the entire cooling capacity without any water requirements - offering full water independence, without impacting reliability. "As businesses prioritise sustainability strategies, customers are increasingly seeking innovative cooling solutions that reduce resource consumption while offering operational flexibility and resilience," states Sam Bainborough, Vice President, Thermal Business EMEA at Vertiv. "The Liebert EFC, with its game-changing and patented technology, addresses these needs with a flexible system that delivers an entirely new experience for the customer, maximising time using free cooling and leveraging the natural power of evaporation.” The new Liebert EFC complies with current global regulations and bans (EU F-Gas regulation 2024/573, and IPCC AR4), offering a turnkey solution engineered for future scalability, easy maintenance, and durability. The polymer design offers improved corrosion resistance and also allows a wider range of water qualities during operation when compared to an aluminium heat exchanger. At the core of this innovation is Vertiv Liebert iCOM and its control algorithms, which manage automatic transitions between the most suitable working modes, enabling use of the preferred cooling source. The controls also enable seamless coordination of units, allowing them to function as a unified system, enhancing cooling continuity and reliability without the need for an additional plant management system. For more from Vertiv, click here.

Huber+Suhner introduces ribbon innovation for data centres

Huber+Suhner has introduced a new Ribbon End-to-End Solution for the streamlining and optimisation of data centre infrastructure. As the global data centre industry continues to experience significant growth in both traffic and demand, the product - which integrates key components such as LISA, IANOS, OptiRibbon cables, and the Ribbon Splice Box (RSB) - delivers the efficiency and scalability required for modern operations. “The increasing need for high data transmission rates and improved efficiency in data centres has driven us to develop an advanced solution that not only enhances connectivity but also simplifies operations,” says Vanesa Alias, Vice President of Product Management at Huber+Suhner. “With our Ribbon End-to-End Solution, customers not only benefit from reduced installation time and improved cable management, but also a future-proof network architecture.” The Huber+Suhner Ribbon End-to-End Solution offers a comprehensive, high-density fibre optic connectivity system, ensuring seamless data transmission, optimised network performance, and reduced complexity in cabling infrastructure. The solution enables splicing up to 60% faster than current market offerings, significantly improving installation efficiency. Through the extensive expertise in fibre optics demonstrated by Huber+Suhner, the Ribbon End-to-End Solution enables seamless scalability, allowing data centres to effectively adapt to evolving technological requirements. It offers high-performance density cabling that minimises space requirements and enhances airflow within data centres. The streamlined installation process also reduces deployment time and complexity, while a future-ready architecture ensures scalability to meet growing bandwidth demands and consistent performance in mission-critical environments. For more from Huber+Suhner, click here.

Giga Computing to evaluate advanced data centre technologies

Giga Computing, a subsidiary of GIGABYTE, has announced a joint technical study with Start Campus to explore and evaluate the integration of advanced data centre technologies and infrastructure. The study examines integration of modular AI server hardware, management software, and sustainable infrastructure practices, paving the way for next-generation data centre solutions. The joint study will assess Giga Computing’s advanced GIGAPOD platform and GIGABYTE POD Manager to ensure seamless integration into AI-ready data centre infrastructures like SINES DC. The evaluation will focus on optimising energy efficiency, AI-driven operations, and strengthening overall system resilience. GIGAPOD: Powering high-performance AI workloads GIGAPOD is a scalable modular computing cluster solution designed for exceptional performance. It consolidates up to 256 GPUs in a compact configuration, leveraging GIGABYTE AI servers and liquid cooling technology to ensure stable operation under intensive workloads. Each 42U rack in the GIGAPOD system accommodates up to 64 GPUs, each with a power consumption of up to 1kW, requiring only five racks for complete deployment. With Giga Computing’s thermal design, GIGAPOD minimises energy consumption while maintaining peak performance. When deployed in AI-ready data centres, it enables the achievement of industry-leading energy efficiency standards, Giga Computing claims, significantly reducing environmental impact and setting a new benchmark for modern data centre design. Complementing the hardware is GIGABYTE POD Manager, an advanced software programme designed to streamline the operations, enhance resource allocation, and ensure uninterrupted uptime. With integrated monitoring capabilities and predictive analytics, data centre operators can achieve higher energy efficiency and reliable performance. SINES DC: A benchmark for AI-ready deployments Giga Computing selected SINES DC’s SIN01 facility as a real-world case study to demonstrate how advanced AI workloads can be deployed at scale. SINES DC’s AI-ready infrastructure, with its robust power and cooling systems, supports high-density rack deployments of up to 200kW. This makes it an ideal environment for cutting-edge computing solutions requiring superior performance and energy efficiency, such as the GIGAPOD. Engineered for next-generation workloads, SINES DC is designed for and already operating with liquid-cooled, high-density racks. Its unmatched energy efficiency is achieved through an ocean-water cooling system that preserves water resources, setting new standards for sustainable, high-performance AI deployments. Redefining new standards in AI-ready performance The study explores practical deployment scenarios at SINES DC for Giga Computing’s GIGAPOD platform in two configurations, featuring NVIDIA HGX B300 and NVIDIA HGX B200 GPUs. As part of the study, the GIGAPOD modular computing solution and GIGABYTE POD Manager software will be analysed for their performance and efficiency under varying operational scenarios in data centre deployments. The study will also consider how location-specific challenges and global connectivity requirements influence data centre design. This technical study collaboration between Giga Computing and Start Campus represents a significant milestone in next-generation data centre innovation, balancing the demands of high-performance computing with sustainability. The 1.2GW SINES DC campus, combined with cutting-edge solutions like GIGAPOD and GIGABYTE POD Manager, is poised to become a new benchmark for modern data centre design, powering Europe’s AI-driven future. Daniel Hou, General Manager of Giga Computing, states, “Our joint technical study with Start Campus underscores our commitment to driving innovation in data centre technology. By demonstrating how GIGAPOD can seamlessly integrate into cutting-edge facilities like SINES DC, we’re proving how scalable, high-density solutions will be key in enabling optimal performance and efficiency as AI workloads grow more complex.” Robert Dunn, CEO of Start Campus, adds, “Engaging in this joint study with Giga Computing allows us to explore innovative data centre design solutions that meet the evolving demands of AI and cloud services. It confirms that SINES DC is ready to support the next generation of AI compute, while proving valuable insights for the design of our campus expansion. As AI workloads continue to evolve, scalable, high-density solutions like GIGAPOD will be critical in shaping the future of data centre infrastructure.”