Hyperscale Data Centres: Scale, Speed & Strategy

Spirent selected for Ethernet infrastructure testing

Spirent Communications, a provider of test and assurance solutions for next-generation devices and networks, today announced that a leading AI-focused hyperscaler has selected Spirent to perform critical 800G Ethernet fabric testing and assurance, to ensure optimal performance for AI workloads. Spirent’s solution will enable the hyperscaler to balance efficiency and sustainability, while monetising its AI Ethernet infrastructure investments. “Artificial intelligence is transforming the industry and this hyperscaler is leader in building the next generation public cloud for enabling large scale AI workloads,” says Aniket Khosla, Spirent’s Vice President of Wireline Product Management. “At Spirent we understand the challenges that come with building sustainable AI data centre networks and supporting high-performance compute use cases, and we’re excited to support leading industry players as they address the performance demands of advanced AI applications.” Hyperscalers globally are continuing to scale rapidly to meet the dramatic demand for accelerated compute solutions critical for training and serving the most sophisticated AI models. Leveraging Spirent’s B3 800G Appliance and proven test methodologies, Spirent is enabling hyperscalers to optimise the performance of high-speed Ethernet infrastructure required to support AI-driven applications. The B3 800G Appliance is a high-density native 800G OSFP and QSFP-DD test platform, and the first in its class to support IEEE 802.3df specifications. It provides rigorous, high-scale testing to evaluate bandwidth and resource utilisation, helping to accelerate 800G deployments and enable the networking industry to power new applications running AI/ML. With the B3 800G Appliance, hyperscalers can test and validate their infrastructure’s readiness for bandwidth-intensive AI workloads, while maintaining optimal network efficiency. For more from Spirent, click here.

Nscale secures funding for AI infrastructure expansion

Nscale, the hyperscaler engineered for AI, has raised $155 million in Series A funding to accelerate expansion across Europe and North America. Led by Sandton Capital Partners, with participation from Kestrel, Bluesky Asset Management, and Florence Capital, this oversubscribed funding round signals strong confidence in Nscale’s path to building the hyperscaler, purposely engineered for AI. Nscale develops sustainable AI-ready data centres, deploys massive-scale GPU infrastructure, and delivers high-performance AI cloud services. This unique full-stack approach enables Nscale to co-design the data centre and GPU supercluster infrastructure to deliver unrivalled speed, performance, and efficiency on AI workloads. Nscale's full-stack AI private cloud platform is designed to support the entire generative AI lifecycle, enabling developers to run and train AI models. Nscale’s platform provides bare metal and virtualised GPU nodes, Kubernetes-native services (NKS), AI workload scheduling powered by SLURM, and advanced serverless and dedicated inferencing options. In addition, Nscale is launching a public cloud service in Q1 2025 that will provide developers access to purpose-built inference and training solutions in a flexible development environment. Since launching from stealth in May 2024, Nscale has experienced insatiable demand for AI infrastructure, quickly growing its pipeline of greenfield data centres across Europe and North America from 300MW to 1.3GW, with 120MW planned for 2025 development. These sites will be designed from the ground up to support large supercluster deployments for global hyperscalers and LLM platforms, leveraging the latest advancements in closed-loop direct liquid cooling to deliver maximum performance and efficiency, while minimising environmental impact. The hyperscaler is now uniquely positioned to capitalise on the market for large-scale AI infrastructure, and can deliver bespoke GPU clusters at any scale for governments, AI scale-ups, and global enterprises. “The AI market is scaling rapidly, and so are we,” comments Joshua Payne, CEO of Nscale. “Nscale manages every layer of infrastructure in the value chain to meet the intensive needs of large-scale AI customers. In particular, the largest risk to the market's ability to scale is the large contiguous tranches of electricity required to power these large GPU superclusters. Nscale has a 1.3GW pipeline of sites in our portfolio, which allows us to design from the ground up, the data centre, the supercluster and the cloud environment end-to-end for our customers. “This means we can deploy bespoke GPU clusters tailored to customers’ requirements, do this faster than competitors and at any scale, all while delivering superior unit economics. With the support of our investors, we can now reach more customers globally with bespoke designed, sustainable and cost-effective AI infrastructure that unlocks new AI capabilities, products, and services.” Rael Nurick, Co-Founder at Sandton Capital Partners, adds, “We are excited to double down on our investment in Nscale with our lead investment in the Series A round. With a notable founder track record, established industry partnerships, and a unique vertically integrated approach, Nscale is building the hyperscale AI platform to power enterprise AI at scale.” This investment is the latest in a series of significant milestones, reflecting Nscale’s continued commitment to driving innovation and delivering value to customers since it raised $30 million in seed funding in December 2023. For more from Nscale, click here.

Pure Storage and Kioxia form hyperscale DC partnership

Pure Storage, an IT expert that delivers advanced data storage technology and services, has announced a collaboration with Kioxia Corporation, a provider of memory products, to develop cutting-edge technology that addresses the growing demand for high-performance, scalable storage infrastructure among today’s hyperscale environments. Traditional storage solutions, particularly those relying on hard disk drives (HDDs), struggle to meet the demands of hyperscale environments due to their limited speed, scalability, reliability, and excessive power consumption. HDDs are ill-equipped to handle the massive, fast-growing volumes of data generated in these environments without introducing latency and bandwidth limitations, and are difficult to scale and integrate seamlessly into modern data centers. To eliminate these obstacles, the latest collaboration between Pure Storage and Kioxia will deliver a data storage platform engineered from the ground up to tackle the needs of hyperscale environments, allowing for rapid scale while lowering power consumption and reducing the overall physical footprint of hyperscale data centers. With the combination of Pure Storage’s advanced data storage platform with Kioxia’s QLC flash memory, hyperscalers can now keep pace with growing data demands without sacrificing performance. Benefits include: Increased Performance: Ultra-fast, low-latency performance for handling massive, data-intensive workloads, while enabling greater reliability to keep pace with rapidly growing customer demands. Improved Cost Efficiency: Optimised storage costs and lower overall total cost of ownership (TCO) by reducing the need for extensive physical resources, while offering better scalability. Lower Power and Waste: Reduced energy consumption significantly compared to traditional HDDs, lowering operational costs, leading to a smaller overall physical footprint, cutting hardware waste and supporting more sustainable data centre operations. Bill Cerreta, GM, Hyperscale, Pure Storage, comments, "Collaborating with Kioxia allows Pure Storage to bring the full potential of all-flash storage technology to hyperscale environments. Pure has a decade of experience in delivering systems that manage flash for enterprise businesses. Now we’re using those innovations, and Kioxia’s latest technology, to enable the hyperscalers. Together, we’re creating a solution that will empower these organisations to manage their data seamlessly, with speed and efficiency at the core." Caesar Ichimura, Chief Marketing Officer, Kioxia Corporation, adds, "Our collaboration with Pure Storage marks an exciting milestone in the evolution of hyperscale storage. As data volumes continue to explode, we’re committed to delivering a solution that combines high performance with lower operational costs. All-flash technology is the future of storage, and through this collaboration, we are driving the innovation needed to address the complexities of today’s hyperscale environments." For more from Pure Storage, click here.

Schneider Electric announces Galaxy VXL UPS

Schneider Electric has announced the launch of its new Galaxy VXL – a highly efficient, compact, modular, scalable, and redundant 500-1250 kW (400V) three-phase uninterruptible power supply (UPS), complete with enhanced cyber security, software, and safety features. At just 1.2m² with a power density of up to 1042 kW/m², Galaxy VXL UPS sets a new benchmark in efficient, sustainable, and advanced UPS technologies. Available immediately in all 400V IEC regions worldwide, Galaxy VXL delivers the highest levels of power performance for AI, colocation, and hyperscale data centre environments, as well as large-scale critical infrastructure and electrical systems within commercial buildings and industrial facilities. With its industry-first compact design, high-density power provision, and AI-load tolerant design, Galaxy VXL maximises uptime and availability for the most energy-intensive infrastructure systems – being capable of powering up to 1.25 MW in one frame, and up to 5 MW with four units running in parallel, while increasing both operational and energy efficiencies to help minimise customers’ total cost of ownership (TCO). Through its patented operating technologies, Galaxy VXL delivers up to 99% in its high-efficiency eConversion mode, and up to 97.5% efficiency in double conversion mode, providing Class-1 power protection alongside leading levels of energy reduction, while lowering the UPSs’ carbon emissions by a factor of two. With a 52% smaller footprint compared with the industry average, its scalable, modular design also enables N+1 levels of redundancy to increase the system’s level of availability by a factor of 10. Further, through its modular architecture, customers can reduce their capital expenditure (CapEx) by purchasing power modules as they need them, enjoying optimised energy efficiency, and adding more power modules as demands grow. Galaxy VXL is also compatible with both Lithium-ion and VRLA batteries, and with its Live Swap function, allows for greater uptime, availability, and easier serviceability – offering highly resilient, flexible, and predictable runtimes for data centre, IT, and critical electrical loads. This is complemented by anywhere remote monitoring via Schneider Electric’s EcoStruxure IT software, and enhanced security and ethernet connections, which are certified to the latest IEC 62443-4-2 security standards, providing a completely secure and connected remote management experience. “As dependency on large-scale infrastructure systems grows at an unprecedented rate, it’s crucial that customers can access the most sustainable, resilient, and efficient technologies to safeguard their critical systems, while minimising their energy and environmental impact,” says Tarunjeet Sarao, SVP Data Centre Systems, Schneider Electric. “Our new Galaxy VXL UPS combines a compact, innovative, and highly efficient design with enhanced safety features, providing world-leading power protection for a wide range of AI, data centre, and industrial applications. This ensures the high-density workloads of the future are supported by unparalleled levels of reliability.” Key features and benefits Schneider Electric’s Galaxy VXL UPS has been designed to offer record breaking power densities, and an AI-ready power architecture for the most energy-intensive workloads. For the first time, this new UPS provides customers 1.25mw scalable and modular solution with 125kw/3U power modules in 1.2m² footprint, while being capable of supporting up to 1.25 MW of critical load in one frame and up to 5 MW with four units in parallel in only 4.8m² space. Key benefits include: • Modular, scalable, high-power design: With a power density of 1042 kW per squared meter, customers can deploy a 1.25 MW modular UPS in a single frame, and add power modules incrementally via pay-as-you-grow flexibility.• Smaller footprint: Standing at 1.2m², Galaxy VXL has a 52% footprint improvement compared with industry average, with full front access and no rear clearance, offering better power and space utilisation.• Increased efficiency and sustainability: Galaxy VXL provides up to 99% efficiency in eConversion mode and up to 97.5% efficiency in double conversion mode. Its compact footprint means raw material reduction, less packaging, and includes SPoT (Smart Power Test) mode for UPS and Power Module testing, saving electricity.• Lower CapEx and OpEx: Improved operational and energy efficiencies provide a catalyst for lower electricity bills, and ease of service/maintenance equates to lower labour cost for a better TCO.• Reinforced, resilient design: Galaxy VXL utilises conformal-coated boards, 100kA short circuit rating and optional seismic kit for a robust mechanical design.• Enhanced cyber security and safety: Galaxy VXL is certified to the latest IEC 62443-4-2 security standards and includes Live Swap technology to allow power module replacements, with zero downtime.• Extended lifespan via EcoCare: With Galaxy VXL, Schneider Electric is introducing EcoCare membership, a next-generation services plan, providing premium on-site and remote access to technical experts, 24/7 remote monitoring powered by AI, condition-based maintenance to minimise on-site disruptions by up to 50%, and help extend the UPS’s lifespan.• Perfect for prefabricated data centres: With a smaller physical footprint, higher efficiency, and lower cost, Galaxy VXL provides a resilient backbone for the prefabricated data centres of the future. Scaling-up to customer demands for AI systems To meet customer demands for AI systems, Schneider Electric has increased manufacturing and production capacity at a host of its global factories, where its annual production capacity for Galaxy VXL UPS will exceed 9,000 units in 2025. Additionally, Galaxy VXL UPS will be available at Schneider Electric’s Sant Boi, Barcelona factory, where it will be integrated to form the resilient backbone for Schneider Electric’s prefabricated, modular range of high-compute workload data centre solutions. Schneider Electric’s Galaxy VXL UPS is available for order immediately. For more from Schneider Electric, click here.

Joint venture to develop DC campuses in Saudi Arabia

Pure Data Centres, a global provider of data centre infrastructure, and Dune Vaults, an innovation-driven digital infrastructure platform, announced today a joint venture to develop hyperscale data centres in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The joint venture plans to develop multiple 100+ MW-capacity campuses of best-in-class facilities, making it one of the largest data centre providers in the region, poised to meet growing local and international customer demand. Saudi Arabia is the fastest-growing data centre market in the Middle East, driven by government digitalisation efforts, a ‘Cloud First’ policy and a favourable regulatory environment. With the growth of mega and giga projects in Saudi Arabia, significantly increased demand for AI technology and cloud services is anticipated. This demand is further bolstered by an abundance of stable, low-cost and renewable power, land, and a government focused on the development of the technology and AI sectors. The new venture marks a significant milestone for Pure DC’s expansion in the region as it seeks to meet the growing demand from its global customer base for secure, low-latency connections to support real-time applications and services, including support for the growing demand for AI technology. Pure DC benefits from the expertise and investment backing of funds managed by Oaktree Capital Management, a global investment manager specialising in alternative investments. With this strategic expansion, Dune Vaults’ aims to diversify its portfolio by addressing the surging demand for end-to-end wholesale data centre services and develop critical data centre infrastructure in Saudi Arabia to cement the Kingdom’s digital leadership in the region. Dune Vaults benefits from being backed by prominent Saudi investors. Faisal AlRahbiny, Founder & MD of Dune Vaults, says, “We are dedicated to establishing over 1,000 MW of sustainable data centre capacity in Saudi Arabia, aligning with market demand estimates and supporting the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 digital transformation goals. Through our strategic partnership with Pure DC, we are bringing advanced data centre solutions to meet the needs of global hyperscalers whose presence in the Kingdom will accelerate digitisation and economic growth. As key contributors to the Kingdom’s Vision, we are not only investing in digital infrastructure, but also developing local talent and creating substantial economic opportunities, supporting a vibrant and future-ready Saudi Arabia.” Dame Dawn Childs, Chief Executive Officer of Pure DC, adds, “Data centres are the engines for innovation. In Dune Vaults, we have a partner that matches our ambition for solving the challenges of the future and the expertise to support our expansion in one of the fastest-growing markets for data capacity.” For more from Pure Data Centres, click here.

DC BLOX to develop hyperscale edge node data centres

DC BLOX, a provider of digital infrastructure across the South East of the United States, is developing three new hyperscale edge node sites in addition to a previously announced location. The new data centres will be located in Montgomery, Alabama; North Augusta, South Carolina; and Huntsville, Alabama; in addition to the location in Conyers, Georgia that was formerly made public. These developments underscore the company’s commitment to supporting the South East’s rapidly growing demand for digital infrastructure. The Montgomery facility will initially support 5MW for a hyperscale anchor tenant, with capacity to expand up to 40MW to accommodate additional tenants. The North Augusta and Huntsville sites are each designed to provide 5MW of power dedicated to the hyperscale client. DC BLOX says that these new developments further validate the company's strategy to deliver scalable, efficient digital infrastructure solutions across the region, including edge-market Tier III data centres, the Myrtle Beach cable landing station, large-scale hyperscale data centres and a regional fibre network. Each component plays a crucial role in meeting the increasing need for edge data services in the South East where DC BLOX’s expertise and dedication to local partnerships are driving significant growth. "Our continued expansion is a testament to the soundness of our strategy and our deep understanding of the South Eastern market," says Jeff Uphues, CEO of DC BLOX. "With each new site, we are building critical digital infrastructure that enables hyperscale companies to operate at the edge while benefiting from the South East's favourable economics and rapid growth." In addition to these three new edge sites, DC BLOX previously announced its Atlanta East campus. Located just 24 miles east of downtown Atlanta in Rockdale County, the Atlanta East campus is a vital component of DC BLOX’s expanding Southeastern digital infrastructure. The Atlanta East campus will initially deliver 10MW for the hyperscale tenant with an expansion capacity of up to 120MW critical power available for additional clients. Combined, these four edge sites will initially deliver 25 total MW devoted to the hyperscale client with a total potential capacity of 160MW for additional tenants. In conjunction with the Atlanta East data centre, DC BLOX is building a dark fibre ring around metro Atlanta, enabling regional connectivity from the campus as well as providing global access via DC BLOX’s regional fibre backbone connecting into the Myrtle Beach cable landing station. The development of these new hyperscale edge node data centres has reportedly garnered strong support from local municipalities, with leaders across the South East recognising the economic and infrastructure advantages that they bring. These partnerships reflect a shared vision for growth that benefits both local communities and the wider region. For more from DC BLOX, click here.

Prime announces opening of Los Angeles data centre

Prime, an international data centre developer and operator serving hyperscale and wholesale enterprise needs, has announced the opening of its Los Angeles data centre located at 4701 S. Santa Fe in Vernon, California. The purpose-built data centre is 100% leased by two artificial intelligence companies and will deliver 33 MW of critical IT power at full build out. “This achievement is the successful manifestation of an ecosystem and process coming together, resulting in high-quality digital infrastructure delivered amidst rapidly changing customer market conditions,” says Nicholas Laag, Founder and CEO of Prime Data Centers. “We would like to thank our customers, the City of Vernon, all project partners, and Prime employees for their significant contributions. Prime looks forward to being at the centre of Southern California AI delivery and to positively impacting the local Vernon community for many years to come.” Prime Los Angeles (LAX01-01) is a three-storey, 242,495 square-foot hyperscale data centre built with an adaptable design that enables customers to advance modern workloads over time, within the same data halls, without major customisation. Each data hall is supported by Prime’s standard air cooling for up to 40 kilowatts-per-rack density with the ability to combine liquid cooling to condition infrastructure that will consume 120 kilowatts per rack. Amidst power-intensive requirements, Prime will maintain its commitment to sustainability with low Power Usage Effectiveness and near-zero Water Usage Effectiveness. Prime will also procure Water Restoration Certificates from Bonneville Environmental Foundation to cover 120% of actual, annual water consumption. "The City of Vernon is excited to welcome Prime Data Centers to our growing mix of businesses and residents” comments City of Vernon Mayor, Judith Merlo. “We take pride in knowing our city is now home to a key AI hub and recognise the positive impact data centres have on our local economy. From commencement to completion to ongoing operations, this project will provide a wide range of temporary and permanent jobs as well as tax revenue that will enhance our community. We wish Prime and its customers continued success.” Prime will commemorate this milestone with a private event featuring a ribbon-cutting ceremony, private data centre tours, and small celebration at an exclusive downtown venue. The title sponsor for the event is Clune Construction, the general contractor selected for the next phase of customer infrastructure build-out. “I would like to extend my sincerest gratitude to everyone involved in the successful delivery of this project,” remarks Jonathan Gibbs, SVP of Product Delivery for North America at Prime Data Centers. “Prime’s LAX01-01 data centre will feature innovations such as generator buildings, hybrid air/liquid cooling solution, and a roadmap to use hydrotreated vegetable oil to fuel backup generators amongst others. We look forward to exceeding the expectations of our new customers while continuing to develop the foundation for global technology advancement at our numerous active developments across the US and Europe.” For more from Prime, click here.

Bain Capital and Aquila to build sustainable data centre platform

Bain Capital, a private, multi-asset alternative investment firm, and Aquila Group, a private investment company and pioneer in sustainable assets, have announced a significant partnership in the data centre sector. As part of the cooperation, Bain Capital is acquiring an 80% stake in AQ Compute, the data centre subsidiary of Aquila Group. This strategic alliance, with a targeted multi-billion Euro investment volume, is aimed at significantly accelerating AQ Compute’s plans to develop and operate sustainable data centres for hyperscale and AI customers across Europe. Founded by Aquila Group in 2020, AQ Compute provides modular and AI-ready data centre and colocation services, primarily powered by clean energy. With significant investment, the company launched its first sustainable data centre near Oslo in 2024, with additional projects underway in Barcelona, Milan and beyond. Bain Capital supports this growth through its capital investment and global expertise in the data centre industry, including its successful development of Bridge Data Centres in Asia. Together, the partners aim to build a leading European data centre platform, utilising clean energy wherever feasible. Ali Haroon, a Partner at Bain Capital, says, “The European data centre sector presents an attractive market opportunity, driven by robust cloud demand, a need for high-performance computing and AI deployments, and data sovereignty across the region. Through this partnership with Aquila Group, we bring a differentiated, renewable energy angle to tackle the ever-growing power challenges in this critical part of Europe’s infrastructure.” Rafael Coste Campos, a Managing Director at Bain Capital, adds, “We are thrilled to bring our deep European real estate sector expertise and our multi-layered experience growing companies with complex infrastructure services, tenant relationships and talent attraction to AQ Compute. Leveraging our global data centre expertise, we are well-positioned to meet the needs of this ever growing and critically important sector and to build a market leading data centre operation in Europe.” Michael Huber, a Principal at Bain Capital, notes, “Having invested more than $1 billion in real estate over the past three years, Bain Capital’s first European investment in data centres means we now have a truly global platform. This investment will benefit from and complement our experience investing in and building one of the largest data centres in Asia – Chindata and backing DC BLOX in the US.” Roman Rosslenbroich, Co-Founder and CEO of Aquila Group, comments, “Through our partnership with Bain Capital, we are well positioned to expand AQ Compute’s capabilities and solidify its role as a key player in Europe’s digital infrastructure. The rapid growth in data demands presents both a challenge and an opportunity - while more data centres are essential, they must be sustainable. Aquila will invest several hundred-million Euros alongside Bain Capital’s larger commitment, with Aquila Capital providing co-investments. With our continued 20% stake, we will ensure AQ Compute’s growth aligns with our long-term vision for sustainable infrastructure, leveraging synergies with Aquila Clean Energy, a major developer and independent power producer in the clean energy space.“ Markus Holzer, Chairman of AQ Compute, concludes, “At AQ Compute, we are uniquely positioned to meet the growing demand for data processing by combining innovative, AI-ready infrastructure with a commitment to sustainability. This partnership with Bain Capital not only accelerates our development pipeline but also allows us to set new standards in sustainable data centre operations across Europe.” For more from Bain Capital, click here.

Black Box commits to expanding data centre practice

Black Box has provided an update on the progress of its Western Region Training Facility in Chandler, Arizona, which has become a state-of-the-art Hyperscale Data Centre of Excellence catering to both hyperscale and enterprise data centres. Completed in late 2022, the Chandler facility now mirrors the capabilities of the company’s renowned centre in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota, which has proven instrumental in upskilling current employees, attracting new talent and implementing comprehensive training programmes. It joins a growing network of Black Box’s Centre of Excellence offices, and further reinforces the company's commitment to advancing data centre mobilisation, pre-con services and construction. The data centre industry is experiencing rapid growth as the backbone of the digital economy, driven by increasing demands for cloud computing, AI and data storage. Black Box says that this is why it is committed to expanding its data centre practice, investing in leadership and Centres of Excellence to provide cutting-edge solutions and expertise for this critical and evolving market. As a part of this, Black Box has also announced the appointment of Matt Easton to Vice President of Data Centre Solutions. Matt comments, “Our new Hyperscale Data Centre of Excellence, along with our participation in the 7x24 Exchange Summit, focuses on developing the talent and infrastructure needed to meet the growing demands. By combining cutting-edge facilities with strategic workforce development, we ensure that Black Box remains at the forefront of hyperscale and enterprise solutions, ready to support our clients’ evolving needs in this rapidly expanding sector.” Before joining Black Box, Matt served as the Vice President of Operations at E2 Optics, where he led teams in project controls, estimation, talent acquisition, DAS/wireless and large-scale telecommunications construction. For more from Black Box, click here.

Data centre capacity constraints pushing demand to new locations

AI use is set to require the doubling of hyperscale data centre capacity in the next four years, but while the depth of demand will mean centres will be required in markets around the world, energy infrastructure and grid capacity will mean delivery will be easiest in northern European locations such as Malmo, Gothenburg, Stockholm and Oslo, says Savills. The international real estate advisor has benchmarked 68 locations around the world to assess the impact of energy constraints in different global markets, given that power capacity tends to be the major limiting factor in data centre development. With major cities often seeing high demand from competing power needs, it is often smaller cities that will find data centre delivery easiest, especially those which have plentiful renewable energy sources; but “data localisation requirements and an ongoing need for some services to be located close to key markets will continue to drive development even in the most energy-constrained hubs”, comments Paul Tostevin, Head of Savills World Research. He continues, “However, locations where limitations are fewer and time to market is faster are likely to benefit from the current unstoppable need for more capacity, especially as a cloud-based services such as AI have made site-selection more location-agnostic. We’re seeing some trends in the fastest growing markets being close to those which have limited capacity, such as Malaysia, which is boosted by its role in supporting demand from constrained neighbouring Singapore; a pattern which is beginning to emerge elsewhere in southeast Asia.” In the US, access to power and limits on grid capacity has become the major constraint on new data centre development. Rick Drescher, Corporate Managing Director and Lead of Savills Critical Facilities in the US, says, “The rulebook of data centre site selection has been ripped up; it now all comes down to where sufficient power can be accessed. In the US, the biggest markets are Northern Virginia, Chicago, and Dallas, but we’re now seeing significant growth in locations such as San Antonio-Austin, and that’s because power restrictions there are less of a factor.” Scott Newcombe, EMEA Head of Data Centres, adds, “AI is significantly transforming European data centre markets by driving increased demand for processing power and storage capacity. As organisations adopt AI technologies, they require advanced infrastructures to handle vast amounts of data. This surge leads to the expansion of existing data centres and the construction of new ones, fostering innovations in energy efficiency and cooling systems. “Moreover, with stricter regulations on data protection and sustainability, data centre operators in Europe are investing in green technologies to meet compliance requirements and consumer expectations. Overall, AI is shaping a more robust, efficient, and environmentally conscious data centre landscape across EMEA.” For more from Savills, click here.