Data Centre Operations: Optimising Infrastructure for Performance and Reliability

CVC DIF to acquire German data centre operator

Global private markets manager CVC DIF has agreed to acquire a significant majority stake in Frankfurt-based colocation data centre operator firstcolo from Cube Infrastructure Managers. The investment will be made through DIF Value Add IV and is expected to close by the end of September 2026, subject to customary conditions. Founded in 2007, firstcolo operates two data centres in Frankfurt and provides colocation, dedicated cloud hardware, cloud, connectivity, and managed services to more than 350 enterprise customers. The company's existing facilities are described as near fully utilised and it is also developing FRA7, a new data centre in Rosbach, within the Frankfurt metropolitan region, which will provide 24MW of total gross capacity. The site has secured its power supply, required permits, and fixed-price construction arrangements. Firm tenant commitments are also in place for the facility. FRA7 is being developed in partnership with the regional utility provider, which will supply the facility's energy. Surplus heat from the data centre will be made available for the local district heating network. FRA7 forms first stage of expansion Following the acquisition, firstcolo intends to continue developing its enterprise data centre platform, with FRA7 forming part of its planned expansion in Frankfurt and other German data centre markets. The company will continue to be led by its existing management team, including CEO and co-founder Jerome Evans, COO and co-founder Nicolaj Kamensek, and CFO Dennis Bergfeld. Willem Jansonius, Managing Partner at CVC DIF and Co-Head of the DIF Value Add Strategy, comments, “firstcolo represents a rare opportunity to invest in a high-quality, founder-led colocation platform in an attractive and supply-constrained FLAP-D data centre market. The company combines a resilient, cash-generative existing business with a substantially de-risked expansion project.” Stefan Moosmann, Head of DACH at CVC DIF, adds, “firstcolo is a strong example of CVC DIF's local-for-local approach in action. The opportunity was sourced through our Frankfurt team's local network and developed in seamless collaboration with our pan-European digital infrastructure team.” Jerome Evans, CEO and co-founder of firstcolo, says, “FRA7 is more than a single data centre development; it is the first building block of a scalable, high-performance infrastructure platform designed to support the next generation of AI, cloud, and enterprise workloads in Germany.” Nicolaj Kamensek, COO and co-founder of firstcolo, concludes, “FRA7 is being designed as a highly efficient, AI-ready facility with the power, cooling, connectivity, and operational processes required for demanding high-density workloads.”

FIOR, Multiverse partner on sovereign edge AI environments

FIOR Group, a UK-based cybersecurity firm providing identity and enforcement gateways for AI agents, and Multiverse Computing, a Spanish company specialising in compressing large language models, have agreed to integrate their technologies for AI deployments in edge, on-premises, and sovereign environments. The partnership combines FIOR’s cryptographic agent identity, policy enforcement, revocation, and audit technology with Multiverse Computing’s model compression, optimisation, and edge deployment capabilities. The companies intend to support organisations that want to run AI within infrastructure they control, including private and sovereign cloud environments, telecom networks, industrial sites, and air-gapped systems. The combined technologies are intended to provide local AI execution alongside controls for identity, access, policy compliance, auditability, and data sovereignty. Under the agreement, FIOR and Multiverse will integrate FIOR’s agent identity gateway, policy enforcement, tamper-evident audit trail, mobile protection, and voice authentication with Multiverse-enabled AI deployments. Multiverse will support the deployment and optimisation of AI models within FIOR-enabled environments, including in-perimeter model execution, anomaly detection, content and policy analysis, and lifecycle support for edge and sovereign AI systems. The companies expect the work to cover applications in sovereign AI infrastructure, regulated enterprise AI, defence and public-sector deployments, telecom and edge AI, industrial automation, financial services, and healthcare. AI deployment within controlled environments Enrique Lizaso Olmos, CEO of Multiverse Computing, says, “Multiverse Computing is focused on making advanced AI models more efficient, deployable, and useful in real-world environments. "Partnering with FIOR strengthens the governance and security layer around AI deployments, particularly for customers requiring sovereign, on-premises, and high-assurance AI infrastructure. "Together, we can support a new generation of AI products designed for security, efficiency, and operational control. It is clear, as IDC recently noted, that FIOR has unique advantages in its ability to identify, secure, and govern every single agent, and that is an important differentiator for our clients." David Williams, Founder of FIOR, adds, "AI will not be trusted at scale unless organisations can control which agents act, what they are authorised to do, how authority is delegated, and how those actions are evidenced. FIOR was built to provide that control layer. "By working with Multiverse, we can combine cryptographic agent governance with efficient edge and in-perimeter AI deployment, which is exactly where many governments and regulated enterprises now need AI to operate. Multiverse's ability to collapse the cost of operating AI, combined with sovereignty, creates significant opportunities." The partnership will initially focus on identified customer opportunities and selected integrations where Multiverse already has customer relationships. The companies also plan to work on technical integration, customer deployment patterns, certification, international market activity, and further product development. FIOR and Multiverse expect locally deployable AI models and cryptographically governed agent infrastructure to become increasingly relevant as governments and enterprises seek to reduce their reliance on external AI services and run AI within infrastructure under their own control.

Yondr agrees deal for its UK hyperscale data centre

Yondr Group, a global developer, owner, and operator of hyperscale data centres, has agreed to sell a majority stake in one of its UK hyperscale data centre campuses to GLIL Infrastructure, retaining a minority ownership interest and the responsibility for operating the site. The transaction involves a campus in Slough comprising two operational hyperscale data centre buildings serving a hyperscale customer. Financial terms were not disclosed. Yondr says the agreement enables it to realise value from a completed asset whilst continuing to manage its day-to-day operations and retain a long-term interest in the campus. Aaron Wangenheim, Chief Executive Officer at Yondr, says, "This transaction represents another important milestone in Yondr's long-term growth strategy. Bringing GLIL on board as an investment partner allows us to realise value from a high-quality, stabilised asset while remaining invested in its future and continuing to operate the campus on behalf of our customer." Investment expands digital infrastructure portfolio For GLIL Infrastructure, the acquisition adds to its digital infrastructure investments, which include a stake in Cornerstone, the UK's largest mobile tower company. Lee Belfield, Investment Director at LPPI and GLIL Infrastructure, notes, "Digital infrastructure is increasingly fundamental to the UK's economy, and hyperscale data centres are critical to supporting growing demand for cloud services and artificial intelligence. "This investment reflects GLIL's strategy of partnering with high-quality operators to invest in essential infrastructure that delivers resilient, long-term value for our pension fund members. "Yondr has developed a high-quality asset with a strong operational track record, and we look forward to commencing a long-term partnership with the Yondr team." The transaction is expected to complete in the coming months, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals. RBC Capital Markets acted as Yondr's financial adviser, with Linklaters providing legal advice. GLIL Infrastructure was advised by Nomura, with Simpson Thacher & Bartlett acting as legal counsel. For more from Yondr Group, click here.

Secure I.T. completes UPS and AHU upgrades for NHS

Secure I.T. Environments (SITE), a UK design and build company for modular, containerised, and micro data centres, has completed uninterruptible power supply (UPS) and air handling unit (AHU) upgrades at two live data centres operated by an unnamed NHS Foundation Trust. The projects were carried out while both facilities remained operational and were designed to improve resilience, energy efficiency, and future scalability for the Trust's critical digital infrastructure. The UPS upgrade replaced two end-of-life systems with modular Riello Multi Power infrastructure. SITE installed two 252kVA UPS chassis, each configured at 84kVA N+1 using 42kW power modules. The modular design allows additional capacity to be added in the future without replacing the entire platform. Cooling upgrade improves efficiency The second project involved replacing ageing AHUs at a data centre originally designed and built by SITE during the 2000s. The facility supports a hospital with more than 800 beds, outpatient services, and one of the South East's busiest emergency departments. As part of the works, the existing condenser compound was decommissioned and replaced with a new ground-level installation designed to improve heat rejection performance. The upgraded FläktGroup AHUs were specified to maintain environmental conditions during higher ambient temperatures, whilst also incorporating physical security measures and remote monitoring capabilities. According to SITE, the new cooling equipment is expected to reduce carbon emissions by more than 58,000kg annually and deliver energy cost savings of approximately £32,305 per year, with a projected return on investment of just over three years. Working around ongoing operations The projects were delivered in carefully planned phases to minimise disruption to hospital operations. The UPS systems were replaced one at a time over two weekend shutdowns, with construction work for the cooling upgrade being scheduled to reduce the impact on visitors and nearby clinical services. A spokesperson for the Trust comments, "This was a big and critically important project for the hospital, carried out smoothly by Secure I.T. Environments. We were really grateful for the work and professionalism of the team, and its partners Riello, throughout the project." The UPS project also included new underfloor containment and cabling, DC transition boxes, integration with the existing battery strings following testing, remote monitoring, commissioning, load bank testing, and operational training for estates engineers. Jo-Anne Garvie, Commercial Director at Secure I.T. Environments, says, "In hospital environments, the resilience of supporting infrastructure has to be treated with the same discipline as the IT systems it protects. "These projects have resulted in a more flexible and maintainable power platform and energy-efficient cooling infrastructure. Together, they support the Trust's current operational needs and give it a clear path for future expansion." For more from SITE, click here.

Croatia approves power infrastructure for 1GW AI data centre

Croatia's national transmission system operator, HOPS, has approved the power infrastructure blueprint for data centre developer Pantheon AI's planned 1GW hyperscale AI campus in Topusko, marking a key milestone for the project. The approval confirms the technical and regulatory feasibility of supplying electricity to the proposed facility and supports plans for construction to begin in early 2027. As part of the proposal, more than €500 million (£427 million) of electricity transmission infrastructure will be developed, including 280km of new transmission lines, fibre-optic networks, a 400kV substation in Topusko, and associated road infrastructure. According to Pantheon AI, the completed infrastructure will be transferred to the Republic of Croatia for long-term ownership and operation. Grid investment to support renewable energy growth The company says the planned infrastructure will also enable access to more than 5GW of renewable energy capacity that is currently constrained by limitations within the national electricity grid. Pantheon AI also explains that the planned 310-acre hyperscale AI data centre has been designed to NVIDIA's 'GW-Scale AI Factory' standards. Mario Gudelj, Project Director at Pantheon AI, comments, "Croatia's largest-ever private investment is moving forward as a direct result of momentum from the unique partnership driving this project: Croatian expertise, US capital, world-class partners in Končar and Greenvolt, and continued support from the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Croatia and HEP (a state-owned utility company)." The project team includes Končar Group, Dalekovod Projekt, Parsec Lab, Latham & Watkins, Hodgson Russ, PwC, KPMG, and EU Energy Group. Sisak-Moslavina County has also formally recognised the development as being of special regional importance. For more from Pantheon AI, click here.

Duos secures 10MW hyperscale colocation agreement

Duos Edge AI, a provider of edge data centre (EDC) systems, has signed a five-year colocation agreement with an investment-grade hyperscale customer for 10MW of IT capacity at its data centre campus in Columbus, Georgia. The contract is valued at more than $111 million (£82.5 million) over five years and is expected to commence in the fourth quarter of 2026. The agreement will also increase the campus's total contracted IT capacity to 20MW by the end of 2026. The company says its initial 10MW deployment at the Columbus site remains on schedule to begin generating revenue in August 2026. Duos recently completed a $55 million (£40.9 million) fundraising to support the acquisition of the Columbus facility, alongside investment in infrastructure required for contracted customer deployments and future expansion. Doug Recker, CEO of Duos, says, "This agreement shows how we are investing in infrastructure in key markets so we can quickly add capacity for our customers. "The Columbus campus gives us the ability to rapidly deploy high-density AI infrastructure while generating durable recurring revenue. We believe this model positions Duos to meet growing customer demand and create meaningful long-term value for our shareholders." Campus capacity doubles to 20MW With the latest agreement, Duos Edge AI says it has now secured 20MW of contracted deployments scheduled for delivery during 2026. The Columbus campus forms part of the company's stated strategy of developing and operating high-density AI infrastructure supported by long-term customer agreements. For more from Duos Edge AI, click here.

Lightpath expands fibre network for 1GW data centres

Lightpath, a New York-based fibre network and connectivity provider, has announced two new fibre network builds to support hyperscale data centre campuses under construction in Michigan and Wisconsin, USA. The projects will extend the company's fibre network to campuses in Saline, Michigan, and Port Washington, Wisconsin, both of which are planned to exceed 1GW of capacity. Lightpath will provide triverse fibre infrastructure and multi-terabit connectivity to both sites in partnership with an anchor hyperscale customer. The Saline deployment is scheduled for completion by the end of 2026, with the Port Washington build expected to follow in the second quarter of 2027. Supporting gigawatt-scale AI infrastructure Chris Morley, CEO of Lightpath, comments, "Lightpath is playing an increasingly central role in partnering with hyperscalers to build new fibre infrastructure to address AI-driven demand across the US. Fibre infrastructure remains a critical component in the evolving and accelerating AI ecosystem." The new projects follow the company's recent network expansion in Phoenix, eastern Pennsylvania, and Columbus, as well as the development of a long-haul fibre route linking Columbus and Chicago. Tim Haverkate, Chief Commercial Officer at Lightpath, says, "Gigawatt-scale AI campuses need more than fibre in the ground; they need a partner that can engineer an end-to-end connectivity solution across new construction, existing Lightpath network assets, and strategic partner fibre. "Our ability to creatively combine those assets is what allows us to deliver route-diverse, multi-terabit capacity on timelines that match the pace of hyperscale AI development." According to Lightpath, the latest builds form part of its wider investment in fibre infrastructure serving locations with increasing concentrations of hyperscale data centres and AI workloads. For more from Lightpath, click here.

Pure DC, SEGRO to develop Paris data centre

Pure Data Centres Group (Pure DC), a designer, developer, and operator of hyperscale data centres, and SEGRO, a UK-listed real estate investment trust (REIT), have formed a second joint venture to develop a 48MW fully fitted data centre in Paris, targeting a long-term lease with a global hyperscale operator. The proposed development will be built in a Paris Availability Zone on land contributed by SEGRO, alongside a pre-secured 75MVA power connection. The companies say the project represents their second collaboration following their joint venture at Premier Park in West London. The development is expected to require around £800 million of investment, including the value of the land contributed by SEGRO. SEGRO's cash equity contribution is expected to be approximately £60 million during construction, with the remaining equity provided by Pure DC. The facility will be delivered in phases, with construction due to begin once planning permission has been secured and a pre-let agreement has been signed. The first phase is expected to complete after around three years, with the remaining capacity delivered approximately one year later. Joint venture builds on London project The partners say the project combines SEGRO's land portfolio and development expertise from Pure DC's experience in designing, building, and operating hyperscale facilities. The data centre will include mechanical and electrical infrastructure, together with power distribution, cabling, and cooling systems. IT equipment, including servers and racks, will be supplied by the future occupier. David Sleath, Chief Executive of SEGRO, comments, "This second joint venture with Pure DC builds on the momentum across our European data centre platform and demonstrates how SEGRO can crystallise the significant value in its 3.0GVA power bank through a repeatable, capital-efficient model. "This project in Paris will be our first data centre development in Continental Europe, and [it's] another great example of how combining our carefully assembled, prime, power-secured sites with Pure DC’s technical expertise can accelerate the delivery of highly profitable, fully fitted facilities. "Our first project together at Premier Park is progressing well, with planning approval secured ahead of schedule and active discussions underway with two global hyperscalers." Gary Wojtaszek, Executive Chairman and Interim CEO of Pure DC, adds, "Large-scale, powered sites in Europe’s leading metropolitan markets have become one of the scarcest and most strategically valuable resources in digital infrastructure. "Demand for digital infrastructure across Europe is accelerating, but access to suitable sites with secured power and favourable planning positions in the FLAP-D markets remains the defining constraint." The announcement follows progress at the companies' first joint venture at Premier Park in West London, where planning permission was approved in March 2026. The partners say discussions are underway with two hyperscale operators interested in occupying the site's full capacity. For more from Pure DC, click here.

AVK to open UK PowerPods manufacturing facility

AVK, a provider of power systems and electrical infrastructure for data centres, has announced plans to open its first standalone UK manufacturing facility in Haydock, supporting production of modular power systems for data centres and AI infrastructure. The site, located in the Liverpool City Region, will assemble the company's modular low- and medium-voltage (LV/MV) PowerPods, which provide pre-engineered power infrastructure for data centres. AVK says the facility represents an initial investment of £3 million and forms part of its UK manufacturing strategy. The company expects the facility to create a range of skilled jobs during its first year, with further recruitment planned as production increases. Roles will include electrical and mechanical installation engineers, plant movement operatives, warehousing staff, graduate positions, and apprenticeships. AVK has also partnered with St Helens College to deliver work placements and Level 3 engineering apprenticeships. The programme will include electrical and mechanical training, with progression routes into higher engineering qualifications. Haydock was selected for its engineering heritage and transport links, with the site located close to Junction 23 of the M6 to support distribution across the UK and Europe. Facility investment brings manufacturing and engineering roles AVK says the new facility reflects increasing investment in the infrastructure required to support AI and hyperscale data centres. Simon Davis, Head of Production Modular Services at AVK, notes, "PowerPods complete our proposition to the data centre market, and Haydock gives us the dedicated home to build them at scale. This is a British business investing in British manufacturing and British skills, in a region with a proud industrial heritage. "The facility will strengthen the UK's ability to power the AI economy while creating real opportunities for local people, apprentices, and graduates for years to come." Lord Stockwood, Minister for Investment, adds, "AVK-SEG’s investment in Haydock is a strong vote of confidence in UK advanced manufacturing and the Liverpool City Region, creating skilled jobs, boosting apprenticeships, and strengthening our role in powering the AI economy." George Woodward, Leader of St Helens Borough Council, similarly states that the investment demonstrates confidence in the borough's engineering heritage and will help create skilled employment while strengthening links between industry and education. For more from AVK, click here.

Verne agrees Arcus acquisition of Volta Data Centres

Arcus Infrastructure Partners, a London-based specialist infrastructure fund manager, has entered into an agreement to acquire Volta Data Centres from data centre provider Verne, adding a 6MW carrier-neutral colocation facility in central London to its digital infrastructure portfolio. The transaction, expected to complete in July 2026, will see Arcus acquire 100% of Volta Data Centres, which is currently operated as Verne's UK data centre. The facility provides colocation and interconnection services to customers in the financial services, telecommunications, IT, and enterprise sectors. Located near the City of London, the site offers 6MW of capacity and features connectivity through more than 40 on-site carriers and over 1,200 cross-connects. Acquisition strengthens UK data centre presence The acquisition expands Arcus's presence in the colocation market, building on its existing investment in Portus Data Centres. According to the company, the UK market was identified as offering strong long-term potential due to growing demand and constrained supply. Charlie Scott, Senior Investment Director at Arcus, comments, "Volta is an excellent fit with our AEIF4 investment strategy, providing critical digital infrastructure at the heart of one of Europe's premier colocation markets. "The business stood out as a high-quality investment combining stable contracted revenues, an entrenched position in London's connectivity ecosystem, and a clear pathway for growth and commercial improvements, supported by an experienced site team. "Colocation has been a strategic focus for Arcus since 2024. We look forward to partnering with the Volta team to support the next phase of the business's growth and building on this entry point with further acquisitions." For Verne, the sale forms part of a broader strategy to focus investment on low-carbon, high-density data centre infrastructure across Northern Europe. Dominic Ward (pictured above), CEO of Verne, suggests, "This agreement is the right next step for the London data centre, its customers, and its team. Arcus has deep infrastructure experience and is well placed to support the site's next phase of growth. "For Verne, this is a strategic portfolio decision that allows us to focus our investment and expertise on low-carbon, high-density data centre infrastructure in the locations best suited to AI, high-performance computing, and other demanding workloads. We will work closely with Arcus to support a smooth transition." The transaction remains subject to the fulfilment of contractual requirements and is expected to complete during July 2026. For more from Verne, click here.