UK: 01489888499 | IE: 35316994424 | US: 19142335289

Author: Zoe Towlson

6 Important Takeaways from the Uptime Institute 2024 Data Center Staffing and Recruitment Survey

Posted on by Zoe Towlson

Uptime Institute have just released their 2024 Data Center Staffing and Recruitment Survey. Conducted in August this year, the survey had a total of 857 respondents and showed some interesting trends. 

Read the full report here 

Here are the six key takeaways from the Data Center Staffing and Recruitment Survey: 

1. Increasing in hiring

Data centres continue to expand their hiring, with new roles being added at a consistent rate. When asked the question: “How would you characterise the number of new hires in your organisation’s data centre(s) at this point in 2024 compared with the same point in 2023?”, 35% said that there were more hires, and 45% said there were the same number of hires.

2. Higher salary spending

57% of organisations reported an increase in salary spending, while only 6% have reduced it. 

uptime institute data center survey

3. Operations roles had largest increases in salary-related spending

Operations management and junior/mid-level operations roles showed the largest rise in salary-related spending, while design and cabling/IT showed the smallest rise in salary-related spending.

4. Temporary and contract growth

Junior and mid-level roles are increasingly filled by temporary or contract workers. On the other hand, senior management and design roles are the least likely to be filled by temporary or contract workers.

5. Decline in new entrant programmes

There’s a year-over-year decrease in initiatives to hire entry-level employees. 

uptime institute data center survey

6. Mentorship decline

Fewer organisations are offering mentorship programs for data centre employees. In 2023, 60% of organisations had a formal mentoring programme in place for data center employees. In 2024, this number has reduced to 51%.

DataX and the Digital Futures Programme

DataX Connect

Subscribe to the DC Digest

Your fortnightly update on everything going on in the data centre industry, all in one place.

Name(Required)
Privacy(Required)

DC Digest

Recent data centre news:

Inside Data Centre Podcast

Other insights

GET IN TOUCH

Browse jobs

Contact us
Connect with us

Weekly Data Centre Digest – 25th October 2024

Posted on by Zoe Towlson

Sign up to receive data centre news, articles, reports, and more from DataX Connect.

Sign up

Reports

Mckinsey: The role of power in unlocking the European AI revolution. Read here.

Blackstone earnings call: The Blackstone portfolio consists of $70 billion of data centers and over $100 billion in prospective pipeline development, including AirTrunk and facilities under construction. Read here.

Digital Realty earnings call: Reports record leasing volumes and strategic development growth, while addressing supply chain and market challenges. Read here.

Europe

Italy set for single $33bn foreign data centre investment, Minister reveals. Read here.

Maincubes announced they have acquired a 14 hectare site in Nauen (Havelland) on the outskirts of Berlin. Read here.

Goodman receives approval for 100MW data centre in Frankfurt. Read here.

Russian crypto miner BitRiver and state fund announced BRICS data centre plans. Read here.

US tech firm praised for major new Oxfordshire centre plans. Read here.

Cordiant Digital Infrastructure makes Belgian Data Centre Acquisitions. Read here.

Iconic Lloyds Banking Group Data Centre in Calderdale village (Yorkshire, UK) goes on the market ahead of planned closure. Read here.

Northern Data AG considers divesting crypto mining business to focus on AI. Read here.

DataCrunch raises $13m in seed funding for AI infrastructure. Read here.

Dutch grid operators suggest limitation contracts to unlock 880MW capacity. Read here.

European cloud and data center firm OVHcloud has appointed Benjamin Revcolevschi as CEO. Read here.

Middle East & Africa

Raxio plots African growth with data center in Uganda. Read here.

Equinix closes $320M MainOne deal for African expansion. Read here.

Equinix has opened its first International Business Exchange (IBX) data center in South Africa, in the city of Johannesburg. Read here.

APAC

Global Switch has agreed to sell its Australian assets to investment manager HMC Capital for AU$2.12 billion. Read here.

Keppel to double Data Center capacity to 1.2GW across Asia. Read here.

ByteDance is expanding its presence in Southeast Asia. Read here.

Macquarie Data Centres extends debt financing facility with access to a further AU$450m. Read here.

Stack Infrastructure announced the completion of the first facility on its new 36MW flagship Tokyo campus. Read here.

Ubitus plans nuclear-powered AI data centre in Japan. Read here.

Keppel to develop 80MW data center campus in Taiwan. Read here.

CDC Data Centres announces start of work at data centre campus at Marsden Park. Read here.

China opens the door to foreign-owned data centres under new pilot scheme. Read here.

New investment in Australian Data Centre capacity forecast to top $26 billion by 2030, according to Mandala. Read here.

North America

Sabey completes first data center at Round Rock campus, Texas. Read here.

Microsoft confirms major land purchase in Kent Co. for possible data center. Read here.

Key Decision Near for Proposed Eastern Wash. $5B Data Center. Read here.

Aurum Launches $1B Tokenized Fund for Data Center Investments on XRP Ledger With Zoniqx. Read here.

Cologix Secures $1.5 Billion USD in Capital to Fund New Data Center Development. Read here.

Alaska’s governor has held talks with Amazon, Meta, and Microsoft in a bid to convince the hyperscalers to build data centers in his state. Read here.

TA Realty gets green light for data center outside Atlanta, Georgia. Read here.

Part of a US Navy Air Station outside Fresno in California could be turned into a 425MW data center and solar farm complex. Read here.

A.I. cloud startup CoreWeave to build $1 billion data center at Onyx’s NEST campus in Kenilworth. Read here.

CoreWeave to secure 120MW from Core Scientific for GPU cloud. Read here.

Edged topped out the company’s newest state-of-the-art data center in New Albany, Ohio. Read here.

$4.8bn data center campus proposed in Walla Walla, Washington. Read here.

The Prince William Board of County Supervisors has indefinitely shelved an Amazon data center campus ahead of its October 22 meeting. Read here.

Oregon’s Forest Grove data center gets city council approval. Read here.

AEP Ohio reaches agreement with stakeholders on data center interconnection rules. Read here.

Charter Development LLC seeks to develop area to northwest of Wallingford, Connecticut. Read here.

South America

Atalait plans $100 million investment to expand data center in Metepec, Mexico. Read here.

ODATA Announces $1.3B Expansion in Colombia. Read here.

DigitalBridge is exploring a sale of Scala Data Centers. Read here.

Acronis posts 53% rise in Mexican revenues, doubles data centre capacity. Read here.

Other interesting articles

From growth to gridlock: Why AI and data center capacity demands hinge on talent acquisition. Read here.

How the AI Revolution is Changing Data Center Construction. Read here.

Why global giants are betting on Italy for data centres. Read here.

Accelerating AI Infrastructure: Andy Hayes, CEO of Polar. Read here.

‘A $20 billion opportunity’: HMC Capital’s ambitious data centre punt. Read here.

JPMorgan: Bitcoin miners have nine-month window to get AI data center deals. Read here.

Infrastructure is destiny in the AI era. Read here.

Join the Data Centre Club on LinkedIn.

You can now receive data centre news direct to your email. Subscribe via Substack.

Sign up to receive data centre news, articles, reports, and more.

Subscribe to the DC Digest

Your fortnightly update on everything going on in the data centre industry, all in one place.

Name(Required)
Privacy(Required)

ODATA Announces $1.3B Expansion in Colombia, Boosting Digital Development in the Country

Posted on by Zoe Towlson

The Company Reinforces its Position as a Leading Data Center Provider in the Country with the Announcement of Two New Facilities: DC BG02 and DC BG03, Which Will Offer a Combined Capacity of 144 MW

SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL – October 23, 2024 – ODATA, an Aligned Data Centers company and provider of data center services for Latin America, announces two new data centers in Cundinamarca, Bogotá, Colombia: DC BG02, located in the Zona Franca de Occidente in Mosquera, and DC BG03, located in the Zona Franca Metropolitana in Tenjo. The initial phases of construction for the Company’s new facilities are expected to be completed by the end of 2026 and represent a total investment of $1.3 billion in the region. DC BG02 will provide 24MW of IT capacity, while DC BG03 will offer a substantial 120MW. Together, these facilities will deliver a combined capacity of 144MW.

Read more
odata data center news

DC BG03 will be Colombia’s largest data center, solidifying the country’s position as a premier technology hub. This state-of-the-art facility will meet the surging demand for high-capacity data centers, catering to the growing needs of leading cloud and artificial intelligence providers.  The data center will be a catalyst for digital development in Colombia, reinforcing ODATA’s position as the preferred partner for leading companies seeking to expand their operations in the country.

DC BG03 will not only offer the largest IT capacity in Colombia, but will also be the first data center in the country to have a direct connection to the local power transmission system. This strategic advantage will enable ODATA’s customers to achieve enhanced scalability and energy stability, supporting the growth and development of their digital infrastructure.

ODATA established its presence in Colombia in 2018 with the launch of its data center, DC BG01. It has since become the leading data center provider in the country, and its data center a major connectivity hub serving some of the top companies in Colombia and the world.

According to Ricardo Alário, CEO of ODATA, the Company’s latest expansions represent another critical milestone in the organization’s growth as well the digital development of Latin America. “The addition of these new data centers in Colombia further solidifies ODATA’s position as a leading data center provider in the country as well as the broader Latin American region. By expanding our footprint in Colombia, we are creating new opportunities for businesses and reinforcing our commitment to the country’s digital development. Our state-of-the-art, sustainable data centers provide the ideal infrastructure for large-scale cloud and artificial intelligence workloads, positioning Colombia as an attractive destination for technology companies,” he states. The new data centers will adhere to the same rigorous standards of sustainability and innovation that have defined ODATA’s reputation across all its data centers. Thus, DC BG02 and DC BG03 will incorporate Delta Cube (Delta³) air cooling technology, developed and patented by ODATA’s parent company, Aligned Data Centers. Unlike conventional data center cooling methods that simply push cold air into the data hall, this technology captures and removes heat directly at its source, creating a hyper-scalable and highly efficient environment.

Delta³ is designed to cool variable power densities of up to 50kW per rack in the same row, allowing ODATA’s data centers to maximize space usage and energy efficiency. The technology seamlessly integrates with liquid cooling systems, enabling ODATA to efficiently meet the demanding requirements of artificial intelligence and other high-density applications in Colombia.

Read more data center news

About ODATA, an Aligned Data Centers Company

ODATA, an Aligned Data Centers company, is a data center provider offering scalable, reliable, and flexible infrastructure across the Americas. The company meets the increasing demands for energy, space, and reliability from organizations in various sectors, including major Cloud and Artificial Intelligence providers, delivering innovative and efficient data center solutions that support the development of digital infrastructure in Latin America.

Read more

DataX Connect

Subscribe to the DC Digest

Your fortnightly update on everything going on in the data centre industry, all in one place.

Name(Required)
Privacy(Required)

DC Digest

Recent data centre news:

Inside Data Centre Podcast

Other insights

GET IN TOUCH

Browse jobs

Contact us
Connect with us

6 Problems Caused by the Data Centre Talent Shortage  

Posted on by Zoe Towlson

The data centre industry is experiencing significant growth, fuelled by the demand for cloud services, artificial intelligence, and large-scale data processing. However, this expansion is being threatened by a data centre talent shortage. The shortage is creating challenges not only for data centre professionals but also for employers and the industry as a whole.  

In this article, we’ll look at the problems that the data centre skills shortage causes for data centre professionals, employers, and for the industry in its entirety. 

Browse data centre jobs

Problems for data centre professionals

One of the most pressing challenges faced by professionals in the data centre industry is the mismatch between skills and job requirements. With a reduced pool of qualified candidates, many existing employees find themselves either underqualified or overqualified for their roles.  

This lack of the right expertise can lead to inefficiencies and errors, especially when handling complex tasks or adopting new technologies. As a result, innovation slows, and the adoption of best practices is hindered. 

The skills shortage also results in increased workloads for current employees, who are often stretched thin to cover gaps in staffing. This situation can lead to stress, burnout, and ultimately, reduced job satisfaction.  

Additionally, when functions within the business begin to suffer, employees’ livelihoods may be at risk, as businesses facing difficulties could consider downsizing or restructuring. 

Summary

Some problems caused by the talent shortage include:

  1. Employees could find themselves underqualified or overqualified for available positions
  2. Lack of right expertise
  3. Innovation stifled
  4. Increased workloads for current employees
  5. Reduced job satisfaction
  6. Livelihoods may be at risk
data centre talent shortage - problems caused

Problems for data centre employers

For employers, the talent shortage translates into higher salary expectations from candidates, due to the reduced availability of qualified professionals. This forces companies to offer more competitive compensation packages, which can strain budgets.  

Attracting and retaining skilled workers often requires additional benefits and perks, further escalating costs. 

Beyond compensation, employers also face significant operational challenges. A lack of skilled staff reduces their ability to innovate and expand their businesses. High turnover rates, combined with low employee morale, make it difficult to maintain consistent performance.  

The quality of work suffers, leading to a decline in productivity and, ultimately, a loss of revenue. With limited resources and expertise, companies may struggle to meet customer demands, affecting client satisfaction and long-term business growth.  

Problems for the data centre industry 

On a broader scale, the skills shortage is affecting the entire data centre industry. A lack of skilled workers doesn’t just impact daily operations; it also creates a shortage of skilled managers. This issue leads to poor succession planning, which could hinder the industry’s future development and expansion. 

Moreover, the shortage stifles innovation within the industry. Advances in critical areas like energy efficiency, renewable energy adoption, and cooling technologies rely on specialised knowledge.  

Without the necessary talent to drive these innovations, the data centre sector may struggle to meet environmental goals or improve operational efficiency, limiting the industry’s long-term growth potential. 

The data centre talent shortage is more than just a recruitment challenge; it’s a significant risk to the sector’s growth, innovation, and sustainability. For professionals, it creates an environment of increased stress and job insecurity. For employers, it drives up costs and hampers productivity. At an industry level, it poses a barrier to critical innovations and leadership development.  

Addressing this shortage requires a coordinated effort across businesses, educational institutions, and government bodies to ensure a pipeline of skilled workers for the future. Without proactive solutions, the data centre industry may find itself unable to keep pace with technological demands. 

Read more: 5 solutions to the talent shortage

DataX Connect

Subscribe to the DC Digest

Your fortnightly update on everything going on in the data centre industry, all in one place.

Name(Required)
Privacy(Required)

DC Digest

Recent data centre news:

Inside Data Centre Podcast

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28aTnWo1jH0u0026t=1s

Other insights

GET IN TOUCH

Browse jobs

Contact us
Connect with us

2 responses to “6 Problems Caused by the Data Centre Talent Shortage  ”

  1. temp mail Avatar
    temp mail

    Your blog is a true gem in the world of online content. I’m continually impressed by the depth of your research and the clarity of your writing. Thank you for sharing your wisdom with us.

  2. kalorifer sobası Avatar
    kalorifer sobası

    Keep up the fantastic work! Kalorifer Sobası odun, kömür, pelet gibi yakıtlarla çalışan ve ısıtma işlevi gören bir soba türüdür. Kalorifer Sobası içindeki yakıtın yanmasıyla oluşan ısıyı doğrudan çevresine yayar ve aynı zamanda suyun ısınmasını sağlar.

Weekly Data Centre Digest – 18th October 2024

Posted on by Zoe Towlson

Sign up to receive data centre news, articles, reports, and more from DataX Connect.

Sign up

Europe

The UK Government announced £6.3bn global investment into UK Data Centres. Read here.

Planning consent secured by L&G, Goldacre and sineQN for £750m hyperscale data centre investment in Newham. Read here.

CloudHQ confirmed a £1.9bn campus development in Oxford, UK. Read here.

Plans for huge energy park and data centre in Cardiff have been approved. Read here.

UK chancellor unveils AI-driven national wealth fund to boost investment in clean energy. Read here.

Apto and Dromeus Capital Group partner to develop hyperscale data centre in Athens. Read here.

Blackstone to develop 300MW data center campus in Aragon, Spain. Read here.

EDGNEX Data Centers by DAMAC Powers European Expansion with 40MW Data Center Investment in Spain. Read here.

MERLIN Properties and Edged Energy announced the start of construction on their new data center campus located in Vila Franca de Xira, within close proximity to Lisbon. Read here.

Nebius to triple capacity at Finland data center to 75 MW. Read here.

Trentino DataMine announced work had started to install a facility in an active mine in a mountain at Val di Non, 40 km north of Trento (Italy). Read here.

Cyprus makes key Data Center Projects deal with Khazna. Read here.

JetCool will provide its cooling technology to colocation customers at Start Campus’ 1.2GW Sines DC in Portugal. Read here.

Google in talks with Italy for Mediterranean undersea cable project. Read here.

Helsinki homes to be heated using excess heat from Equinix data center. Read here.

Schneider Electric to buy data centre cooling firm Motivair for $850 million. Read here.

Nokia eyes data center market growth as Q3 sales fall. Read here.

Middle East & Africa

Khazna announces construction of 100 MW AI optimised Data Center in Ajman. Read here.

Amazon Web Services and UAE-based telco e& have signed a $1 billion cloud agreement in the Middle East. Read here.

APAC

Viettel has announced plans to develop 24 data centers in Vietnam. Read here.

GDS announced plans to establish its first data center in Singapore. Read here.

NextDC has acquired land for a new 550MW data center in Sydney, Australia. Read here.

Digital Edge opened a second Data Center in Seoul. Read here.

A ‘top secret’ data center valued at AU$500 million is being proposed for private land next to the HMAS Harman Military Base in Canberra, Australia. Read here.

The National Bank of Pakistan has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Huawei Technologies Pakistan to establish a new national cloud data centre. Read here.

Area Group begins construction of 156-acre Malaysian data center campus. Read here.

Nvidia-backed firm eyes a data center near nuclear power in Japan. Read here.

Aizo Group has announced plans to build a data center in Sarawak, Malaysia, with Netrunner Sdn Bhd. Read here.

North America

Data center developer DataBank has raised $2 billion to build three facilities planned across the US. Read here.

Apple has launched the first data center at its new campus in Waukee, Iowa. Read here.

Google turns to nuclear to power AI data centres. Read here.

Amazon joins push for nuclear power to meet data center demand. Read here.

Major US electric utility Dominion plans to add 20GW of clean power generation resource. Read here.

Aurum Group and DigitalNexus Partners are teaming up to create AuNex Datacenters, a new joint venture aimed at developing and operating AI data centres. Read here.

Aligned Data Centers has acquired land in the Peoria area of Phoenix, Arizona. Read here.

Amazon Data Services pays over $37 million for 118 acres in Douglas County (Atalanta, Georgia). Read here.

Investment firm Harrison Street and data center company fifteenfortyseven Critical Systems Realty have acquired a data center in Hawaii. Read here.

Lightmatter’s $400M round has AI hyperscalers hyped for photonic data centers. Read here.

Digital Realty partners with Ecolab on AI water solution for US data centers. Read here.

South America

Brazil-based global digital infrastructure company V.tal has announced the creation of a new subsidiary focused on its data centre business. Read here.

LATAM Remains a Prevalent Data Centre Hub for AI Innovation. Read here.

Other interesting articles

What the real estate industry needs to know about data centers. Read here.

Why Labour is pushing through data centre projects (UK). Read here.

Nvidia’s Ian Buck shares his vision of the GPU data center. Read here.

Power Demand from Data Centers Keeping Coal-Fired Plants Online. Read here.

APAC sustainable data centre market to pass £16.9bn by 2029. Read here.

The challenges and opportunities of data centre delivery. Read here.

Join the Data Centre Club on LinkedIn.

You can now receive data centre news direct to your email. Subscribe via Substack.

Sign up to receive data centre news, articles, reports, and more.

Subscribe to the DC Digest

Your fortnightly update on everything going on in the data centre industry, all in one place.

Name(Required)
Privacy(Required)

The Best Data Center Locations Globally: Google, AWS, Microsoft, Equinix, and Meta

Posted on by Zoe Towlson

The need for reliable and efficient data storage and processing has soared in recent years, leading to a boom in data centers across the globe. These facilities are the unsung heroes of the internet, powering cloud services, streaming platforms, social networks, and countless other applications that shape our daily lives.  

But choosing the best data center locations isn’t a simple task. It’s a decision that requires careful thought and planning, considering everything from connectivity and climate to political stability and renewable energy sources. Each factor is crucial to ensuring these centers run smoothly and sustainably.  

In this article, we’ll look at the strategic choices behind the top data center locations of tech giants like Amazon, Google, Meta, and Microsoft.  

Contents

How are data center locations decided? 

The location of a data center is a big factor in its functionality, operational costs, and scalability. The following questions can be used to help decide the best data center locations globally: 

  • Where is there strong connectivity and good bandwidth? 
  • When and how often are natural disasters likely to occur?
  • What renewable energy sources are locally available? 
  • Who are the end users and where are they located? 
  • Which regions have a cooler climate? 
  • How stable are the politics and economy of the region?
  • Will there be capacity for expansion? 
  • What security and compliance measures are in place? 
Read more: What goes in to choosing a data center location?

Best data center locations 

Google data center locations list

North America

  • United States
    • South Carolina
    • Ohio
    • Iowa
    • Oregon
    • Georgia
    • Texas
    • Indiana
    • Nevada
    • Alabama
    • North Carolina
    • Nebraska
    • Virginia
    • Oklahoma
    • Arizona
    • Tennessee
    • Nevada

South America

  • Uraguay
  • Chile

Europe

  • Ireland 
  • Netherlands 
  • Denmark 
  • Finland 
  • Germany 
  • Belgium 
  • Norway 
  • United Kingdom 

Asia and Oceania

  • Taiwan 
  • Japan 
  • Singapore 

Map view of Google data center locations 

AWS data center locations list 

North America

  • United States
    • Oregon 
    • Virginia 
    • California 
    • Ohio 
  • Canada

South America 

  • Brazil 

Europe 

  • Ireland 
  • Sweden
  • Italy 
  • Switzerland
  • United Kingdom
  • France 
  • Spain 
  • Germany 

Asia and Oceania

  • Singapore 
  • Hong Kong
  • China 
  • Japan 
  • India 
  • South Korea
  • Indonesia 
  • Bahrain 
  • United Arab Emirates 
  • Israel 
  • Australia

Africa 

  • South Africa 

Map view of AWS data center locations

AWS Edge data center locations list 

North America

  • United States
    • Virginia 
    • Georgia 
    • Illinois 
    • Ohio 
    • Texas 
    • Colorado 
    • Michigan 
    • Massachusetts
    • Oregon 
    • Florida 
    • Missouri 
    • California 
    • Minnesota 
    • Tennessee 
    • New York 
    • New Jersey 
    • Arizona 
    • Pennsylvania 
    • New Mexico 
    • Utah 
    • Washington 
  • Canada

Asia and Oceania 

  • United Arab Emirates 
  • Israel 
  • Bahrain 
  • India 
  • Thailand 
  • China 
  • Hong Kong 
  • Vietnam 
  • Indonesia 
  • Malaysia 
  • Philippines 
  • Japan 
  • South Korea 
  • Taiwan 
  • Australia 
  • Singapore 

South America 

  • Brazil 
  • Colombia
  • Argentina
  • Chile 
  • Peru 

Europe 

  • Netherlands
  • Greece 
  • Spain 
  • Germany 
  • Belgium 
  • Romania 
  • Hungary 
  • Denmark 
  • Ireland 
  • Finland 
  • Portugal 
  • United Kingdom
  • France 
  • Italy 
  • Norway 
  • Czech Republic 
  • Bulgaria 
  • Sweden 
  • Austria 
  • Poland 
  • Switzerland 

Africa 

  • South Africa 
  • Nigeria 
  • Kenya 

Map view of AWS Edge data center locations

Microsoft data center locations list (Azure data center locations) 

North America 

  • United States 
    • Iowa
    • Virginia 
    • Arizona 
    • Illinois 
    • Texas 
    • California 
    • Washington 
    • Wyoming 
  • Canada

Europe 

  • France 
  • Germany 
  • Italy 
  • Norway 
  • Poland 
  • Spain 
  • Switzerland 
  • United Kingdom 
  • Ireland 
  • Netherlands 

Asia and Oceania 

  • Australia 
  • China 
  • India 
  • Israel 
  • Japan 
  • Korea 
  • New Zealand 
  • Qatar 
  • United Arab Emirates 
  • Hong Kong 
  • Singapore 

South America 

  • Brazil 
  • Mexico 

Africa 

  • South Africa 

Equinix data center locations list 

North America 

  • United States 
    • Georgia 
    • Massachusetts 
    • Illinois 
    • Texas 
    • Colorado 
    • California 
    • Florida 
    • New York 
    • Pennsylvania 
    • Washington 
    • Virginia 
  • Canada 

South America 

  • Brazil 
  • Chile 
  • Mexico 
  • Colombia 
  • Peru 

Africa 

  • Cote D’Ivoire 
  • Ghana 
  • Nigeria 
  • Oman 
  • South Africa 

Europe 

  • Bulgaria 
  • Finland 
  • France 
  • Germany 
  • Ireland 
  • Italy 
  • Netherlands 
  • Poland 
  • Portugal 
  • Spain 
  • Sweden 
  • Switzerland 
  • Turkey 
  • United Kingdom 

Asia and Oceania 

  • Australia 
  • China 
  • Hong Kong 
  • India 
  • Indonesia 
  • Japan 
  • Korea 
  • Malaysia 
  • Singapore 
  • United Arab Emirates 

Map view of Equinix data center locations

Facebook data center locations list (Meta data center locations) 

North America 

  • United States 
    • Alabama 
    • Arizona 
    • Georgia 
    • Idaho 
    • Iowa 
    • Illinois 
    • Indiana 
    • Minnesota 
    • Missouri 
    • Nebraska 
    • New Mexico 
    • North Carolina
    • Ohio 
    • Oregon 
    • Tennesee 
    • Texas 
    • Utah 
    • Virginia  

Europe 

  • Denmark 
  • Ireland 
  • Sweden 

Asia and Oceania 

  • Singapore 

Does it matter where a data center is located?

Yes, it does matter where a data center is located. The best data center locations have good connectivity, a low chance of natural disasters, political and economic stability, and close to end users. It’s a bonus if the location also has capacity for expansion, good security regulations, a cool climate, and good carbon neutrality prospects.

Choosing the right spot for a data center is crucial for keeping our daily digital services running smoothly. By looking at factors like connectivity, climate, political and economic stability, and renewable energy, companies can make sure their data centers are efficient, resilient, and sustainable.

As demand for digital services continues to grow, picking the best data center locations will become even more important. Whether it’s reducing lag to improve user experience, keeping data secure, or hitting sustainability targets, the location of data centers is key. With some smart planning, data centers can keep up with the ever-changing needs of our digital world, making sure everything runs seamlessly.

Read more: What goes into choosing a data center location?

DataX Connect

Subscribe to the DC Digest

Your fortnightly update on everything going on in the data centre industry, all in one place.

Name(Required)
Privacy(Required)

Inside Data Centre Podcast

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28aTnWo1jH0u0026t=1s

Other insights

GET IN TOUCH

Browse jobs

Contact us
Connect with us

Data Center Design to Operations: The Data Center Life Cycle 

Posted on by Zoe Towlson

Understanding the intricacies of the data center life cycle is crucial for stakeholders involved in building a data center, from initial planning and data center design to ongoing operations.  

This article will explore the various phases of the data center life cycle, emphasizing the importance of meticulous planning, design, construction, and continuous assessment to optimize performance and meet the dynamic demands of modern enterprises.  

Read more: What is a data center?
data center life cycle

1. Data Center Planning 

Phase length: a few weeks to a few months, depending on the scale of the project 

Phase output: a validated system concept (high level description of the system) 

Despite usually being the shortest and least expensive stage of the data center life cycle, the planning phase is critical because of the impact it has on the overall cost and capabilities of the data center. Failure to plan a data center project properly can result in rework and costly delays as a result. 

“This planning phase should determine the key project parameters of the physical system to be created (system concept), site selection, and the project process that will determine them.” Schneider Electric – Data Center Science Center 

To avoid problems later on in the process, it is recommended to use a formal, standardized process.

Data center site selection 

Once a system concept has been established, site evaluation can begin. If a site is selected too early, it may end up not meeting the design requirements. There are many factors that go into site selection for a data center, including climate, connectivity, and capacity for expansion.

2. Data Center Design 

Phase length: between four and ten weeks depending on whether there’s a bidding element included 

Phase output: site-specific schematics, detailed construction documents, and a project plan 

The design phase of data center project transforms the system concept from the planning phase into site-specific schematics, detailed drawings, and specifications. During this phase, these documents are reviewed and approved by engineers and relevant authorities before construction contractors are appointed.  
 
Parties involved in this detailed design phase include the project owner, the data center architect, MEP engineers, structural and civil engineers, IT consultants, energy consultants, commissioning agents and facility operators. 

“Unfortunately, it is common to go through multiple design iterations as requirements, preferences, and constraints change or surprises occur. If the early planning phase is managed properly as described above, these costly, time-consuming iterations will be minimized.” Schneider Electric – Data Center Science Center 

Before starting the build phase, the construction team will create a detailed project plan, identifying critical path items and developing a commissioning plan, budget, billing plan, and schedule. At this stage, close collaboration with the design team is really important to ensure that the finalized design and construction documents align with the project’s plans, schedules, and budgets. 

3. Data Center Building 

Phase length: 6 months to 3 years 

Phase output: Completed building with certification of completion 

During the building phase, construction begins in accordance with the detailed documents produced in the planning and design phases. Team members focus on their respective disciplines such as civil construction, QA/QC, mechanical, electrical, equipment integration and so on.  

The building phase can be considered complete when quality assurance has confirmed and a final certification of completion is issued. The commissioning test results must have been received and the owner should issue a formal letter of acceptance of project.  

Data Center Commissioning 

“Commissioning (Cx) is defined as a reliability science that documents and validates the result of a data center’s design and build processes. This is very different from typical “start-up” services where equipment vendors simply install, configure, power-up devices, and then provide the contractor with a certificate of completion for each individual device.” Schneider Electric – Data Center Science Center 

Not only is commissioning recommended for new data center projects, but also retrofit projects where there have been significant changes made to the overall system. Commissioning agents should be involved in the project from an early stage so that any points of failure can be identified early on in the process. 

After commissioning tests have been passed, the project can be handed over to the facilities operations team.

4. Data Center Operations 

Phase length: 10 to 20 years 

Phase output: Continuously house, power, cool, and secure IT servers, storage, and networking gear 

The longest phase of a data center project is the operations phase. During this phase, the physical infrastructure must continuously function despite the equipment aging and fluctuations in IT and business demands. 

Browse data center jobs

5. Data Center Assessment 

Phase length: monthly measurements throughout the operations phase 

Phase output: knowledge of whether the data center is operating well and opportunity to address any issues 

Regularly assessing the performance of a data center is an important element of an effective operations and maintenance program. 

According to Schneider Electric, an effective regular assessment should include assessing the: 

  • Degree to which the design intent and facility objectives are being met by the current infrastructure in operation  
  • Energy efficiency of physical infrastructure in supporting IT  
  • General health and current risk profile of the physical infrastructure  
  • Current power, cooling, and space capacities and use trends  
  • Effectiveness and experience levels of personnel  
  • Facility operations and maintenance program maturity and effectiveness 

A number of metrics should be measured and tracked against a target value and ‘acceptable’ levels. Any deviations from the accepted values should be addressed. 

Download the North America Data Center Market Report

DataX Connect

Subscribe to the DC Digest

Your fortnightly update on everything going on in the data centre industry, all in one place.

Name(Required)
Privacy(Required)

DC Digest

Recent data centre news:

Inside Data Centre Podcast

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28aTnWo1jH0u0026t=1s

The journey of building a data center is complex and multifaceted, encompassing critical stages from planning and design to operations and assessment. Each phase of the data center life cycle requires careful consideration and execution to ensure that the final infrastructure aligns with organizational goals and technological needs.  

By adhering to established best practices in data center design and continuously evaluating performance throughout the operations phase, organizations can enhance the reliability, efficiency, and longevity of their data centers. As technology continues to advance, embracing a proactive approach to the data center life cycle will be vital for staying competitive in an increasingly data-driven landscape. 

Other insights

GET IN TOUCH

Browse jobs

Contact us
Connect with us

An Exciting Training Hub for Data Centre Engineers: The AVK Academy

Posted on by Zoe Towlson

This week, AVK introduced The AVK Academy, a data centre engineer training academy based in Kent.

Read on to find out more about the key features of the academy, why it is so needed, and how to apply if you’re interested.

Data centre engineer jobs
data centre engineer training

Who is AVK? 

AVK provides generator and uninterrupted power supply solutions for mission-critical services and systems. “No matter the scale of the project or its complexity, clients rely on us to deliver the best-in-class solutions in the smartest, most sustainable and cost-conscious ways.”  

With 35 years’ experience and more than 240 team members globally, AVK has delivered over 20,000 projects and services helping their clients meet their power demands and sustainability goals. 

Demand for data centre space has been turbocharged in recent years by the rise of artificial intelligence, which demands ever more high-end computers, and ever more electricity to power them.”

What is the AVK Academy? 

The AVK Academy is a dedicated training hub that will play a pivotal role in developing the next generation of data centre engineers. The Academy, located in Kent, will provide comprehensive, hands-on training to data centre professionals. 

Trainees will have access to state-of-the-art technology so that they can “immerse themselves in real-world scenarios ensuring they gain the practical experience required to excel in their careers.” 

Key features of the academy  

  • Hands-on, comprehensive learning 
  • Combination of classroom and practical exercises 
  • Entry point into industry for new talent 
  • Focus on continuous professional development 
  • Data centre engineer training programmes catering to all experience levels 
Read more about the AVK Academy

Why does the industry need data centre engineer training? 

“The AVK Academy is more than just a training facility—it represents a strategic investment in the future of our company and the industry. By nurturing talent within a controlled, supportive environment, we are helping to build a pipeline of skilled professionals who will drive innovation in power generation.  

For AVK, this is crucial as we continue to grow and adapt to the evolving demands of data centres and other critical sectors. Our Academy is not just about training individuals; it is about creating a culture of continuous learning and development that permeates every level of our organisation.” 

The AVK Academy will act as a tool for attracting new talent into the data centre industry and providing professionals with clear career pathways, that’s why we’re supporting the academy here at DataX. 

Listen to Ben Pritchard, CEO AVK-SEG, speak to Andy Davis on the Inside Data Centre Podcast

How to apply to the academy

The AVK Academy has a range of data centre engineer training programmes for every experience level.

To find out more information and to apply to join the academy, you can contact the AVK team at [email protected]. Submit a copy of your CV and let them know your area of interest. 

Read more

DataX Connect

Subscribe to the DC Digest

Your fortnightly update on everything going on in the data centre industry, all in one place.

Name(Required)
Privacy(Required)

DC Digest

Recent data centre news:

Inside Data Centre Podcast

Other insights

GET IN TOUCH

Browse jobs

Contact us
Connect with us

Weekly Data Centre Digest – 11th October 2024

Posted on by Zoe Towlson

Sign up to receive data centre news, articles, reports, and more from DataX Connect.

Sign up

Reports

Turner & Townsend: Data Centre Cost Index. Read here.

Europe

Newham Council expected to approve Canning Town data centre (UK). Read here.

AVK launched the AVK Academy, a dedicated training hub that will play a pivotal role in developing the next generation of data centre engineers. Read here.

Apto joins the Climate Neutral Data Centre Pact. Read here.

Alternative investment firm H.I.G. Capital has acquired a majority stake in new Nordic data center firm Polar. Read here.

Switch Data Centers have acquired a 50,000 sqm Data Center site in Poland. Read here.

Microsoft is reportedly looking to build several data centers in Northern France. Read here.

Invesco Real Estate acquired it’s first data center asset in Europe (France). Read here.

French startup Denv-R has launched its debut floating data center in Nantes. Read here.

DSM Group officially launched its cutting-edge Eco Data Centre in Peterborough. Read here.

Elite UK REIT has submitted a planning application to build an 80MW facility next to an office campus at Peel Park used by the DWP. Read here.

Nebius is tripling Nvidia GPU capacity at its AI data centre in Finland. Read here.

AN Bord Pleanála have told the High Court it will not oppose an appeal to the decision to grant planning permission for a €1.2 billion data centre campus on the outskirts of Ennis. Read here.

Meta experiencing labour issues at Clonee data centre. Read here.

OpenAI confirms Paris and Brussels offices as company sets sights on Europe. Read here.

Stelia, Centersquare partner to accelerate enterprise AI adoption across North America and Europe. Read here.

Beyond.pl and Veolia partner to heat Poznan with data centre waste heat. Read here.

Middle East & Africa

Israeli data centre operator NED Data Centers is working on a joint venture to build 500MW of AI data centre capacity throughout Israel. Read here.

DAMAC Group announced a $1 Billion investment in Thai-Based Data Center with Tech Provider ‘PROEN Corp’. Read here.

Wolters Kluwer widens global footprint via new data centre in UAE. Read here.

APAC

A large-scale data center powered by hydrogen is reportedly being planned in New Zealand. Read here.

Johor, Malaysia, has experienced a phenomenal surge in data center development. In just two years, the state’s capacity has skyrocketed from a modest 10MW to over 1,000MW, making it a regional powerhouse. Read here.

The government of the Western Indian state of Maharashtra is reportedly planning to build data center parks totalling an IT capacity of 1.5 GW in and around Mumbai. Read here.

Ares Management has reached an agreement to purchase Singapore-based logistics specialist GLP Capital Partners. Read here.

Hydrogen-powered data center planned in New Zealand. Read here.

Chinese data center firm ZData is expanding into Malaysia with a project in Johor. Read here.

North America

Blue Owl Capital has agreed to the $1bn acquisition of digital infrastructure fund manager IPI Partners from ICONIQ Capital and Iron Point Partners. Read here.

Strategic Real Estate Partners is seeking permission to develop a $1B, 2.1M SF data center campus on 320 acres South of Atlanta. Read here.

Real estate firm COPT Defense Properties has acquired land outside Des Moines, Iowa, likely for a data center campus. Read here.

Green data center developer Soluna has signed term sheets for power and land with an unnamed renewable energy developer for its 187MW Project Rosa development. Read here.

Cipher Mining to develop 300MW cryptomining data center site in West Texas. Read here.

Talen acquires full ownership of Nautilus Cryptomine facility. Read here.

Enerfore Digital gets go-ahead for data center proposal in North Dakota. Read here.

DC Blox has broken ground on 216MW data center campus outside Atlanta, Georgia. Read here.

JLL are to develop a data center on STAMP site in Genesee County, New York. Read here.

Amazon may be looking to develop more data centers in Pennsylvania. Read here.

Tract is looking to develop a 2,000 acre data center park outside Austin, Texas. Read here.

Google leases more than 2 million sq ft across two sites in DFW, Texas. Read here.

OpenAI looks to use data center providers beyond Microsoft. Read here.

Microsoft to build $420m data center in New Albany, Ohio. Read here.

Flexential has broken ground on a 22.5MW data center in the southern district of Parker (Denver). Read here.

Data centre boom threatens U.S. power supply, economic growth, warns CoBank. Read here.

AMD’s new GPU lineup aims to rival Nvidia in data centre AI market. Read here.

MARA announces micro data center project powered by natural gas. Read here.

South America

Nokia and Furukawa expand Brazilian data centre partnership. Read here.

GTD launches 20MW Peruvian data center. Read here.

Other interesting articles

UK risks losing AI leadership without a national data strategy, experts warn. Read here.

How North East people will be trained for high quality jobs at £10 billion Cambois datacentre. Read here.

A Data Centre on the Moon – From Sci-Fi to Necessity. Read here.

Can Data Centres in Urban Spaces Improve Lives? Read here.

Data Centres ‘Should be Part of Residential Developments’. Read here.

The wicked problem delivering data center capacity in an uncertain world. Read here.

Utilities Must Reinvent Themselves to Harness the AI-Driven Data Center Boom. Read here.

How the data-centre boom became a political battleground. Listen here.

Join the Data Centre Club on LinkedIn.

You can now receive data centre news direct to your email. Subscribe via Substack.

Sign up to receive data centre news, articles, reports, and more.

Subscribe to the DC Digest

Your fortnightly update on everything going on in the data centre industry, all in one place.

Name(Required)
Privacy(Required)

5 Potential Solutions to the Labor Shortage in the Data Center Industry

Posted on by Zoe Towlson

The data center industry is facing a labor shortage, making it challenging for companies to keep up with the growing demand for digital infrastructure. As the industry continues to expand, businesses are searching for effective strategies to attract and retain top talent.  

In this article we look at five key solutions that can help address the talent gap in the data center sector.    

Contents

  1. Offer better employee benefits
  2. Use data center recruitment solutions
  3. Upskill current workers
  4. Invest in young talent
  5. Explore talent in adjacent industries

1. Offer better employee benefits 

With a reduced talent pool of skilled labor, one way that employers can make themselves more attractive to data center professionals is by providing more attractive compensation and benefits packages to workers. 

In our 2024 Data Center Salary Survey, 48% of respondents indicated that they were unsatisfied with, or felt neutrally towards, their current benefits package, and 23% indicated that their current compensation package was less competitive than other industries they had worked in.  

Respondents were asked to add any benefits that they didn’t currently receive but would like to. Some of the most common benefits requested were healthcare and a travel allowance.  

labor shortage in data center industry

2. Use data center recruitment solutions

Specialized data center recruitment agencies play a vital role in helping data center companies connect with top talent. Given the niche expertise required in this industry, partnering with recruitment firms that focus specifically on data center jobs can streamline the hiring process and increase the likelihood of finding qualified candidates. 

By leveraging specialized data center recruitment services, companies can gain access to a broader network of skilled professionals who understand the complexities of data center operations. 

Speak to a member of the team

3. Upskill current workers  

One of the most effective ways to solve a labor shortage is to upskill current employees. Investing in training programs that enhance employees’ existing skill sets can provide a mutually beneficial solution. Employees gain valuable expertise and career growth, while data center companies retain experienced workers without the time and costs associated with external recruitment. 

By fostering a culture of continuous learning and development, businesses can ensure they have the talent needed to meet evolving demands while maximizing their existing resources.  

4. Invest in young talent  

To build a sustainable pipeline of skilled labor, data center companies need to engage and inspire young people early on. Developing initiatives such as workshops, careers events, and apprenticeship programmes for students in secondary education and universities can help showcase the opportunities within the data center industry.  

Graduates with STEM backgrounds are highly sought after, but the industry must also focus on raising awareness about the diverse career paths available within data centers. Initiatives like the Digital Futures Programme and mentorship schemes can help promote the sector to underrepresented groups, including women in tech, and create a more inclusive workforce. 

Steve Hayward, Senior Director of European Operations at CyrusOne, highlights the importance of promoting the industry: “The industry has a vital role to play in engaging students and raising awareness of all the exciting career paths in STEM, from creating mentorship programs to supporting women in a male-dominated field.” 

5. Explore talent in adjacent industries 

A mindset shift is needed to identify candidates from adjacent industries with transferable skills. Key competencies such as problem-solving, strategic thinking, and technical expertise can be found in adjacent sectors. By rethinking traditional candidate criteria and broadening the selection pool, companies can tap into a wider range of skilled professionals. 

Hayward adds, “It is essential that the data center industry identifies the key generic skills required for exceptional engineers, such as being solutions-oriented and having strong problem identification abilities. These skillsets are not unique to our industry and can be found in professionals from various sectors.” 

Enhancing transparency about what day-to-day life in the data center industry looks like can help demystify the sector. By sharing real-world stories and case studies, companies can improve public perception and attract new talent who might not have previously considered a career in this field.  

DataX markets

By adopting these strategies, the data center industry can overcome its labor shortage and position itself for continued growth. Offering better benefits, leveraging the expertise of data center recruitment companies, upskilling employees, engaging young talent, and exploring adjacent industries are all vital steps to ensuring a robust and capable workforce for the future. 

Speak to a member of the team

DataX Connect

Subscribe to the DC Digest

Your fortnightly update on everything going on in the data centre industry, all in one place.

Name(Required)
Privacy(Required)

Inside Data Centre Podcast

Other insights

GET IN TOUCH

Browse jobs

Contact us
Connect with us

Get in touch

Fill in the form below and press “Submit”. Your details will be sent directly to us. Items marked with a * are required.

    Upload your CV here

    By submitting the data in this form I agree to DataX's Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.