The Evolution of Data Centres The Shift from On-Premises Colocation to AI-Ready Facilities

by: Jatinder Singh Pabla Chief Sales & Marketing Officer ST Telemedia, GDC India

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In a digitally connected world, if we take a look at the pace at which data is being generated, it can catch anyone by surprise. A report says that more than 90% of the world’s data was produced in the last two years and in every two years, the volume is doubling in size. By 2025, the global data volume is predicted to reach 175 zettabytes, with IoT devices generating about 90 zettabytes of this data. Forbes also estimates that 150 trillion gigabytes of real-time data will require analysis by 2025. Undeniably, data has emerged as the backbone of growth in the digital world and as its volume increases, the significance and demand for scalable and reliable data storage become critical which brings the data centres into the picture. 

Now, the data centre industry is growing by leaps and bounds. It’s a transformative era where forward-thinking approaches are crucial in shaping the future landscape of data centers worldwide. The data centres are transforming into advanced AI-ready facilities in such swiftly changing industry needs. The colocation data centres which refer to housing data in shared or third-party facilities rather than on-premises facilities, enabled companies to adapt to the evolving digital landscape. They allowed them to store their equipment and data within a shared facility that completely eliminated the need of building, owning or managing their own facilities. This brought significant cost benefits along with numerous advantages as well.

AI-Ready Colocation Data Centers Are The Future of Scalable, Efficient, and High-Performance Digital Infrastructure

However, AI-ready colocation data centers represent the future of digital infrastructure which are tailored specifically to meet the demanding requirements of artificial intelligence workloads. These advanced facilities are engineered to provide the optimal environment for AI applications, ensuring high performance, scalability, and energy efficiency.

Performance Optimization: AI-ready data centers are equipped with state-of-the-art hardware, including high-density servers and GPUs designed for intensive computational tasks. These centers offer low-latency networking and high-bandwidth connections, ensuring rapid data transfer and seamless communication between AI components.

Scalability: To accommodate the growing demands of AI and machine learning, these data centers provide scalable infrastructure. This includes flexible power and cooling systems capable of supporting increased loads as AI applications expand. Modular designs allow for easy upgrades and expansion, ensuring that the data center can grow in tandem with the user’s needs.

Energy Efficiency: AI workloads can be energy-intensive, making efficient cooling systems essential. AI-ready colocation data centers often employ advanced cooling technologies, such as liquid cooling and hybrid cooling systems, to maintain optimal operating temperatures while minimizing energy consumption. These sustainable practices reduce operational costs and contribute to a lower environmental impact.

Reliability and Security: Ensuring uninterrupted operations and data integrity is crucial for AI applications. AI-ready colocation data centers are built with robust redundancy, disaster recovery, and security measures. This includes multiple power sources, backup generators, advanced fire suppression systems, and stringent physical and cybersecurity protocols.

Specialized Support: AI-ready data centers offer specialized support services tailored to AI workloads. This includes expert staff with knowledge in AI and data science, ready to assist with deployment, optimization, and troubleshooting. These centers may also provide managed services and consulting to help organizations fully leverage their AI capabilities.

Future-Proofing: As companies grow, they will focus more on reducing significant upfront capital investments in hardware or infrastructure to achieve higher scalability in a cost-efficient manner. AI-ready colocation data centers are designed with future-proofing in mind. This involves staying abreast of the latest technological advancements and ensuring that the infrastructure can adapt to emerging trends and innovations in AI.

Preparing to meet the unique demands of a dynamic future

The exponential rise of AI is indicated by the fact that this industry is projected to reach $305.9 billion by 2024 and grow at an annual rate of 15.83%, potentially hitting $738.8 billion by 2030 as per a report posted on Statista). This brings revolutionizing opportunities within the data center sector. This surge fuels exploration into pioneering design, construction, and operational strategies and challenges providers to innovate and redefine the boundaries of what’s achievable in the industry.

As businesses increasingly rely on AI for insights and competitive edge, the role of these specialized facilities becomes more crucial. They offer a space for data storage and processing and exclusively a strategic partnership in navigating the complexities of AI deployment—from performance optimization to security and scalability. Their commitment to future-proofing ensures readiness for the next wave of technological evolution, making them indispensable in the quest for digital transformation.