Data Centres In Wales – “Thinking Outside The M25 Circle”
The tradition of locating data centres within a few miles of their target end-users has been challenged in recent years. Organisations have struggled to source sites with suitable power and communications whilst higher speed connectivity goes some way towards eliminating latency concerns.
With an estimated short fall of 500,000 sq ft of data centre space in the UK and a predicted growth in London volume of only 2.2% per year over the next four years, the critical question being asked is where is the solution?
With its plentiful energy structure and “brownfield”sites with exceptional links to the electricity grid, Wales is ready to be marked out as a prime location for the next generation of corporate engine rooms.
Wales is home to the BT International Data Centre in Cardiff Bay. The £90 million data centre was purpose built to support the full range of BT hosting and managed service operations. The state of the art facility is designed to be the premier provider of e-business solutions for the UK, putting Wales on the map as a key player amongst knowledge-based businesses.
To further expand Wales’ data centre proposition, a £200M data centre project for South Wales, creating 100 hi-tech jobs, is underway. Next Generation Data will establish one of Europe’s largest and most technically advanced “green” data centre at the site of the former LG Semicon plant at Newport. The centre, which will total in excess of 70,000 square metres with approximately 21,000 square metres of data centre space available, will be sub divided for different uses including managed hosting, co-location and hotel type services. It is located near an electricity sub-station which will ensure that the facility has adequate power for the foreseeable future.
