DCNN Summer 2025

DCNN is the total solution at the heart of the data centre industry

WHAT’S INSIDE

In today’s interconnected world, data centres are the backbone of global

operations, powering everything from essential services to everyday conveniences. Ensuring they remain operational 24/7 is critical to maintaining

server uptime, preventing costly disruptions, and supporting a seamless flow of information across the globe.

DATA CENTRE ESSENTIALS

DSEG8600 Parallel Genset Controller with Integral Heater The DSEG8600 Advanced Paralleling Controller has been developed specifically to handle the demanding power requirements of complex data centre applications — delivering intelligent, resilient control when it matters most. It can be configured for single-set, multi-set, AMF, or group control, offering the flexibility to manage diverse site architectures — including systems with up to 4,032 generators.

NEXT GEN NETWORKS & TELECOMS DSE335 MKII Auto Transfer Switch Controller The DSE335 MKII Auto Transfer Switch Controller is a key component in complex data centre applications, ensuring seamless power transfer between the primary (S1) and secondary (S2) power sources when instability is detected. Its advanced closed transition functionality allows for load transfer between S1 and S2 without interruption, maintaining continuous power delivery and operational reliability.

Read more on page 10 To learn more or talk to one of our product experts please visit www.deepseaelectronics.com

SUMMER 2025

CYBER SECURITY

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INTRODUCTION

SUMMER 2025

WELCOME TO THE SUMMER ISSUE OF DCNN! Hot on the heels of data centres being deemed Critical National Infrastructure, followed by the announcement of the AI Opportunities Action Plan – two huge stories which made the headlines in our previous two editions – this time around it’s the Government’s focus on funding which has been making waves in the three months since we last went to press.

Specifically, the UK Government has announced a £86 billion funding package aimed at enhancing the country’s science and technology sectors, with a reported investment that’s expected to reach £22.5 billion annually by 2029/30 – all under the Government’s wider Plan for Change umbrella. Although positive news, we’re still hearing a little cynicism in the industry as to how and when the funds will be dispersed, and what this will actually look like in reality. Only time will tell, but the recognition of the UK’s tech sector is definitely an important step in the right direction.

Elsewhere, we’ve seen a raft of cyber security breaches in the past few months – with the likes of M&S, Co-Op, Harrods and beyond being targeted by ransomware attacks – and with hackers seemingly upping their game, and no target off limits, now more than ever is the time to have a renewed focus on cyber security and resilience – and our dedicated cyber security section later in the issue serves as testament to this and offers some crucial advice for all striving for protection across the tech sector.

In the meantime, I’d like to welcome Joe Peck to the DCNN editorial team! Joe joined us back in May and has been busy adding content thick and fast to DCNN website in the days and weeks since. To get in touch, you can reach Joe via email to joe@allthingsmedialtd.com.

Enjoy the issue!

Simon

CONTACT US EDITOR: SIMON ROWLEY T: 01634 673163 E: simon@allthingsmedialtd.com

STUDIO: MARK WELLER T: 01634 673163 E: mark@allthingsmedialtd.com

ASSISTANT EDITOR: JOE PECK T: 01634 673163 E: joe@allthingsmedialtd.com

MANAGNG DIRECTOR: IAN KITCHENER T: 01634 673163 E: ian@allthingsmedialtd.com

ADVERTISEMENT MANAGER: NEIL COSHAN T: 01634 673163 E: neil@allthingsmedialtd.com

CEO: DAVID KITCHENER T: 01634 673163 E: david@allthingsmedialtd.com

SALES DIRECTOR: KELLY BYNE T: 01634 673163 E: kelly@allthingsmedialtd.com

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Published quarterly by All Things Media Ltd., Suite 14, 6-8 Revenge Road, Lordswood, Kent ME5 8UD. Tel: 01634 673163 Fax: 01634 673173

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CONTENTS REGULARS 3 6

From the Editor’s Desk Industry News

10 Cover Story James Maynard of Deep Sea Electronics looks at why reliable back-up power in data centre environments is an essential requirement in today’s digitally connected world

14 Key Issue A round-up of The European Data Centre Association’s survey of Europe’s data centre landscape

72 Products

DATA CENTRE ESSENTIALS 18 An exclusive look at how Baudouin is redefining backup power for tomorrow’s data centres

20 Jon Abbott of Vertiv assesses the various ways AI is reshaping data centre infrastructure

24 Alex Vit of XELA Energy explains why dedicated private wire renewables present opportunities for UK data centres

28 Gordon Johnson of Subzero Engineering outlines the need for sustainability in data centre operations

32 Hans Obermillacher of Panduit explains the importance – and best practices – for cooling Top of Rack (ToR) switches in hot data centre cabinets

36 Ben Pritchard of AVK-SEG contemplates the most effective ways of powering data centres for an AI-driven future

SPECIAL FEATURES 16 Sponsored Feature DCNN provides an overview of the battery remote monitoring offering from leagend Solutions

38 Show Preview Deep Sea Electronics presents an in-depth look at how its next-generation control platforms are revolutionising data centre backup power control

68 Show Preview A comprehensive look ahead to Connected Britain 2025, taking place at ExCel in London this September

70 Colocation Mike Hoy of Pulsant looks at why the colocation sector continues to face four specific issues that could reshape the industry

NEXT ISSUE

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DCIM

Networking

Show

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SUMMER 2025

NEXT GEN NETWORKS & TELECOMS 42 Sashi Jayeratnam of Spirent explains why security testing is critical for change-driven enterprises

45 Darren Watkins of Virtus Data Centres discusses photonic switches and explains how this technology will allow data centres to do more compute with less power

48 Rachid Ait Ben Ali of Aginode assesses the ways cabling architectures and smart building systems are converging to meet new demands

52 Thomas Ritz, Market Manager Public Networks of

CYBER SECURITY 59 The Era of Hybrid Cloud Storage 2025 report from Nasuni indicates that enterprise AI plans are constrained by security challenges. Jim Liddle explains further

62 Eric Herzog of Infinidat explains how to protect your enterprise’s data with next-generation cyber secure backup

66 Details of how the Genetec Security Center platform provides a smooth and secure experience for its customers

R&M, identifies key drivers for the requirements of next-generation fibre networks

56 Pierre Sillard of Prysmian explains how low-loss fibre is powering the next generation of networks

SUMMER 2025

g and Cabling

Critical Data

Quantum Computing

w Previews: DTX, Data Centres Ireland, Capacity Europe

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INDUSTRY NEWS

YONDR AND CBRE TO CREATE DATA CENTRE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMME Yondr Group, a global developer, owner, and operator of hyperscale data centres, has teamed up with CBRE, a real estate services company with 25 years’ experience in integrated data centre operations, to create an apprenticeship programme that will be rolled out to all Yondr data centre projects worldwide.

The programme reiterates both companies’ commitment to developing the skills that the data centre industry needs around the world. As Yondr’s global data centre operations partner, CBRE will collaborate with the company to facilitate the scheme.

Apprentices will be recruited for each Yondr data centre once the asset has moved into the operational phase and will work with the Yondr and CBRE teams on site, while also receiving training towards certifications in disciplines such as administration, critical environment engineering, and management.

The first project to benefit from the apprenticeship programme is Yondr’s London data centre campus in Slough, where one apprentice is already in post and a second is currently being recruited.

Yondr, yondrgroup.com

VERNE AND NEBIUS TO EXPAND EUROPE’S AI CAPACITY Verne, a provider of sustainably powered HPC data

single implementation in Verne’s history in Iceland, with

centres across the Nordics, has announced that Nebius,

Nebius deploying a 10MW cluster.

a global AI infrastructure provider, will be colocating a

This installation is part of Nebius’ ambitious

cluster of NVIDIA H200 GPUs at Verne’s data centre

build-out of AI infrastructure across the US and

campus in Iceland. This collaboration marks the largest

Europe, supporting its mission to provide scalable, energy-efficient technologies for intensive AI workloads.

As one of Europe’s leading providers of GPU capacity, Nebius selected Verne for its expertise, renewableenergy-driven operations and ability to meet precise technical and geographical requirements.

Verne’s Icelandic facility, uniquely located on a former NATO base and powered entirely by Iceland’s 100% renewable hydroelectric and geothermal energy resources, aligns perfectly with Nebius’ approach to adopting sustainability principles in its infrastructure while delivering top-tier performance.

Dominic Ward, CEO of Verne, comments, “This partnership with Nebius underscores our ability to provide sustainable data centre services quickly and at scale across the Nordics, supporting the AI industry’s rapid growth while minimising its environmental impact.”

Verne, verneglobal.com

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dcnnmagazine.com

SUMMER 2025

SEGRO AND PURE DC ANNOUNCE NEW LONDON DATA CENTRE

SEGRO has announced the formation of SEGRO Pure Premier Park Data Centre Limited, a 50:50 joint venture with global data centre operator, Pure DC. The joint venture has been created with the intent to develop and deliver a fully fitted data centre in Park Royal, West London. It brings together a 10-acre,

The companies state that it represents a highly attractive and profitable opportunity to deliver a data centre in a land and powerconstrained key London Availability Zone where there is strong underlying demand.

This development will allow SEGRO to benefit from Pure DC’s technical expertise in data centre fit-out and track record of working with hyperscalers.

This will be SEGRO’s first fully fitted data centre project, building on its experience of delivering powered shells to major data centre operators for over 20 years. SEGRO sees the potential for significant value creation utilising its 2.3GW land-enabled power bank and will seek to optimise and accelerate this over the coming years.

super-prime industrial site owned by SEGRO and 70MVA of power secured by Pure DC.

Pure DC, puredc.com

BROADBAND FORUM LAUNCHES TRIO OF NEW OPEN BROADBAND PROJECTS An improved user experience, including reduced latency and a wider choice of in-home applications will be delivered to broadband consumers as the Broadband Forum launches three new projects.

The three new open broadband projects will provide open source software blueprints for application providers and Broadband Service Providers (BSPs) to follow. These will deliver a foundation for AI and Machine Learning (ML) for network automation, additional tools for network latency and performance measurements, and on-demand connectivity for different applications.

“These new projects will play a key role in improving network performance measurement and monitoring and the end-user experience,” says Broadband Forum Technical Chair, Lincoln Lavoie. “Open source software is a crucial component in providing the blueprint for BSPs to follow, and we invite interested companies to get involved.”

The projects will deliver open source reference implementations, which are examples of how Broadband Forum specifications can be implemented, while also acting as a starting point for application developers to base their designs on. In turn, those applications are available on platforms for BSPs to select and offer to their customers, shortening the path

@DCNNMagazine

between the development of the specification to the first deployment of the technologies into the network.

Broadband Forum, broadband-forum.org

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INDUSTRY NEWS

SUMMER 2025

COLT DCS BREAKS GROUND ON NEW PARIS DATA CENTRE

Colt Data Centre Services (Colt DCS), a global provider of hyperscale and large enterprise data centre solutions, has broken ground on its second data centre in France with Colt Paris 2.

This facility is the first of three planned data centres (Colt Paris 2, 3, and 4) to be built on a new 12.5-acre site in Villebon-sur-Yvette, located to the southwest of

Paris. Two additional data centres (Colt Paris 5 and 6) are also scheduled for construction on a second new site in Les Ulis, which spans 5.3 acres and is situated in proximity to Colt DCS’ existing operational facility in the French commune.

This marks the beginning of a €2.3 billion investment in the country’s digital economy, with five data centres planned to be completed by 2031. Combined, this will bring Colt DCS’ total capacity to 170MW in France by the end of that year.

Each new facility has been designed following Colt DCS’ Global Reference Design (GRD) and will use several low embodied carbon principles in the construction process to showcase the operator’s commitment to sustainability.

Colt DCS, coltdatacentres.net

DE-CIX REPORTS INCREASE IN GLOBAL NETWORK CONNECTIONS Internet Exchange (IX) operator, DE-CIX, has released its results from the financial year 2024, demonstrating double-figure growth in networks, data traffic, and capacity.

The company finished the year with more than 4,000 networks connected worldwide, up 10% on the previous year, and 170 terabits connected customer capacity, which is a growth of 20%.

Global peak traffic from peering – the direct interconnection of networks – finished the year just below 25 Tbit/s, up 11% from 2023. Global revenues grew by 8.3% to €68.6 million. Having added a further five IX locations during 2024, and announcing its market entry to Brazil, DE-CIX is today present in 60 markets on five continents.

With its connected networks and its geographical coverage, DE-CIX is renowned for its provision of peering services via IXs – whether wholesale network peering, cloud peering, or application network peering.

Peering is used by network operators to optimise data pathways and enhance the performance and security of the digital content, services, and applications that make up the internet. As well as catering to the long-standing wholesale network operator customer group, DE-CIX also has a significant influence on the

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global traffic flows that power the internet, digital economies, and digital life.

DE-CIX, de-cix.net

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with Best-in-Class Robust load rating for Solidsecure construction installation

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COVER STORY

THE CRITICAL ROLE OF RELIABLE BACKUP POWER IN DATA CENTRES James Maynard, Group Marketing Manager at Deep Sea Electronics (DSE), looks at why reliable back-up power in data centre environments is an essential requirement in today’s digitally connected world.

In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, data centres have become the backbone of global connectivity, supporting everything from cloud services and AI computing to financial transactions and real-time communications. With this growing dependence on digital infrastructure, the need for reliable, integrated backup power systems has never been more important.

When milliseconds of downtime can cause serious disruption and data loss, maintaining a seamless and resilient power supply is a non-negotiable priority.

At the heart of every high-performing data centre lies a carefully designed power infrastructure built around redundancy, responsiveness, and real-time control. While utility power remains the primary energy source, backup systems such as generators, uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), and automatic transfer switches (ATS) play a crucial role in ensuring continuity during faults, outages or voltage fluctuations.

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REDUNDANCY AND RESILIENCE BUILT-IN Reliability begins with redundancy. In a mission-critical environment like a data centre, any single point of failure must be eliminated.

This is typically achieved through configurations such as N+1 or 2N power architectures, where backup capacity matches or exceeds load demand, ensuring there’s always an alternative source ready to take over. This guarantees that power delivery remains consistent, even during maintenance or equipment failure.

But having backup power is not enough. It must be intelligently integrated into the wider infrastructure to respond quickly and efficiently.

This is where advanced paralleling controllers and power management systems come into play. At DSE, our intelligent controllers and monitoring solutions enable synchronised operation between multiple generators, seamless load sharing, and real-time decision making – all of which contribute to uninterrupted power supply and improved system longevity.

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SUMMER 2025

SPEED IS EVERYTHING The speed at which power can be transferred from the utility supply to the backup source is critical. Whether it’s a momentary brownout or a full-scale outage, delay in switching can result in dropped connections, data corruption, or hardware failures. Modern ATS systems equipped with high-speed controllers can detect instability and complete the switchover in a matter of seconds – often without noticeable impact to end users or equipment.

Advanced features, such as closed transition switching, allow the transfer of load without dropping power entirely – which is ideal for sensitive data centre loads where even momentary interruption is unacceptable.

VISIBILITY AND CONTROL FROM ANYWHERE Equally important is the ability to monitor and control backup systems remotely. With decentralised teams and 24/7 operation, data centre managers always need full visibility of power assets. Remote monitoring platforms provide real-time insights into generator status, fuel levels, fault alerts, and performance metrics – helping teams act quickly, reduce downtime, and plan maintenance proactively.

Integration with building management systems (BMS), data centre infrastructure management (DCIM) tools, and enterprise-level software further streamlines operations and enables joined-up decision making.

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PLANNING FOR GROWTH AND EFFICIENCY As data volumes continue to rise, the energy demands placed on data centres grow in parallel. Scalability, therefore, is a key consideration. Backup power systems must be able to evolve with the facility.

Modular generator systems, flexible controller architecture, and scalable monitoring platforms ensure that resilience is never compromised as capacity expands.

At the same time, cost-efficiency must remain front of mind. Intelligent load management, remote diagnostics, and automated test cycles all contribute to lower running costs, longer equipment life, and improved sustainability.

CONCLUSION Reliable, integrated backup power is not just a safety net for data centres – it’s a foundational pillar of operational continuity. With the right combination of robust hardware, intelligent controls, and comprehensive monitoring, facilities can ensure uptime, protect data integrity, and support uninterrupted service in an increasingly digital world.

At DSE, we’re proud to help data centres across the globe achieve this with cutting-edge UK manufactured control solutions built for performance, precision, and peace of mind.

Deep Sea Electronics, deepseaelectronics.com

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In today’s interconnected world, data centres are the backbone of global operations, powering everything from essential services to everyday conveniences. Ensuring they remain operational 24/7 is critical to maintaining server uptime, preventing costly disruptions, and supporting a seamless flow of information across the globe.

DSEG8600 Parallel Genset Controller with Integral Heater The DSEG8600 Advanced Paralleling Controller has been developed specifically to handle the demanding power requirements of complex data centre applications — delivering intelligent, resilient control when it matters most. It can be configured for single-set, multi-set, AMF, or group control, offering the flexibility to manage diverse site architectures — including systems with up to 4,032 generators.

DSE335 MKII Auto Transfer Switch Controller The DSE335 MKII Auto Transfer Switch Controller is a key component in complex data centre applications, ensuring seamless power transfer between the primary (S1) and secondary (S2) power sources when instability is detected. Its advanced closed transition functionality allows for load transfer between S1 and S2 without interruption, maintaining continuous power delivery and operational reliability.

To learn mo

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dcnnmagazine.com

ore or talk to one of our product experts please visit www.deepseaelectronics.com

@DCNNMagazine

data-centre-network-news-dcnn

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KEY ISSUE

SUMMER 2025

STATE OF EUROPEAN DATA CENTRES REPORT PUBLISHED In collaboration with National Trade Associations, The European Data Centre Association (EUDCA) has released an extensive survey of Europe’s data centre landscape. Here’s a round-up of the key trends and findings.

CONTRIBUTIONS TO EUROPE’S ECONOMY The data centre industry contributes significantly to Europe’s socio-economic landscape, according to the report. Colocation data centres alone were responsible for €30 billion in GDP in 2023, and are expected to reach €83.8 billion by 2030 with the creation of thousands of direct and indirect jobs.

The market is expanding rapidly, driven by AI and digital service growth, with demand outstripping supply and attracting billions of euros in investment. Major centres of activity include the FLAPD region, with intense activity in emerging hubs in the Nordics and Southern Europe. Additionally, new metropolitan hubs are emerging in cities such as Barcelona, Rome, and Athens.

DATA CENTRES AS FLEXIBLE ENERGY PARTNERS Sustainability data shows that more than a quarter (28%) of operators have invested in on-site renewable energy generation capability, and 41% plan to do so. In support of these efforts, 28% are planning on installing battery energy storage systems (BESS) within the next two years.

Currently, nearly a quarter (22%) of data centre operators provide grid stabilisation or energy trading capacity to energy grids, greatly facilitating further utilisation of renewable energy sources (RES). This will almost triple (59%) in the next two years.

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TURNING CHALLENGES INTO OPPORTUNITIES The report finds the industry faces challenges related to power availability, sustainability, and regulatory compliance as new reporting obligations came recently into effect. More than a third (36%) said that regulatory compliance will be a challenge over the next three years.

However, these challenges also present opportunities for innovation in energy efficiency, flexibility, and heat reuse. The sector’s continued growth will necessitate ongoing investments in sustainability to minimise environmental impact.

WATER USAGE EFFICIENCY Another bright spot is improvement in water usage. Of those operators who reported water usage effectiveness (WUE), the average was 0.31 litre per kWh for 2023, well below the Climate Neutral Data Centre Pact (CNDCP) target of 0.4 l/kWh for water-stressed areas.

ENERGY ACCESS, SKILLS GAPS, AND COMPLIANCE FRAMEWORKS The data centre industry also faces significant challenges, including power supply constraints, permitting delays, and a growing skills gap in technical fields. More than 75% of survey respondents consider access to power as the biggest challenge for the sector in the next three years, despite a willingness to invest in alternative solutions to access power. Energy costs are also a concern, as rising wholesale prices impact operators.

EUDCA, eudca.org

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ADVERTORIAL

SUMMER 2025

BATTERY REMOTE MONITORING IN THE SPOTLIGHT Designed to ensure the efficient and safe operation of data centres, DCNN provides an overview of the battery remote monitoring offering from leagend Solutions.

With security coming first for data centres, and efficiency improvement a crucial element, leagend’s battery remote monitoring solution provides reliable battery monitoring for UPS batteries to ensure stable power supply in data centres to improve both security and efficiency.

It aims to ensure the efficient and safe operation of data centre backup batteries through real-time monitoring and management of battery pack status. It collects key data like battery voltage, internal resistance, current and temperature in real time, and transmits the data to the remote monitoring platform via 4G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or wired transmission. Through data analysis, it sends battery SoH (State of Health), lifespan prediction and failure warnings to help customers optimise battery usage, extend battery lifespan and ensure stable power supply.

The battery remote monitoring solution from leagend is developed for various applications like energy storages, electric vehicles, data centres, telecom bases and industrial equipment.

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leagend Solutions has been specialising in researching and developing batteries technologies, battery testing technologies, battery monitoring and managing systems and solutions ever since the company’s establishment in 2014. Intelligence, precision, safety and low energy consumption are always the foundation and ideology of its technology research and development.

Until now, leagend Solutions has offered the following innovations: smart lead-acid battery testers, UPS battery monitoring solutions, lead-acid battery charger ODM solutions, Coulomb counter solutions, and more. The company’s battery products have been widely applied to multiple professional fields such as lead-acid battery manufacturing, data centre power supply chains, energy-saving, renewable energy, telecoms, and emergency backup power applications.

For more from leagend Solutions, turn to page 73. leagend Solutions, leagendsolutions.com

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DATA CENTRE ESSENTIALS SUPPORTED BY

DATA CENTRE ESSENTIALS

SUMMER 2025

BAUDOUIN’S INNOVATIVE GENSET JOURNEY An exclusive look at how Baudouin is redefining backup power for tomorrow’s data centres.

Baudouin has come a long way since the launch of its first PowerKit engines. Initially renowned in the marine industry, the brand’s strategic expansion into power generation marked a major turning point – combining over a century of mechanical expertise with the demands of modern infrastructure.

Today, Baudouin manufactures complete gensets specifically engineered to meet the stringent requirements of the data centre market, with a focus on scalability and efficiency.

This journey continues with the 20M55 genset, delivering up to 5250 kVA of robust, reliable power tailored for data centre and hyperscale applications.

Designed for mission-critical environments, the 20M55 is certified to ISO 8528 G3 and pre-approved by the Uptime Institute, ensuring Tier certification readiness and seamless

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integration into even the most complex standby systems. It also supports HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil), enabling data centres to reduce their environmental footprint without compromising on performance or responsiveness.

This marks a natural progression in Baudouin’s genset portfolio, which now extends up to 6 MVA with the recently introduced 20M61 – one of the highest power ratings on the market. Tailored for hyperscale and colocation facilities, Baudouin combines exceptional power capabilities with one of the best lead times in the industry – under six months – to meet the rapid deployment needs of modern data infrastructure.

Baudouin, baudouin.com

dcnnmagazine.com

BUILT TO

POWER UP TO 5250 kVA RELIABLE BACKUP POWER SOLUTIONS FOR DATA CENTRES The 20M55 Generator Set boasts an industry-leading output of 5250 kVA, making it one of the highest-rated generator sets available worldwide.

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DATA CENTRE ESSENTIALS

The rise of AI requires data centre infrastructure to be more adaptable, more efficient and more responsive

REBUILDING THE BACKBONE Jon Abbott, Technologies Director – Global Strategic Clients at Vertiv, assesses the various ways AI is reshaping data centre infrastructure.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer a specialised niche of enterprise IT. It is quickly becoming a core workload, embedded across sectors from finance to logistics to healthcare. As that shift accelerates, the underlying infrastructure that powers these workloads is entering a period of dramatic and necessary transformation.

The data centre, once optimised for virtualised enterprise applications and predictable compute demands, is now being forced to adapt to a new operating model.

AI workloads bring with them unprecedented levels of thermal intensity, power fluctuation and scale. And this is exposing the limitations of systems designed for an earlier era.

For data centre operators, the implications are immediate: power management and distribution, cooling strategies, rack densities and facility layouts are all in flux. AI isn’t just another workload, it’s a catalyst that is redefining how digital infrastructure is built and managed.

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INFRASTRUCTURE BUILT FOR CHANGE, NOT ONLY CAPACITY At first glance, it’s tempting to think of AI as a capacity problem: all it needs is more servers, more power, and more cooling. But scale alone isn’t the issue. AI models – particularly large language models and neural networks – introduce a set of behaviours that traditional digital infrastructure was never optimised for.

AI workloads can pulse from near idle to peak power within seconds, requiring power management and distribution systems that can respond dynamically. Processing clusters built around graphics processing units (GPUs) produce significantly more heat than standard central processing units (CPUs), placing additional demands on cooling infrastructure. And the sheer density of compute required for effective AI training often outpaces the capabilities of traditional server rack layouts.

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SUMMER 2025

To accommodate these needs, a growing number of data centres are moving away from legacy assumptions. Air cooling, long considered the standard, is now giving way to liquid cooling methods such as direct-to-chip and immersion cooling. Modular power architectures and battery energy storage systems (BESS) are being deployed to maintain resilience in the face of sudden load changes. And designs are evolving to allow for higher rack densities without compromising airflow or thermal integrity.

THE POWER PARADOX One of the more complex challenges posed

by AI workloads is their impact on energy infrastructure. AI at scale is energy-intensive, with some projections suggesting that AI-driven workloads could account for nearly a fifth of global data centre power usage by the end of the decade.

This growth comes at a time when operators are also under pressure to meet environmental and regulatory targets. The result is a paradox: the industry must deliver more compute power while simultaneously improving energy efficiency.

Meeting both demands requires more than hardware refreshes. Smart software-defined power systems are being introduced to monitor and control energy usage at a granular level.

The industry must deliver more compute power while simultaneously improving energy efficiency, Jon argues

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These systems use predictive analytics to anticipate load fluctuations and adjust power provisioning in real time, helping to avoid overprovisioning and reduce waste.

In parallel, some operators are exploring hybrid power models where they’re blending grid energy, alternative sources and on-site generation to build more resilient and efficient energy strategies. We expect to see wider adoption of microgrid integration for gridbalancing services, particularly in areas where grid stability is becoming a limiting factor.

DESIGNING FOR THE EDGE – AND THE UNKNOWN FUTURE Compounding the ability to plan ahead is that AI is not a static workload. While training models often takes place in centralised data centres, inference is increasingly happening at the edge.

This is particularly true in sectors such as retail, manufacturing and transport, where real-time decision-making is essential.

As a result, infrastructure design must now consider both centralised and distributed compute environments. Edge computing sites – once optimised for low-latency networking or content delivery – are now being reconfigured to support AI workloads. This shift requires better local power and cooling, as well as improved visibility and control over distributed assets.

The edge also introduces physical constraints.

Facilities are often space-limited, have restricted access to cooling water or highcapacity power feeds, and may lack on-site support teams and expertise. That makes modular and remotely managed infrastructure even more important. Data centre operators are increasingly deploying AI-ready micro data centres designed with standardised components, factory-built and pre-tested for rapid deployment.

data-centre-network-news-dcnn

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DATA CENTRE ESSENTIALS

RETROFITTING: PRACTICAL BUT NOT INFINITE While some AI deployments are being built from the ground up, many operators are looking to retrofit existing environments. It’s a logical first step – particularly for facilities with remaining physical space and structural headroom – but it does have limits.

Upgrading to support AI workloads often means replacing or supplementing power distribution units, installing liquid or hybrid cooling systems, and redesigning airflow management. In some cases, building services like chillers or transformers may also need to be upgraded. This can quickly escalate costs and complexity, especially in older facilities.

A phased approach can help manage that risk.

Segmenting workloads, identifying high-priority zones and introducing modular upgrades allows operators to balance near-term performance needs with longer-term planning. But that balancing act becomes harder as AI compute intensifies.

REAL-TIME MONITORING IS NOW CRITICAL

SUMMER 2025

The operational shift is significant: from infrastructure that passively supports compute, to systems that intelligently manage and respond to AI workloads. This layer of automation and analytics will be crucial for facilities seeking to deliver reliable performance at scale.

INFRASTRUCTURE AS AN ENABLER, NOT A CONSTRAINT The rise of AI is shifting the very nature of compute. It requires data centre infrastructure to be more adaptable, more efficient and more responsive than ever before. The challenge now is to move beyond reactive upgrades and begin designing systems that can anticipate future needs. That means embracing modularity, prioritising real-time monitoring and making AI-readiness a core part of strategic infrastructure planning. Whether it’s training large models in central data centres or supporting real-time inference at the edge, AI is reshaping expectations of what critical digital infrastructure should deliver.

Vertiv, vertiv.com

As critical digital infrastructure becomes more dynamic and heterogeneous, real-time visibility into power, thermal performance and workload behaviour becomes essential. Operators can no longer rely on static modelling or historic baselines to predict performance.

AI-aware infrastructure management platforms are emerging to meet this need, combining telemetry from power systems, environmental sensors and IT workloads.

These platforms enable data centre operators to pre-empt power failures, detect hotspots before they cause performance issues, and optimise resource allocation dynamically.

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DATA CENTRE ESSENTIALS

PRIVATE WIRE RENEWABLES A ‘NO-BRAINER’ FOR DATA CENTRES

Alex Vit, Commercial Director at XELA Energy, explains why dedicated private wire renewables present an opportunity for the UK’s data centres to decrease energy costs, avoid energy pricing volatility, and reduce their carbon footprint.

Over the past three years, the UK’s data centre sector has found itself caught between two seemingly incompatible trends. Firstly, the explosion of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) into the economy, demanding infrastructure growth at never-before-seen rates, and sending power demand through the roof. Secondly, the increasing instability of the UK’s pricing market.

Before GenAI spending came to dominate the tech landscape, data centres would typically

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require between three and five kilowatts (kW) per rack to meet demand. The next generation of Nvidia AI servers need between 130kW and 250kW, with next-generation servers demanding even more power. At the same time as the GenAI boom, the country’s commercial and industrial (C&I) energy market has suffered repeated pricing disruptions. The 2022 energy crisis saw record spikes in the price of natural gas, which resulted in a challenging power price environment.

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A string of macro-scale events, outside of the data centre industry’s control, conspired to cause the recent energy price instability. Events like the Russian invasion of Ukraine disrupted natural gas and power markets in Europe. In addition, an underperforming French nuclear fleet exacerbated price increases, because normally the UK buys a percentage of its power via large subsea cables called interconnectors, and this supply became uneconomical. The impact of both offshore events materialised in the sustained high wholesale market energy prices, which was paid for by the government, businesses, and consumers.

The prospect of insulating individual sites from pricing volatility is a routinely difficult task for critical infrastructure like data centres.

However, there are funded decarbonisation methods that can act as an energy price hedge.

CLEAN POWER 2030 AND THE UK ENERGY MARKET The UK’s efforts to become a more energy independent “clean energy superpower” are progressing and renewables penetration is

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increasing at an encouraging rate. On 1 April 2025, Great Britain achieved a new maximum solar generation record, which is an encouraging step in the right direction.

To meet the government’s Clean Power 2030 goals, the country’s power system will need to see ‘clean’ energy sources produce at least as much power as Great Britain consumes in total over the whole year, with at least 95% of the power generated in the UK. So far, the government has taken some tangible actions to decrease development barriers for renewables projects. The de facto ban on new onshore wind has been lifted.

Recent planning rule changes have empowered local authorities to determine smaller projects, thus decreasing the cost and admin burden created by central government processes. More needs to be done to unlock investments. There is nearly twice as much solar energy capacity in planning (27 GW) as the total amount that has ever been built in the UK (15.5 GW).

However, these larger renewables projects feed power into the grid, where the benefits are realised indirectly.

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DATA CENTRE ESSENTIALS

ROOFTOP SOLAR The simplest onsite solution is rooftop solar. Rooftop solar represents a significant source of growth for the UK’s solar capacity.

There are currently 1.6 million rooftops fitted with solar technology in the UK, with more than 200,000 non-residential buildings also having been equipped.

However, rooftop solar still doesn’t offer enough material impact for larger energy users like hyperscale data centres. Simply put, their roofs are too small for rooftop solar to meaningfully meet their power demands. The UK’s largest power users need megawatts and gigawatts – not kilowatts.

Therefore, to bypass spatial limitations, projects are increasingly being built offsite.

Connecting one or more dedicated generation assets, via a private wire, to a large data centre can provide the necessary solution at scale.

CONTRACTING DIRECTLY WITH A DEDICATED ASSET Data centres need to look at direct contracting strategies to secure direct benefits.

The increasing viability of locally generated solar power presents an avenue for large power users to achieve annual energy cost savings and secure a hedge against future price disruptions.

PRIVATE WIRE OFFSITE RENEWABLES From a development and delivery perspective, private wire projects are faster than grid connected renewables. Grid connection queues and costly reinforcement works are bypassed because most generation is consumed onsite and by the end user. Little volume spills over into the grid, if any. Planning for such projects is often viewed favourably, because the dedicated renewables asset is being built to decarbonise a large regional employer.

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SUMMER 2025

As the decade continues, the UK’s power grid will become increasingly overloaded, leading large power users to face potentially painful power constraints unless urgent grid upgrades are undertaken. At a business level, power from the grid must enable all energy users to pursue the decarbonisation of their business activities. Electrification of heat and transport initiatives are too often stalled or halted due to grid upgrade requirements. These costly delays or upgrades often force customers to seek on- or near-site solutions. The emergence of new power-hungry demand segments like hydrogen electrolysis and AI data centres creates additional grid upgrade requirements of uncertain magnitudes.

For data centres, the renewables business case is driven by cost certainty and cost savings. Long term renewable energy supply agreements are 30% cheaper than grid electricity because private wire projects don’t pay non-commodity costs. These cost savings create a defendable competitive advantage, which allows eligible sites to outperform their competitors. Price certainty is achieved through different pricing and product structures. If the renewable asset is not generating because it’s not sunny or windy, the ability to import from grid remains provides resiliency and a safety net.

The UK is on track for a clean energy future, but getting there will require steep renewables adoption. In the meantime, data centres can’t afford to be at the mercy of the grid. Investing time to understand near-site renewable options is a simple step that data centres must explore.

XELA Energy, xelaenergy.com

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DATA CENTRE ESSENTIALS

OPTIMISING FOR SUSTAINABILITY Gordon Johnson, Senior CFD Manager for Subzero Engineering, outlines the need for sustainability in data centre operations and highlights how optimised strategies can reduce energy waste and environmental impact.

As essential as data centres are to our increasingly digital lives, they come at a huge environmental cost to our planet.

It doesn’t help that much of the energy required to power them is still sourced from fossil fuels. It’s one of the reasons that the industry has been identified as a major contributor to climate change.

Given the growing environmental concerns, it is now an urgent necessity to transition to sustainable, renewable energy sources, energy-efficient technologies, and recyclable materials. To impose the importance of net zero,

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governments and regulatory bodies worldwide are seeking to implement stricter environmental policies to meet global climate goals.

The adoption of sustainable design ensures adherence to these regulations. Furthermore, as sustainability becomes a crucial component of corporate social responsibility (CSR) for many organisations, and more consumers and businesses are favouring companies with strong environmental commitments, a strong sustainability policy can yield a competitive advantage in a tough marketplace.

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TRANSITIONING FROM WHITE TO GREEN

to be raised, cooling requirements reduced, and CO2 emissions to be significantly reduced.

White space, as it relates to data centres, is the space inside a building devoted to IT hardware, such as servers, storage, and networking components. It is a highly controlled environment with restricted access, monitored for temperature, humidity, and other factors critical to maintaining the health of IT systems.

Increasing demand for data centre performance and capacity while at the same time reducing operating costs requires an efficient use of white space. What could the transformation from white space to green building offer? And can it still deliver on operational excellence?

Incorporating renewable energy sources and embracing natural power supplies, such as wind or solar, enables operational efficiencies

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In addition, construction using recycled and recyclable materials also supports global initiatives in combating climate change, reducing waste, and lowering greenhouse gas emissions.

GREEN BUILDING CERTIFICATIONS According to the US Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, data centres are one of the most energy-intensive building types, consuming 10 to 50 times the energy per floor space of a typical commercial office building.

This energy consumption is only expected to increase due to high intensity emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain and cryptocurrency.

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DATA CENTRE ESSENTIALS

Global green building certifications, such as Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), are heralding a new era of environmentally sustainable practices. These certifications set a framework for integrating recycled and recyclable materials with measurable benchmarks for sustainability, energy efficiency and environmental stewardship.

Globally recognised green building certifications and standards that evaluate the environmental impact and performance of buildings are essential in promoting environmentally conscious design in contemporary infrastructure. Internationally recognised indicators give data centres the means to demonstrate their commitment to minimising environmental impact, and set a bar for best practice in sustainable construction and operation. This encourages industry-wide adoption, opening the door for a more sustainable future.

BALANCING COSTS AND SUSTAINABILITY Transitioning to greener materials and practices offers significant environmental benefits, but it also raises questions about cost. Does the investment in recyclable, green materials balance the return on investment?

Upfront costs of adopting green building practices are indeed high, particularly in legacy data centres, but the long-term financial benefits are indisputable. Over time, utilising energy-efficient designs and systems can lead to a lower total cost of ownership (TCO) by reducing power and operational expenses.

Integrating renewables can also decrease organisations’ reliance on fossil fuels, helping them to better manage any future energy challenges. Additionally, data centres that actively pursue net zero initiatives can enhance

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SUMMER 2025

their brand perception by complying with regulations, benefiting from a value that is difficult to quantify.

These benefits justify the initial investment.

When evaluating costs concerning TCO, the argument for both financial and environmental sustainability is compelling.

THE POWER OF COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY While data centres have an unavoidable influence on the environment, the industry is quickly establishing itself as a leader in environmental sustainability by implementing a variety of net zero strategies. However, all industry stakeholders need to play a role in the collective accountability for an environmentally friendly future.

Partnerships are integral to this collaborative approach. From operators adopting renewable energy sources to designers innovating with eco-friendly materials, investors funding sustainability projects to policymakers incentivising green practices; we are all answerable in the acceleration of sustainable operation.

SETTING AN EXAMPLE Taking decisive action is the first step to sustainability. The choice of being a sustainability leader yields benefits beyond the environment; it brings about a positive change chain reaction, a ripple effect across all industries. Positive transformation inspires and influences all sectors and markets.

Adopting this role of responsibility leverages a legacy of accountability and investment in sustainability, with the long-lasting positive impact on the globe to be enjoyed by the next generation of technology entrepreneurs.

Subzero Engineering, subzeroeng.com

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DATA CENTRE ESSENTIALS

ToR SWITCHES: HOW TO PLAY IT COOL Hans Obermillacher, Business Development Manager at Panduit EMEA, explains the importance – and best practices – for cooling Top of Rack (ToR) switches in hot data centre cabinets.

Energy efficiency and effective cooling in the

2030. To counter this increase, the European

data centre cabinet environment continues

Union is driving rules and regulations around

to be a hot topic. Increasing temperatures

increasing energy efficiency, including PUE

in data halls are now pushing above 22°C

and ERF.

at the tile in a cold aisle configuration, up from 16°C or 17°C. The direction of travel

the cabinets is indispensable and has

for temperatures in these environments is

become highly effective in processor rack

probably upwards, as higher performance

configurations. However, an essential element

processors and cable consolidation are

in the cabinet, or row, which maintains data

becoming more common in the cabinet.

routing and the continuation of service is the

As data centres move away from the

communications switch. This component in

stability of environments where operators

a Top of Rack (ToR) configuration must be

planned for average power between 4

supported by the appropriate cooling duct

kilowatts (kW) and 6 kW per rack and followed

to ensure that the switch does not overheat,

ASHRAE’s climatic guidelines, the latest GPUs

with possibly disastrous consequences.

(graphics processing units) are far more

ToR switches are most often positioned

powerful and heat producing. An NVIDIA DGX

in a reversed configuration to the servers it

server, such as the DGX A100, will consume

supports, and are therefore facing the rear

around 6.5kW at full capacity, while standard

doors and accessed from the hot exhaust

servers typically consume between 500 to

side of the cabinet. Mounted towards the top

1,200 watts.

of the cabinet, the ToR switch usually occupies

Recent research from Digiconomist,

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Differentiating hot and cold areas within

approximately half the RU depth and is often

published in the journal Joule, predicts annual

installed with limited or no means of direct

AI-related electricity consumption increasing

cooling. As a consequence, the ToR switch

from 85.4 to 134.0 TWh before 2027, and

can draw in the hot airflow of the exhaust

electricity being consumed in data centres

from the servers installed below it in the

globally could reach 4% of total production by

same cabinet.

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SUMMER 2025

High-density server application without Switch Cooling

A recent customer project illustrates this

space to ventilate the switch. Whether cold air

situation, where there were approximately 300

access was originally designed to be available

cabinets in a data hall, and the operator was

through the front of the cabinet is unknown, but

experiencing increased equipment problems

at the time of inspection, no cold air access was

and failures. On inspection, it was discovered

available for the switches.

that the ToR switches across the installation

Active equipment density continues to grow,

were mounted near the top and to the rear

and with it the energy required to operate it.

of the cabinets. Furthermore, at the level of

This will increase the exhaust heat expelled

the switches, the front of the cabinet RUs had

into the cabinet, and this is potentially heating

blanking plates to stop hot exhaust air escaping

the space around the ToR switch, which can

back into the cold air environment. However,

lose efficacy and compromise the operation

this prevented cool air being drawn into the

of the switch.

With the Panduit CDE2 Switch Cooling Duct, the cooling duct (left) draws cool air from front of cabinet, while the Comms Switch (right) connects to the cooling duct, maintaining operating temperature

@DCNNMagazine

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DATA CENTRE ESSENTIALS

In the customer’s scenario, this required ensuring the device proposed would guarantee cooling airflow directly to the switch on a continuous basis and would not be negatively affected when upgrading other active equipment in the cabinets.

The selected air inlet duct is a passive, 2 RU footprint device specifically designed for network cabinet applications, and is positioned in-line with the switch. Its placement in the cabinet, with the perforated inlet faceplate to the front of the cabinet in the cold aisle, provides unrestricted cold airflow to the switch and optimises its thermal efficiency as airflow is drawn through the switch and expelled into the hot aisle and recirculated.

Panduit’s modular ToR switch inlet duct is designed using CFD modelling and thermal lab verification. As data centres move towards higher temperatures in the white spaces, this design of switch inlet duct enables higher temperature set points resulting in reduced energy costs.

Higher heat densities within server cabinets, and the increasing energy efficiency requirements for data centres, necessitates all equipment to run to specifications. Equipment getting faster and drawing more power results in more heat being exhausted, and therefore

Thermal-efficient Switch Cooling

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SUMMER 2025

more effective heat management is essential.

A modular ToR Switch inlet duct effectively provides thermal management and contributes to proper device operation.

Back to the customer site. With the findings explained and a solution agreed – which included the passive ToR switch duct – the customer understood the process, and was happy with the speed of implementing the switch ducts across the 300 cabinets, and green lit the project. As passive ducts require no access to power and are straightforward to deploy, the process can be undertaken with the active equipment in operation, which allows the compute to continue without disruption.

A further useful benefit of the appropriate ToR switch inlet duct is it will support a reduction in switch fan speed by up to 80%, as well as eliminating the need to increase the overall cooling in the cabinet enclosure. The correct ToR switch air ducting will also reduce the automated alerts generated from the switch, and therefore reduce maintenance calls to the cabinet.

In conclusion, ToR switches are designed to meet the server-access networking requirements of the virtualised data centre.

The modular duct offers the solution for new and retrofit applications, and allows access to fan and power supply modules without disrupting existing in-cabinet equipment and cabling.

Fitting active equipment cabinets with a ToR switch passive inlet duct enables higher temperature set points in the data centre, resulting in higher energy efficiencies and reduced operating costs.

Panduit, panduit.com

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Protect Monitor Control

Environmental monitoring experts and the AKCP partner for the UK & Eire.

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DATA CENTRE ESSENTIALS

TURNING UP THE POWER Ben Pritchard, CEO, AVK-SEG, contemplates the most effective ways of powering data centres for an AI-driven future.

AI places significant demands on data centre power management. Future-proofing prime power, efficient backup load-stepping, and renewable fuels are key components.

With no sign of a let-up in the phenomenal pace of AI infrastructure investment, it is vital for data centre operators to stay competitive by implementing intelligent and sustainable upgrades, such as enhancing power density capabilities, adopting renewable energy solutions, and investing in resilient infrastructure for AI and HPC readiness.

According to a recent report from IDC, AI data centre capacity is projected to have a CAGR of 40.5% through 2027, and AI data centre energy consumption is forecast to grow at 44.7% by 2027.

Given this growth in AI-driven demand, it’s not surprising that CBRE has observed a growing price disparity between data centres built or upgraded with the high-density power demands of AI in mind and existing facilities that still lack adequate infrastructure for AI.

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Densities are rising fast and will continue, reaching as high as 100 kW/rack – possibly higher. As an industry, we need to advise our customers on configuring their power infrastructure to position themselves for AI resilience and sustainability.

PRIME POWER AI is putting demands on the grid that it’s struggling to manage, especially in the FLAPD region. Waiting times for power capacity are sometimes several years long, creating major headaches for operators. This is where smart microgrids step in, bridging the gap between data centre operators and grid requirements.

AVK’s recent collaboration with a major data centre operator in Slough illustrates how an effective microgrid can transform a facility’s operational outlook. Our client’s critical data centre required a robust power solution that guaranteed operational continuity, scalability, and sustainability.

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AVK proposed and installed a microgrid consisting of 19 state-of-the-art generators, including two medium-sized support generators for additional resilience. These generators were optimised to run on Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO), which reduces carbon emissions by 90% compared to conventional diesel.

This allowed the client to meet their immediate energy demands while also aligning with sustainability goals, making the data centre a net contributor to the local community with the potential to support national infrastructure.

SMOOTH LOAD-STEPPING

Both existing and new facilities must also pay close attention to their backup solutions, which may not be able to keep up with even smaller increases in power density. As customers decentralise their UPS to increase power densities up towards the 50/100 kW level, they need smooth load-stepping, which means the ability to gradually increase the electrical load on a backup power system, such as a generator. Smooth load-stepping allows backup power systems to handle growing demand without overloading or causing instability.

UNDERSTANDING YOUR POWER NEEDS Sustainable, high-density infrastructure can be assembled piece by piece, as long as organisations apply principles like energy efficiency, scalability, and resilience at every step and build for the future.

Microgrid design, load management, and renewable fuels are critical elements to consider as power levels increase to support AI. The market is also evolving quickly – new solutions are being developed that increasingly rely on AI to optimise their effectiveness, making AI part of the solution and the challenge.

Perhaps the most essential principle for tackling these issues is understanding power requirements intimately – from prime power and load-stepping to backup fuel choice.

The journey towards AI readiness is about more than keeping up with technological advancements – it’s about building solutions that are scalable, sustainable, and capable of supporting the industry in the long-term.

AVK-SEG, avk-seg.com

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SPONSORED FEATURE

NEXT GENERATION CONTROL TECHNOLOGY Deep Sea Electronics (DSE) presents an in-depth look at how its next-generation control platforms are revolutionising data centre backup power control.

In the high-stakes world of data centres, where uptime is critical and power continuity is non-negotiable, the technologies used to control and monitor backup power systems must evolve to meet increasingly complex demands.

DSE has responded to this challenge with its UK manufactured next-generation suite of control platforms – the DSEG8-Series, DSE86XX MKIII, and DSE335 MKIII, all supported by its powerful DSEWebNet remote monitoring solution.

These innovative platforms bring together advanced control functionality, flexible integration options, and intelligent monitoring to transform the way data centres manage their backup power infrastructure. Whether deployed in hyperscale environments or regional facilities, DSE’s next-generation technology delivers precision, resilience, and full situational awareness.

THE DSEG8-SERIES – PARALLELING WITHOUT COMPROMISE At the core of DSE’s offering is the DSEG8-Series, a cutting-edge advanced paralleling controller platform specifically engineered for complex backup power applications. With enhanced processing power, impressive I/O scalability, and advanced

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communications protocols, the DSEG8-Series allows multiple generator sets to operate in perfect synchronisation, dynamically balancing load and optimising fuel use.

For data centres requiring modular or scalable backup configurations, the DSEG8-Series offers plug-and-play expandability, seamless integration with switchgear, and support for advanced load shedding and demand-based control logic.

Its intuitive interface and built-in redundancy protocols ensure that power delivery remains stable – even in failure scenarios.

The DSEG8-Series also boasts enhanced cyber security features and encryption standards (IEC62443), helping data centres to stay compliant with IT security policies and protect against cyber threats.

THE DSE86XX MKII SERIES – POWER MEETS SIMPLICITY The DSE86XX MKII Series builds on DSE’s legacy of reliable control with an all-in-one solution that combines sophisticated functionality with ease of use. Designed for generator applications in both standby and prime power roles, the DSE86XX MKII range offers built-in synchronising, load sharing, and generator-to-generator or generator-to-mains paralleling capabilities.

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SUMMER 2025

Its flexible configuration options make it an ideal choice for data centre backup systems that need to strike a balance between performance and operational simplicity.

With support for multiple communication protocols including Modbus, SNMP and CAN, the DSE86XX MKII integrates smoothly into existing infrastructure while offering the tools needed to build a more resilient power environment.

THE DSE335 MKII – INTELLIGENT SWITCHING REDEFINED No modern backup power system is complete without a reliable transfer switch controller, and the DSE335 MKII sets a new standard for intelligence and precision. Designed to manage the automatic transfer of power between two power sources (S1 & S2), the DSE335 MKII delivers seamless switching with options for closed transition – eliminating momentary interruptions that could impact sensitive equipment.

Its advanced monitoring capabilities, built-in event logging, and remote access make it a vital component in high-availability environments.

The DSE86XX MKII is particularly well-suited to Tier III and Tier IV data centres, where power transfer accuracy and system transparency are essential.

The secure architecture of DSEWebNet ensures that remote connectivity does not compromise system security – a critical consideration in data centre environments.

LOOKING AHEAD As the data centre landscape continues to grow and evolve, the demand for smarter, faster and more integrated backup power solutions will only intensify. DSE’s next-generation control platforms are built with this future in mind – offering the tools, intelligence, and flexibility needed to support always-on digital infrastructures.

From advanced paralleling multi-set control with the DSEG8-Series, to smart switching with the DSE86XX MKIII and real-time monitoring with DSEWebNet, DSE is redefining what’s possible in backup power control for data centres – and setting a new benchmark for resilience and reliability.

Discover how DSE’s next-generation control technology can transform your data centre power strategy by getting in touch today. To speak with a DSE product expert, call +44(0) 1732 890099 or visit the website below.

Deep Sea Electronics, deepseaelectronics.com

REMOTE VISIBILITY WITH DSEWEBNET System control is no longer confined to on-site panels. With DSEWebNet, DSE’s cloud-based remote monitoring platform, data centre managers gain full visibility of their backup power systems from anywhere in the world.

Whether monitoring live generator status, fuel levels, alarms, load demand or environmental conditions, DSEWebNet enables proactive maintenance and rapid response. Custom alerts and real-time dashboards keep stakeholders informed, while historical data and reporting tools support compliance, audits, and performance improvement initiatives.

@DCNNMagazine

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39

Keep IT cool in the era of AI EcoStruxure IT Design CFD by Schneider Electric helps you design efficient, optimally-cooled data centers Optimising cooling and energy consumption requires an understanding of airflow patterns in the data center whitespace, which can only be predicted by and visualised with the science of computational fluid dynamics (CFD).

Now, for the first time, the technology Schneider Electric uses to design robust and efficient data centers is available to everyone.

• Physics-based predictive analyses • Follows ASHRAE guidelines for data center modeling • Designed for any skill level, from salespeople to consulting engineers • Browser-based technology, with no special hardware requirements • High-accuracy analyses delivered in seconds or minutes, not hours • Supported by 20+ years of research and dozens of patents and technical publications

Explore www.se.com/uk

©2025 Schneider Electric. Life Is On Schneider Electric is a trademark and the property of Schneider Electric SE, its subsidiaries and affiliated companies. All rights reserved. 998-23684252_GMA

Equipment Models – Easily choose from a range of data center equipment models from racks, to coolers, to floor tiles.

CFD Analysis – The fastest full-physics solver in the industry delivering results in seconds or minutes, not hours.

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IT Airflow Effectiveness and Cooler Airflow Efficiency – Industry-leading metrics guide you to optimise airflow.

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Visualisation Planes and Streamlines – Visualise airflow patterns, temperatures and more.

Reference Designs – Quickly start your design from pre-built templates.

Room and Equipment Attributes – Intuitive settings for key room and equipment properties.

NEXT GEN NETWORKS & TELECOMS

MOVING FAST, BREAKING NETWORKS Sashi Jayeratnam, Senior Director of Product Management for Spirent, explains why security testing is critical for change-driven enterprises.

In today’s digital-first economy, enterprise networks are in a constant state of evolution.

New services are rolled out to support remote workforces, application delivery is optimised for ever-higher user expectations, and updates are applied across environments to stay ahead of the latest threats. Whether it’s adopting zero trust architectures, migrating to hybrid cloud, or deploying new IoT endpoints, one thing is clear: change is relentless.

This continuous change is not just a sign of progress, it’s a necessity. Compliance mandates like the Telecoms Security Act (TSA), NIS2, and the EU Cybersecurity Act require organisations to maintain up-to-date software, patch vulnerabilities rapidly, and demonstrate robust cyber hygiene. Security teams are under pressure to deploy changes quickly, often as a response to evolving threats or new regulatory guidance. In some cases, non-compliance can be met with costly fines.

But while change is essential, it is not without consequence. Each modification to the

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network, no matter how small, has the potential to disrupt performance, reduce quality of experience (QoE), expose weaknesses or even create new vulnerabilities. And herein lies the paradox: in striving for resilience, enterprises may actually undermine it.

THE HIDDEN COST OF UNVALIDATED CHANGE Enterprise IT environments today resemble living organisms: they’re vast, interconnected, and constantly adapting. But like any complex system, introducing changes without understanding their ripple effects can be dangerous. A new security patch might degrade application performance. A routing update might block legitimate traffic. A newly onboarded SaaS service might create unforeseen exposure in your data flows. Most critically, these issues often go unnoticed until it’s too late, until users complain, services go down, or compliance violations are flagged.

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This is not merely a theoretical risk.

Depending on the industry report, anywhere from 40% to 99% of network outages can be traced back to misconfigurations. In regulated sectors like finance, healthcare and telecoms, even a short disruption can have significant legal, operational, and reputational costs.

WHY TRADITIONAL TESTING FALLS SHORT Historically, enterprises relied on manual testing, periodic audits, and after-the-fact troubleshooting to identify issues. But in an environment where code, policies, and infrastructure are updated weekly (if not daily), that model is dangerously outdated.

Today’s networks demand: • Speed: Changes must be tested and validated in hours, not weeks.

• Scale: Entire hybrid networks, including on-prem, cloud, and edge, must be covered.

multi-vendor traffic that defines enterprise networks today. Nor do they measure the nuanced quality of experience metrics users care about: latency, throughput, jitter, and failover response, while under real-world stress.

ENTER AUTOMATED, CONTINUOUS SECURITY TESTING To address this challenge, a new proactive approach is emerging: automated, continuous security testing. This is driven by emulated traffic, real-world attack simulations, real-time analytics combined with automatic orchestration of digital twins and automated test cases. This model doesn’t just test whether a network ‘works’, but whether it remains resilient, secure, and performant under change.

Rather than waiting for incidents to reveal weaknesses, proactive testing introduces changes in a controlled risk-free digital twin environment and evaluates how the system behaves. This includes:

• Security: Testing must account not only for functionality, but for how well defences stand up to modern threats.

• Baseline validation: Does the network still meet its expected KPIs for throughput, latency, and availability after a patch or update?

Traditional tools and processes were never built for this pace or complexity. They can’t simulate the encrypted, mixed applications and threats,

• Security regression testing: Have new vulnerabilities been introduced, or have old protections been bypassed?

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• Compliance assurance: Are data paths, access policies, and encryption mechanisms in line with current regulatory requirements?

• User experience testing: How does performance hold up during peak demand or simulated outages?

REAL-WORLD USE CASE: PRE-EMPTING A COMPLIANCE DISASTER Consider a multi-national enterprise rolling out a security patch to address a zero-day vulnerability in a widely used VPN concentrator.

With multiple remote access services dependent on this system, a misconfigured update could lock out thousands of users or route sensitive data through insecure channels.

By first validating the patch in a controlled, emulated test environment, the enterprise can: • Simulate user traffic across all geographies and services • Verify that access control and security policies remain intact post-patch and haven’t introduced any new loopholes • Confirm that performance continues to meet the baseline SLAs under realistic load conditions • Ensure encrypted traffic flows remain compliant with internal and external standards Only once these tests pass does the organisation roll out the update to production, confident that business continuity will be preserved.

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A CALL TO ACTION: MAKE AUTOMATING TESTING A FIRST-CLASS CITIZEN The message is clear: in modern enterprise environments, testing is not optional, it’s foundational. Every change, update, patch, or policy shift must be accompanied by rigorous, automated testing that evaluates its impact on performance, security, and user experience.

Organisations that embrace this model will gain: • Greater resilience, through early identification of issues • Faster compliance, by demonstrating proof of policy enforcement • Reduced downtime, by pre-empting misconfigurations • Better user satisfaction, through consistent application experience In contrast, those who continue to treat testing as an afterthought will find themselves reacting to incidents, failing audits, and losing trust.

The pace of change in enterprise networks isn’t slowing down, it’s accelerating. New threats, new services, and new regulations demand constant adaptation. But speed without control leads to chaos. As enterprises turn to AI-enhanced networks to reduce the cognitive burden of managing complex, distributed infrastructures, it’s essential that they also implement rigorous testing strategies.

Validating the accuracy and impact of AI-driven decisions is critical – not just for performance, but for trust. With AI accelerating the pace of change, proactive testing becomes the only way to ensure networks remain reliable, secure, and adaptive in real-world conditions.

By embedding automated, continuous security testing into every stage of the change lifecycle, enterprises can build networks that are not just compliant and secure, but also resilient by design. In a world where downtime is unacceptable and breaches are unforgivable, testing isn’t a luxury – it’s a lifeline.

Spirent, spirent.com

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SUMMER 2025

A SWITCH TO A NEW ERA Darren Watkins, Chief Revenue Officer at Virtus Data Centres, discusses the role of photonic switches and explains how this exciting new infrastructure technology will allow data centres to do more compute with less power.

McKinsey estimates that Europe’s data centre power consumption will jump from 62TWh to over 150TWh by 2030. What is often overlooked is that switching technology makes up a significant percentage of any data centre’s energy demands. According to NVIDIA, switching in data centres handling dynamic AI workloads typically makes up 8% of energy consumption.

WHY SWITCHING MATTERS When people think about energy in data centres, they tend to focus on power delivery and cooling. But there’s another massive contributor to inefficiency - the network switch.

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Every time data is routed between servers, it’s typically converted from light (optical) to electricity (electronic) for the switching decision and then back again. This optoelectronic process happens millions of times per second.

It uses power. It generates heat. And in the context of AI, where large data volumes move constantly between GPUs, it can become a major bottleneck.

One of the most exciting breakthroughs in infrastructure technology is photonics – specifically, fully optical network switching.

By routing data entirely within the optical domain, the need for optoelectronic conversion is removed altogether.

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Photonic switches can dramatically reduce both energy use and latency. Finchetto, a pioneering UK-based startup, is leading the charge with a fully passive, optical switch that reduces energy use by up to 53 times compared to traditional switches while delivering port-to-port latency as low as 40 nanoseconds.

Traditional switching was never designed for the scale and shape of AI workloads. By using light to control light, Finchetto’s unique technology has created a switch that doesn’t just match current demand – it is redefining what’s possible for energy and performance.

While all-optical circuit switches have been developed to reduce power consumption and latency in the backbone of the network, Finchetto’s breakthrough is the ability to switch on a packet-by-packet basis. This means that, for the first time, all-optical switches can be deployed in-rack.

These are the types of technologies that need to scale if data centres are to support AI growth without expanding their carbon footprints.

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POWER, COOLING AND SWITCHING MUST EVOLVE TOGETHER Breakthroughs in switching technology are a critical part of the solution, but they can’t stand alone. A more efficient switch reduces energy use and latency. In turn, this eases the burden on cooling systems and allows for denser, more flexible compute environments. When one layer improves, the benefits cascade across the entire infrastructure.

Traditionally, infrastructure has been built in silos. Power, cooling and networking teams make decisions independently. But AI workloads don’t arrive in neat, manageable streams – they surge, shift and stress every system at the same time. An integrated planning approach is now necessary, where every design choice supports efficiency and scalability across the board. Network innovations like photonic switching are a good example of important design choice.

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HOW DATA CENTRES CAN IMPLEMENT NEW INFRASTRUCTURE TECHNOLOGIES In order to unlock the benefits of new technologies – like optical switching – operators need to consider a long-term return on investment strategy which prioritises early engagement, thorough evaluation, incremental adoption and hybrid planning, with the end-goal of future proofing their infrastructure to meet the growing scale and demands of AI. Leveraging R&D innovation departments to engage with technology innovators offers room to validate performance and integration with existing architectures (e.g. GPU clusters) in real-world scenarios through proof-of-concept trials. These projects offer an opportunity for operators and partners to align with future infrastructure roadmaps, particularly for greenfield deployments where energy and space savings can be factored into design.

Through this phased approach with R&D, operators can be assured that the transition to optical switching is designed as an evolution, not an outage. By targeting non-disruptive use cases first, operators maintain uptime while building confidence in the technology’s reliability for broader deployment.

Early adopters of optical switching technology that test and plan will be best positioned to capitalise on the technology’s maturity. While operators do need to consider that these new technologies yield a higher cost in their infancy, early investment unlocks disproportionate advantages: future-proofed infrastructure, exponential efficiency gains, and a competitive edge in scaling AI workloads sustainably.

To ease implementation, operators should choose a solution that has been designed to work, as far as possible, within existing network standards and topologies. This means checking that it works with standard protocols such as Ethernet, supports today’s spine and leaf architectures, and allows interoperability between those parts of the network using new, more efficient switches.

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This enables operators to develop a phased approach to implementation, with minimal disruption. But the super-low latency of new devices, such as those developed by companies like Finchetto also creates opportunities to build novel network topologies that have not been capable of being realised within the constraints of existing network technologies.

WHERE PERFORMANCE MEETS PURPOSE The AI boom brings extraordinary opportunity.

But it also demands fresh thinking. If we want to reap the benefits of AI, we must transform the infrastructure that powers it and how data flows within it.

Switching may once have been a background, tactical concern, but in the AI era, its importance is growing. Without the right network fabric, all the compute in the world will fall short. Data centre operators that embrace high-efficiency, low-latency switching as part of a broader sustainability and efficiency strategy will be the ones best positioned to scale and lead. The industry is facing many challenges, and the way to overcome them is to be open to innovation, bold in design and deliberate in partnerships.

Virtus Data Centres, virtusdatacentres.com

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THE FUTURE OF FIBRE-DRIVEN CONNECTIVITY Rachid Ait Ben Ali, Product & Solutions Manager Smart Building & Data Center at Aginode, assesses the ways cabling architectures and smart building systems are converging to meet new demands in sustainability, scalability, and performance.

The digital transformation – accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic – has redefined our relationship with physical spaces and distance.

With the increased reliance on home offices and flexible workspaces, traditional network infrastructure is undergoing a fundamental shift. As a result, cabling architectures and smart building solutions are converging to meet new demands in sustainability, scalability, and performance.

One significant development is the move from traditional floor-based cabling to Zone Cabling Systems. This new approach is highlighted in the latest ISO/IEC 11801 standard, which defines Zone Cabling Systems as “structured cabling installations where cables from telecommunications rooms (TRs) terminate in a consolidation point (CP) located in a service zone (like a ceiling or raised floor), from which device connections are made.”

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ISO/IEC 11801 introduces two Zoned Cabling typologies which support consolidation points installed in the ceiling – commonly referred to as the ‘digital ceiling’.

- Topology A: Passive Consolidation Point – connection node with no active electronics - Topology B: Active Consolidation Point – includes active network equipment at the consolidation point (switches, media converters, or power injection).

Consolidation points can now enable technologies such as SPE to support IoT and building automation systems. The shift supports flexible workspace configurations and optimises installation and maintenance, making networks more adaptable to modern architectural and technological needs.

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Zone Cabling is recommended in environments requiring flexibility, such as open office spaces, smart buildings, and areas with a high density of wireless access points or IoT devices. ISO/IEC 11801 still requires that permanent link distances (including cable to consolidation point and then to outlet) meet the channel limits for the category/class of cabling installed, ensuring no compromise in transmission performance.

IMPROVING SUSTAINABILITY WITH FIBRE LAN TECHNOLOGIES AND IOT As sustainability becomes central to enterprise strategies, network infrastructure is also being reimagined through an environmental lens.

Fibre-based LAN technologies – especially Fibre to the Office (FTTO) – are emerging as more sustainable alternatives. These architectures eliminate the need for technical floors, distributed air conditioning, and excess power consumption by removing intermediary distribution layers. The result is a more energy-efficient, compact, and scalable infrastructure that aligns with carbon footprint reduction goals.

Of course, FTTO also delivers high-speed, low-latency fibre connectivity directly to workspaces. Supporting speeds up to

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and beyond 10 Gbps, this ensures reliable performance for bandwidth-intensive applications and easy scalability, as well as seamless integration and communication between various building systems.

Today’s smart buildings are integrating systems such as lighting, HVAC, security, and energy management into a cohesive digital ecosystem. This integration enables real-time monitoring and automation, leading to improved energy efficiency, occupant comfort, and operational cost savings. This interconnected ecosystem relies heavily on IoT, and the digital ceiling offers a practical solution for integrating a wide variety of devices using specific cabling systems.

One such system is SPE: a transformative technology for industrial automation, enabling seamless connectivity for sensors, actuators, and controllers over a single twisted pair. This approach reduces cabling complexity and supports long-distance data transmission, making it ideal for applications in smart buildings, factories, and transportation systems.

Widespread adoption of SPE is growing slowly, but the trend is unmistakable. Future-ready infrastructures will rely on simplified, unified cabling systems to enable intelligent automation and energy optimisation across building services.

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BANDWIDTH DEMANDS OF NEXT-GEN WIRELESS Wireless technologies like 5G and Wi-Fi 7 are pushing network infrastructure beyond the capabilities of traditional copper cabling such as Cat6A. This is due to their dramatically higher bandwidth, ultra-low latency requirements, and the explosion of connected devices. While Cat6A can support up to 10 Gbps over 100 metres, Wi-Fi 7 and 5G demand speeds of 30 Gbps or more and near-instantaneous response times, especially in dense environments like smart buildings and campuses. To meet these demands without bottlenecks, fibre optic cabling is essential, offering high bandwidth across longer distances, and the high reliability next-generation wireless networks require.

Clearly, 5G and Wi-Fi 7 technologies require high-speed connections to ensure optimal performance. However, because fibre cannot supply Power over Ethernet (PoE), hybrid cables that combine fibre and power delivery are becoming more common, especially for powering access points and antennas.

SUMMER 2025

for example, typically require 100 Mbps to 1 Gbps, but connecting them with fibre over relatively short distances would drive up energy requirements and cost unnecessarily.

LOOKING AHEAD The next generation of networks must balance performance, flexibility, and environmental responsibility. As IoT devices proliferate and the demand for high-bandwidth, low-latency connections grows, hybrid solutions – spanning fibre, extended-reach copper, and intelligent cabling systems – will become the cornerstone of modern network infrastructure.

From digital ceilings to smart campuses, the cabling landscape is evolving rapidly.

Integrating these new technologies will not only future-proof infrastructure, but also contribute to smarter, greener, and more resilient digital environments.

Aginode, aginode.net

COPPER INNOVATION: EXTENDED DISTANCE AND COST EFFICIENCY While fibre remains the backbone for high-speed, long-distance transmission, it may not always be the most efficient or cost-effective option – especially in applications like smart surveillance. Innovations in copper cabling now allow for extended transmission distances – up to 150 metres at 1 Gbps. This is a significant development in structured cabling, moving beyond the traditional 100-metre Class EA limitation.

Long-distance copper solutions offer a practical and economical alternative for connecting endpoints on smart campuses or cities. They’re ideal for connecting devices such as IP cameras, Wi-Fi access points, and IoT sensors in smart buildings and campuses where distances exceed 100m, but full fibre solutions would be excessive. High-resolution IP cameras,

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DRIVERS FOR CHANGE Thomas Ritz, Market Manager Public Networks at R&M, identifies key drivers for the requirements of next-generation fibre networks.

DRIVERS FOR CHANGE 1: AI AND 5G AI and 5G are significantly boosting requirements for capacity, latency, reliability, redundancy, density, and scalability.

AI applications involve large-scale data

driving the need for high-density fibre and structured cabling systems.

Decentralisation is becoming essential.

Applications increasingly rely on distributed computing resources, shifting data processing

processing, real-time analytics, and machine

closer to users (edge computing). Fibre

learning workloads, increasing the need

networks need to accommodate architectures

for high-bandwidth connections. Real-time

that support local data processing centres.

AI services, such as autonomous vehicles,

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more fibre connections within smaller spaces,

5G, with its peak data rates in the

smart manufacturing, and remote medical

multi-Gbps range, requires fibre networks

procedures, require networks that deliver

capable of transporting massive data

ultra-low latency. This demands shorter,

volumes quickly and reliably, driving the

more direct fibre paths and improved

need for upgraded fibre infrastructure

optical technologies.

(e.g., FTTA and front-haul/back-haul options).

AI-driven applications, like autonomous

Low-latency is critical for 5G services like

systems or critical infrastructure monitoring,

AR/VR, cloud gaming, and Industry 4.0.

require highly resilient and redundant fibre

This requires advanced fibre solutions

connectivity to minimise risks of downtime.

supporting edge computing infrastructures

Data centres using AI technologies demand

located closer to end-users.

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Density and complexity of 5G infrastructure, including small-cell deployments, necessitate fibre networks with enhanced reliability and availability, achieved through redundant routes and robust optical products. Dense 5G antenna arrays (small cells) require significantly more fibre access points, resulting in denser fibre deployments within urban areas. 5G’s decentralised architecture necessitates comprehensive fibre networks connecting edge data centres to antenna locations, significantly altering traditional fibre network architectures.

• Possible solutions Technologies such as Passive Optical Networks (PON), Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM), XGS-PON, and NG-PON2 are highlighted for their ability to provide higher data rates and scalability. Additionally, Fibre to the Antenna (FTTA) is deemed crucial for 5G deployment, ensuring high-bandwidth, low-latency connections between radio cells and data centres.

Data Centre Infrastructure Management (DCIM) technologies are key, as they provide comprehensive visualisation, asset tracking, and capacity management. These tools enable real-time monitoring and efficient management of data centre assets, enhancing operational efficiency and reducing the risk of downtime.

Adopting a single-supplier integrated approach ensures compatibility across components, simplifies procurement, and enhances the reliability of the infrastructure.

DRIVERS FOR CHANGE 2: CONVERGENCE OF NETWORK INFRASTRUCTURES

need to simplify complexity, enhance efficiency,

Integration of mobile, landline, and data transport networks necessitates seamless fibre optic solutions. This convergence supports the growing demands of smart cities, the Internet of Things (IoT), and other digital services.

and reduce costs. R&M advocates for a

• Possible solutions Integration of IT and Operational Technology (OT) networks is accelerating, driven by the

Pair Ethernet (SPE) are promoted to facilitate

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universal, holistic LAN backbone to support this convergence, enabling seamless communication between data and building automation systems. Approaches like ALL-IP and Single consistent IP-based operations across various building applications.

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DRIVERS FOR CHANGE 3: COST EFFICIENCY Utilising aerial cabling, which involves suspending cables between poles or buildings, offers a cost-effective and rapid deployment method, especially in rural or challenging terrains. This method can accelerate network rollouts by leveraging existing infrastructure.

• Possible solutions Integrated data centre infrastructure technologies aim to reduce provisioning time, minimise downtime, and lower management costs. By offering preconfigured, ready-to-install infrastructure units, you can streamline installation and reconfiguration processes, and therefore focus more on strategic initiatives, rather than operational complexities.

DRIVERS FOR CHANGE 4: SUSTAINABILITY AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY Fibre optic networks consume less energy compared to traditional copper-based networks, contributing to reduced carbon emissions. The longevity and efficiency of fibre make it a sustainable choice for future network expansions.

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• Possible solutions Meeting energy efficiency requirements requires support for technologies like Power over Ethernet (PoE) to reduce energy consumption and simplify cabling. PoE facilitates the integration of networked devices such as sensors and IP cameras, contributing to intelligent building initiatives and improved energy management. Additionally, you need to look into energy-saving cooling systems for server cabinets, aligning with the principles of green data centres.

CONCLUSION AI, 5G, and a wide range of practical requirements are driving the evolution of fibre networks by increasing demands for bandwidth, latency, density, reliability, automation, and distributed architectures. Modern fibre network technologies need to address these changing demands to support next-generation digital infrastructures effectively. Working with an integrated portfolio from a single supplier, which encompasses connectivity, cabling, racks, housing, power, airflow, and DCIM, helps deliver cohesive innovations tailored to diverse data centre needs.

R&M, rdm.com

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SPONSORED FEATURE

SUMMER 2025

ELEVATE – FUTURE FASTER: NEXT-GEN DATA CENTRE INFRASTRUCTURE Elevate is the premium data centre white space and equipment room solution from Excel Networking, meeting tomorrow’s infrastructure demands today.

AI, HPC, and data volumes generally are increasing demands on compute resources at a pace never seen before – leading to more fibre in the same, if not less, rack space, exponential increases to power density, unprecedented cooling challenges, and legislative requirements to manage, report and protect. All while deployment schedules tighten.

Elevate transforms complexity into competitive advantage through superior passive infrastructure solutions, including ultra-high-density fibre optic connectivity built on Senko low-loss MPO and VSFF ready to support multi-terabit applications, intelligent rack systems with smart power and enhanced security, and aisle containment and fibre ducting systems.

Strategic partnerships with nVent and Sunbird complement the infrastructure offer, bringing precision cooling, high-density intelligent power, and best-in-class DCIM.

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Elevate recognises that efficient, on-time deployment needs more than just the right solution. Supply chain capability and support is critical, and here, Elevate changes the game.

Responsive, proactive pre-sales, lead times measured in days not months, pre-terminated UK assembled fibres, pre-configured racks, and high production capacities slash project timelines.

The ability to deliver at scale is assured thanks to being part of Sonepar – the world’s largest electrical distributor with over €30 billion revenue across more than 40 countries, ensuring supply chain excellence, consistent EMEA-wide support and financial stability.

Talk to Elevate’s dedicated team today to learn more about the solution and how it can support your next build.

Elevate, elevate.excel-networking.com

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FIBRE POWERS THE WAY FORWARD Pierre Sillard, New Fibre Products R&D Manager at Prysmian, explains how low-loss fibre is powering the next generation of networks.

Low-loss fibre-optic cables designed to minimise signal attenuation may typically achieve losses below 0.20 dB/km. This enables longer transmission distances, higher signal quality, reduced need for repeaters, and lower operating costs. That makes low-loss fibre ideal for long-haul and high-capacity networks.

Low-loss performance can be achieved in several ways, which we’ll examine in this article.

Typical fibre networks experience signal loss from several sources including fibre attenuation (~0.20–0.35 dB/km), connector losses (~0.2– 0.5 dB), and splice losses (~0.05–0.1 dB), which can result in significant total end-to-end losses depending on network length and complexity.

This requires frequent signal regeneration or amplification, especially in long-haul or high-performance environments, increasing cost and energy use while limiting efficiency.

Low-loss fibre-optic cables significantly reduce intrinsic attenuation to as low as

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0.15–0.20 dB/km at 1550 nm. This minimises signal degradation, lowers the need for repeaters, and boosts efficiency over long distances, making low-loss cables ideal for high-capacity backbones, hyperscale data centres, and AI-intensive infrastructures where latency, reliability, and energy efficiency are critical.

ENABLING ULTRA-LOW LOSS WITH ADVANCED FIBRE MATERIALS Ultra-pure silica glass can help create high-performance, low-loss fibre-optic cables by dramatically reducing optical attenuation – the weakening of light signals as they travel through fibre. A primary advantage of ultra-pure silica is its extremely low concentration of metallic and chemical impurities which may absorb or scatter light, leading to signal degradation.

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By eliminating these impurities, manufacturers may reduce absorption loss, especially in the infrared wavelengths typically used in telecommunications. Ultra-pure silica minimises Rayleigh scattering, caused by microscopic density variations in the glass structure that can deflect light and contribute to signal loss.

Exceptional purity allows fibres to achieve remarkably low attenuation rates – as low as 0.15 to 0.20 dB/km at 1550 nanometres – making it possible to transmit signals over hundreds of kilometres without repeaters or amplifiers. Moreover, ultra-pure silica exhibits excellent transparency in the near-infrared spectrum where optical fibres are most efficient. It is also more resistant to radiation-induced damage, ensuring stable performance over time, even in harsh or high-radiation environments such as space or nuclear facilities.

Precision manufacturing techniques like Modified Chemical Vapour Deposition (MCVD), Plasma Chemical Vapour Deposition (PCVD), and Outside Vapour Deposition (OVD) play a critical role in creating high-performance, low-loss fibre-optic cables. These methods ensure exceptional purity, uniformity, and control over the fibre core and cladding,

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essential for minimising signal loss and maximising transmission efficiency.

MCVD, PCVD and OVD involve the deposition of ultra-pure glass materials (typically silica doped with germanium, phosphorus, boron, or fluorine). These processes eliminate impurities like water and metallic contaminants that cause optical absorption and scattering, contributing to signal loss. MCVD, PCVD and OVD processes are industrially scalable, enabling consistent production of high-quality fibres over long lengths. Uniformity across kilometres of fibre ensures predictable, reliable optical performance.

Single-mode fibre has a very small core diameter (~8–10 µm), allowing only one mode of light to propagate in the infrared wavelengths used in telecommunications.

This eliminates modal dispersion as only one mode travels, eliminating interference between multiple light paths and maintaining high bandwidth over long distances, and lower attenuation. This improves signal integrity by providing a cleaner, more consistent signal over distance with fewer bit error rates.

Bend-insensitive fibre has a modified refractive index profile or trench-assisted cladding that better confines light within the core, even when a cable is bent. Standard

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fibre can lose significant signal strength when bent tightly (macrobending), but bend-insensitive fibre maintains performance even in tight bends. It also minimises microbending loss: small deformations caused by pressure or mechanical stress can scatter light. Specialised coatings and buffer layers in bend-insensitive fibres also help reduce this scattering, allowing compact cable designs by enabling tighter packing and smaller cable diameters without sacrificing performance – idea for high-density installations.

Photonic crystal fibres (PCFs) contain arrangements of air holes that run along their lengths. They enable creation of high-performance, low-loss fibre-optic cables through a unique structure and light-guiding mechanisms. The microstructured design can reduce interaction of light with imperfections in the fibre material.

Hollow-core fibre (HCF), a particular type of PCF, is a cutting-edge approach. Light travels through an air-filled core, reducing latency and nonlinear effects, and can lead to ultra-low-loss (< 0.15 dB/km at 1550nm). The air-filled core minimises chromatic dispersion, optical nonlinearity, and loss, leading to higher capacity and more stable signal transmission over long distances. This makes HCF ideal for high-throughput environments.

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Data can travel 50% faster than in conventional glass-based fibres, enabling a reduction of signal latency by 30% . With HCF, data centres can be located farther from population centres – closer to renewable energy sources or regions with lower cooling requirements – without sacrificing performance.

HCF enables up to 2.25 times more buildable area without losing latency, unlocking new possibilities for distributed, high-performance data centre architectures across larger geographic zones.

HCF can also reduce interconnect latency between GPU clusters, which optimises AI training efficiency, speeds up model iteration, and boosts energy efficiency. This is crucial as GPU density and parallelism rise. It’s a foundational technology for building efficient, scalable, and sustainable networks capable of supporting the next generation of AI workloads.

However, it’s important to ensure HCF solutions integrate seamlessly with current fibre-optic interfaces, facilitating easier adoption and deployment in existing network architectures.

LOW-LOSS FIBRE: THE BACKBONE OF NEXT-GEN NETWORKS Low-loss technology is central to modern optical communication because it enables high-speed, long-distance data transmission with minimal signal degradation, allowing signals to travel hundreds or thousands of kilometres with fewer amplifiers. This reduces infrastructure costs and energy consumption and supports massive bandwidth through technologies like Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM), maintaining high signal quality with lower bit error rates.

Emerging innovations like hollow-core fibre are key to paving the way for ultra-low-loss technology and faster, more efficient networks which can power next-generation applications like cloud computing, AI workloads, 5G, and quantum networks – ultimately forming the backbone of fast, reliable, scalable global connectivity.

Prysmian, prysmian.com

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CYBER SECURITY

SUMMER 2025

EXPLORING THE AI SECURITY CONUNDRUM Among other key findings, The Era of Hybrid Cloud Storage 2025 report from Nasuni indicates that enterprise AI plans are constrained by security challenges. Jim Liddle, Chief Innovation Officer at Nasuni, explains further.

Given AI’s continued momentum, it’s fair to say that most organisations are investigating how to leverage AI to increase employee productivity, turbo-charge their innovation, and enhance their competitive edge. However, evidence is emerging that enterprises’ ongoing data infrastructures and security challenges are constraining these plans. Nasuni’s research of 1,000 purchasing decision-makers across the US, UK, France, and DACH regions reveals unresolved security issues with important implications for organisations’ ability to modernise services and AI strategies.

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SECURITY QUESTIONS CONSTRAIN AI’S POTENTIAL CIOs have set clear objectives for their AI strategies and are skillfully marshalling funding and resources to realise them. Almost half of those polled (46%) are looking forward to reduced costs when using AI tools, with around one in four (27%) already confident their AI projects can deliver measurable ROI. On average, companies are investing an impressive 18% more on their cloud initiatives to help facilitate their AI strategies, and almost one fifth of firms are shifting money away from other areas to fund their AI programmes.

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CYBER SECURITY

INFRASTRUCTURE AND SECURITY CHALLENGES

RANSOMWARE, CYBER THREATS, AND DATA RECOVERY

Digging deeper, however, we identified a

Amid rampant ransomware and cyber attacks, however, organisations’ current data security challenges remain multi-faceted and increasingly complex. In particular, CIOs’ risk management and data recovery processes are being severely tested by more sophisticated attacks, often driven by AI, by cyber criminals and malign actors: exploits that are not only stretching in-house IT teams’ resources, but also increasing post-attack downtime and productivity issues.

Last year, seven in ten (69%) organisations experienced a cyber attack; and while almost two thirds (62%) are confident of recovering critical unstructured data and coping with such an incident, our data shows that nearly half – 45% – suffered a security breach which resulted in either a ransom, costly downtime, data loss, reputational damage, or issues recovering their data. Enterprises’ real-life cyber-attack responses and data recovery processes are falling short of their best practice ambitions.

Despite enterprises’ careful shepherding of budgets for hybrid cloud and AI development, data security itself remains an unresolved

raft of near-systemic security and related challenges that are impeding organisations’ ability to maintain necessary data resilience and reduce risks in their AI implementations.

More than one third (34%) of those surveyed are worried about data security and privacy challenges ahead of implementing AI. This was the most common concern when implementing corporate AI programmes, closely followed by a lack of in-house skills (27%). Respondents’ worries over consolidating their data source to harness AI tools’ potential goes deeper: almost half (48%) say that concerns around security are preventing them from moving file data to the cloud anyway.

Addressing these concerns, CIOs are taking fundamental steps to build the type of infrastructures that mitigate risk, underpin agile data management, and enhance security.

Almost three quarters (72%) of firms either have, or are planning to, implement a hybrid cloud storage model – combining object storage’s scalability with intelligent file caching at the edge – within 12 months.

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funding and resourcing question. More than half (51%) of respondents don’t have a dedicated security team looking after their infrastructure, while a further 53% say their data isn’t backed up, immutable, and easily recoverable. Small wonder businesses are on average losing five weeks of productivity recovering from a cyber attack, rising to six weeks in sectors like manufacturing and life sciences. As agentic AI takes hold within the enterprise, this risk and lack of recovery process is likely to get worse.

PATHWAYS TO AI SUCCESS An organisation’s ability to protect data assets, whether for daily operations or the future demands of AI applications, is regularly being challenged by cyber criminals, with companies’ productivity across multiple markets undermined by slow attack recovery processes.

Given these lasting security questions, organisations worldwide are investing heavily

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in data infrastructures and layered protection that can accelerate their AI initiatives. Just under half (47%) of respondents cite AI as their top spending priority.

And building solid foundations for AI confers immediate operational benefits on organisations: almost half of survey respondents (45%) say that better data security and business resilience is the number one benefit of having a cloud infrastructure strategy, ahead even of efficiencies from streamlined processes or building an effective AI strategy. Secure hybrid cloud infrastructures are still the catalyst for today’s secure and dynamic AI-driven enterprises.

Nasuni’s research report, The Era of Hybrid Cloud Storage 2025, based on a survey of 1,000 purchasing decision-makers across the US, UK, France, and DACH regions is available here.

Nasuni, nasuni.com

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CYBER SECURITY

MAKING CYBER SECURE BACKUP A PRIORITY Eric Herzog, CMO at Infinidat, explains how to protect your enterprise’s data with next-generation cyber secure backup.

In an environment where cyber attacks are inevitable and extremely costly, it’s essential for an enterprise to build cyber resilience into secondary storage to protect backup copies of data. It’s a strong call to action for cyber security decision-makers, such as CISOs, to ensure they have cyber secure backups of their entire storage infrastructure.

This should be part of a next-generation data protection framework that shrinks the cyber threat window and guards against the possibility of business operations being brought to a standstill.

ADVANCED NEXT-GENERATION DATA PROTECTION APPROACH Next-generation data protection is advanced, end-to-end data protection with a

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comprehensive cyber centric approach that goes beyond traditional backup, restore and disaster recovery strategies. Putting your enterprise’s data in an air-tight cyber repository is not the same as the conventional means of moving data to an online repository as a backup file. Traditional backup environments are high-value targets for cyber attacks, because they contain many vulnerabilities.

Next-generation data protection, the type of backup that actually combats cyber attacks most effectively, is not the same.

Here’s how they differ. Traditional backup products were engineered to provide high ingest rates by utilising inline deduplication techniques. They fall short because their recovery times are way, way too slow for an era where 24x7x365 IT operations are the norm.

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validating your organisation’s critical data at the source. It is the best way to prevent damage to your business and neither traditional data protection nor modern data protection approaches will get you there.

ASSESSING YOUR DATA RECOVERY NEEDS Instead, cyber security features on secondary storage systems have become necessary for enterprises seeking to protect their backups from cyber threats and accelerate cyber recovery. These need to be an essential focus of your business recovery objectives and next-generation data protection and recovery focus.

To assess your needs, ask yourself these questions: • Where are the data assets you need to recover located?

In contrast, a next-generation approach protects data in its original state and isolates it with ‘immutable snapshots’, whilst validating that the isolated data is free of cyber corruption. Immutable snapshots are snapshots of enterprise data that cannot be changed.

This ensures that in the wake of a cyber attack, data can be restored confidently and quickly, minimising downtime costs.

A RELIABLE PATH TO CYBER SECURE BACKUP With ransomware, malware, and other cyber attacks increasingly targeting secondary storage, cyber resilient storage with next-generation backup capabilities, including cyber detection, is the most reliable path to cyber secure backup. Addressing these threats requires us to rethink the problem and augment data protection strategies that counter the way cyber attacks work.

Enterprises need a cyber-focused, recoveryfirst strategy that enables detection and provides near-instantaneous recovery of data in the event of a cyber attack. This kind of strategy is built on the end-goal - securing and

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• How are they being protected?

• How fast would they need to be recovered?

• How many tens of millions of pounds would your business lose for every minute or hour that goes by without recovering your mission-critical data?

• What other business impact could come from the speed at which you can recover data?

• Do you have business recovery objectives as a central part of your cyber strategy?

• How much risk is your enterprise willing to be exposed to?

A CYBER-FOCUSED, RECOVERY-FIRST STRATEGY Without cyber secure backup rooted in a cyber-focused, recovery-first strategy, enterprises are facing higher levels of cyber risk from ransomware and malware. The threat is well understood.

When ransomware takes data ‘hostage’, it can destroy or corrupt backup copies of data.

This has caused businesses of all sizes to lose customers, shut down operations overnight and have their reputations tarnished forever.

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CYBER SECURITY

Data aggregated from various independent and industry sources estimate the cost of post-cyber attack downtime can be as high as £6,700 per minute, depending on industry and incident specifics. Given that enterprises are already facing so much economic uncertainty, this clearly needs to change. No organisation can afford to suffer downtime – especially since next-generation data protection is readily available.

With so much at stake, why would you not deploy cyber secure backup on your secondary storage and ensure your enterprise is fully cyber resilient? Cyber resilience should lie at the core of enterprise storage solutions with the capability to make cyber recovery of data virtually instantaneous. This can be game-changing for enterprises.

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Highly available backup targets have become a necessity for enterprises. In addition to continually servicing backups, backup targets may need to facilitate fast restores and perform forensic analysis. This should ideally be based on a stateless recovery model to significantly reduce complexity. It makes it quick and easy to ensure your backup and recovery system is always highly available and fully optimised, while maintaining full data integrity.

If you’re thinking about cyber secure backup today, consider this question: What if it’s the way that your enterprise is backing up data that is the weak link? Ensure cyber secure backup is on your priority list.

Infinidat, infinidat.com

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24 – 25 September 2025 | ExCeL, London

The UK's BIGGEST digital economy event returns in September!

8000 Attendees

400 Speakers

350 Exhibitors

2 days of the best networking opportunities for the whole of the UK’s digital ecosystem.

Network - Learn - Create Business

20% off tickets with VIP code: 'DCNN 20' totaltele.com/connectedbritain

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A SMOOTH AND SECURE SOFTWARE OFFERING Genetec, an expert in unified physical security software, discusses how its Genetec Security Center platform provides a smooth and secure experience for its customers.

The increasing demand for data centre capacity makes mergers, acquisitions and expansion to new sites inevitable.

In turn, this often means inheriting a range of disconnected security technologies that create inefficiency, increase cyber risk and vulnerabilities, and add training and support costs, leading to a degradation of the customer experience. It becomes impossible to establish standard operating procedures across sites, making compliance audits challenging and routine tasks more difficult.

That’s why it pays dividends to invest early in a unified platform that brings data from video, access control and other IoT sensors together, to be managed and monitored through one intuitive interface.

Security Center SaaS is a unified physical security solution that connects sites, systems and data – and is offered as a service. It can be deployed in the cloud or as a hybrid solution, bringing together access control, video management, forensic search, intrusion monitoring, automation, and many other advanced security capabilities.

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It allows for the phased integration of existing systems and for the retention of existing hardware that remains fit for purpose; thereby streamlining operations, retaining consistency across sites and avoiding the costs of a ‘rip-out and replace’.

AtlasEdge is already using Genetec Security Center across multiple sites, including those in Manchester, Leeds, Berlin, Hamburg, Brussels, and Vienna. It ultimately plans to expand its use to over 100 sites across Europe.

Speaking of their experience so far, Stijn Jonker, Compliance & Security Director, says, “With our expanding reach across the continent, we’re building Europe’s leading Edge platform, bringing seamless, localised, and ultra-low latency digital infrastructure to our customers.

Genetec is an important part of our operations, ensuring a smooth and secure experience for our customers.”

For more information on Genetec and its solutions for data centres, visit genetec.com/ industries/data-centers/portfolio.

Genetec, genetec.com

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DCNN NEWS

SUMMER 2025

CONNECT WITH 30K+ GLOBAL DATA CENTRE PROFESSIONALS Data Centre & Network News (DCNN) is excited to announce the expansion of our website, magazine and newsletters, unlocking new advertising opportunities for leading brands.

With ongoing investment in data and readership, our expanded network now reaches over 30,000 data centre professionals worldwide – and advertisers can now engage with our growing audience through a range of high-impact marketing offerings, including: • Hero Spotlight Banner – Up to six brand new premium slots available at the very top of the DCNN website.

• Weekly Newsletter Takeover – Being launched

• Sponsored Webinars – Thought leadership webinars hosted on the DCNN website to position your brand as an industry leader.

• Whitepapers – Strengthen your thought leadership and expertise credentials by featuring your whitepapers on DCNN’s dedicated hub.

• Jobs & Careers Section – Post vacancies and drive traffic to your application page to reach the most targeted audience possible.

Secure your spot today!

in addition to our existing newsletter, this new newsletter will offer solus sponsorship for maximum visibility.

• New Digital Issues – Starting January 2026, DCNN will be publishing six issues per year

Don’t miss this chance to maximise your brand’s visibility!

Email neil@allthingsmedialtd.com for further information.

(an increase from the current quarterly publication schedule)

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SHOW PREVIEW

CONNECTED BRITAIN 2025: POWERING THE DIGITAL FUTURE A comprehensive look ahead to Connected Britain 2025, taking place at ExCel in London on 24-25 September.

As the UK’s biggest digital economy event, Connected Britain 2025 is set to return with even greater ambition and scope. Taking place in London this September, the event is poised to bring together over 8,000 connectivity leaders, policymakers, and digital pioneers to explore the trends, technologies, and strategies shaping the UK’s digital landscape.

data centres, and how next-gen connectivity can power the high-performance computing and AI workloads of tomorrow. Connected Britain is the place to understand how data centres and networks are converging to meet rising demands.

A HUB FOR TELECOMS AND DATA CENTRES

This year’s programme promises over 200 speakers across multiple content stages, offering everything from deep dives into infrastructure deployment to discussions about how regulation and policy are accelerating progress. Some of the key topics include:

Connectivity is the backbone of the UK’s digital transformation, and Connected Britain 2025 is where the sector’s key players come to chart its course. From the operators delivering nextgeneration fibre and 5G networks to the data centre leaders ensuring robust, scalable digital infrastructure, this event is a melting pot of ideas and innovation.

Sessions will focus on evolving demands for data processing and storage, the role of

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HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PROGRAMME

• Fibre rollout and 5G expansion: Hear from leaders driving the rollout of high-speed networks and learn about the latest deployment models, partnerships, and policy frameworks that are speeding up connectivity across urban and rural Britain.

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• The role of data centres: Explore how data centres are evolving to meet growing digital demands, support low-latency applications, and integrate sustainability initiatives.

• The future of enterprise connectivity: Sessions will look at how enterprises are leveraging next-gen connectivity to boost productivity, enable innovation, and unlock new business models.

• Sustainability in action: From green data centres to efficient networks, sustainability is a core focus of the event – which is critical for data centre leaders seeking to align digital growth with environmental responsibility.

A SHOWCASE OF INNOVATION Beyond the conference, Connected Britain 2025 features a vibrant exhibition with over 350 exhibitors showcasing the latest in connectivity developments, from cutting-edge fibre technologies to data centre cooling innovations.

It’s a chance for data centre professionals to see emerging products firsthand and connect with vendors who are pushing the boundaries of performance and efficiency.

Attendees can also expect product demos and interactive sessions designed to foster learning and collaboration, which are an invaluable experience for all connectivity stakeholders.

NETWORKING THAT MATTERS Networking is at the heart of Connected Britain. The event’s dedicated meeting spaces, social functions, and networking lounges offer opportunities to connect with potential partners, customers, and collaborators.

Whether you’re looking to build relationships with fibre network operators, explore new partnerships with data centre providers, or simply understand where the industry is headed, Connected Britain 2025 is the place to make it happen.

A FREE TICKET TO THE FUTURE One of the standout features of Connected Britain 2025 is the Free Ticket Programme, providing complimentary access to the full conference and exhibition. Those working for specific types of organisations can apply.

These include the public sector, network operators, and data centres. For a full list of the free ticket criteria, visit the event’s website via the link at the bottom of the page.

WHY ATTEND? For data centre operators and network professionals, the need to stay ahead has never been more critical. Connected Britain 2025 is the ultimate platform to gain insights, forge partnerships, and discover the innovations shaping the next chapter of the UK’s digital story. Whether your focus is on network performance, sustainability, or delivering high-value services in a rapidly evolving landscape, this event promises actionable insights and unparalleled opportunities.

To find out more and to book tickets, visit the link below.

Connected Britain, terrapinn.com/CB_DCNN

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COLOCATION

A NEW FOUR HORSEMEN? THE STATE OF COLOCATION IN 2025 Pulsant’s CTO, Mike Hoy, looks at why the colocation sector continues to face four specific industry issues that could reshape the industry.

POWER PLAYS Last year, geopolitical events sent shockwaves around the world. In tandem, the UK’s grid capacity crisis put a strain on access to power.

For the data centre sector, the initial effect was unpredictable power costs that had to be either absorbed or reluctantly transferred to clients.

These rising costs challenged financial models.

While greater stability is emerging, there is no certainty similar events will not happen again.

Global shifts have reshaped supply chains and increased infrastructure costs, prompting a more pragmatic business mindset. For example, renewable energy continued to make solid progress as part of the solution to these challenges. Renewables generated more than 50% of the electricity for four consecutive quarters (Q4 2023 – Q3 2024), averaging 51% during 2024.

The outlook here is broadly positive – electricity market stabilisation will improve planning and confidence. This will enable organisations to reassess their digital infrastructure and make better-aligned investments.

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When it comes to tackling the negative perceptions that surround the sector’s high power use, the publication of regular sustainability reports that detail energy sources, carbon emissions, and efficiency improvements has been front of mind for operators.

This reporting is undergoing a rapid evolution as the differences between power to and power through the data centre are better understood. Typically, just over a third of power goes to network hardware, servers and storage, so collaboration between data centre operators and co-locating customers will be vital in capitalising on this distinction.

AI FATIGUE? Growing scepticism around emerging tech, particularly AI, despite its promises, raises questions about the future growth of the data centre sector that facilitates it. A recent report by Appen revealed that while 56.7% of deployed AI projects achieved ROI in 2021, that figure dropped to 47.3% in 2024.

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Elsewhere, a survey of technology professionals and enthusiasts, conducted at AI author Andrew Burgess’s recent book launch, found that “while AI is embraced for its potential benefits, there is a palpable mistrust of big tech companies and a strong call for enhanced regulation.”

For AI to succeed, investment in training large language models (LLMs) must translate into practical applications. While tools like ChatGPT are popular, real value lies in monetising models through inferencing and using Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG). Many applications are in early development but hold significant potential for global impact.

However, it is clear that doubts persist about the true potential of this technology. Only time will tell as to whether this uncertainty will decrease or decelerate data centre investment in the long-term.

The shift from theory to real-world application will redefine the UK’s digital infrastructure, and it feels like we are at a tipping point where practical AI applications will accelerate. This will clarify growth opportunities in the data centre sector.

WHAT IS IN A NAME? DATA CENTRES AS CNI 2024 saw the data centre sector being classified as Critical National Infrastructure.

While this is a positive move overall, it has the potential to influence strategy and operations in a way that may not necessarily help the businesses the industry serves to reach their full potential. The devil is in the detail, and getting this right will be key.

The designation of data centres as Critical National Infrastructure rightly acknowledges their role as the backbone of the UK’s digital economy. Policies must balance security and infrastructure concerns with support for regional regeneration and investment.

Though reclassification aims to enhance business continuity, data centre downtime often stems from an external supplier, partner or client. Digital resilience is a broader, ecosystem-wide challenge, with data centres acting as just one component in a complex network where shared responsibility is key to

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minimising operational disruption, so I hope to see greater awareness and collaboration in the future.

DEFINING THE FUTURE OF COLOCATION Despite these challenges, I believe there’s clarity ahead, and it will likely come through innovation, strategic adaptation, and evolving technology solutions.

In addition to managing our own stability and risk, I envision the industry taking a more proactive role in educating clients on these critical areas. By guiding clients in strategies for power optimisation, modern technology adoption, and long-term reliability, data centres can become integral to their clients’ resilience and innovation.

The regionalisation of data infrastructure will be a key part of this success. Investing in regional data centres offers significant potential to boost local economies and broaden access to technological resources beyond major urban areas. Many smaller organisations, however, are not prioritising their future digital needs – an approach that could hinder their growth and competitiveness down the line.

Challenges often fuel innovation, and this will pave the way for positive change. Economic recovery, technological advancement, and better operating conditions are within reach as businesses and industries evolve to meet new demands.

Pulsant, pulsant.com

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PRODUCTS

PANASONIC AND TECNAIR’S COMPLETE SPLIT SOLUTION Panasonic Heating & Cooling Solutions has collaborated with Tecnair to introduce a comprehensive split solution designed for critical environments up to 21 kW. The companies say that this innovative solution marks a milestone in precise cooling technology, combining Panasonic’s cutting-edge outdoor PACi NX condensing units with Tecnair’s P Series direct expansion (DX) units.

The advanced system utilises R32 refrigerant, known for its low Global Warming Potential (GWP), ensuring effective cooling with minimal environmental impact. It is the ideal solution for environments where precise temperature and humidity control is crucial, yet space and load capacities are limited.

Examples include laboratories, museums, archives, office buildings, and server rooms with compact equipment and small capacity requirements.

The Computer Room Air Conditioning (CRAC) DX unit guarantees accurate control of indoor climate, maintaining strict parameters for temperature and humidity. The advanced control system on the P Series units offers full Modbus control, featuring a Wide Full Graphic LCD display, configurable digital inputs-outputs, and predictive safety systems.

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The system’s flexible design allows seamless integration into various settings, while a compact footprint maximises space efficiency.

Energy-conscious users will appreciate its low operating costs and exceptional energy efficiency, making it a cost-effective choice for long-term use.

Additionally, a wide selection of accessories enables customisation to meet specific needs.

Designed for quiet operation, the system places the compressor outdoors, significantly reducing noise levels. Installation is highly versatile, with the ability to connect indoor and outdoor units across distances of up to 100 metres. For larger applications, the system supports networked configurations, allowing up to 12 CRAC units to be cascaded for expanded coverage and precise climate control.

Panasonic’s collaboration with Tecnair reflects a commitment to innovation and market responsiveness, offering solutions that reduce design, manufacturing, and operational costs.

The extensive range of units and accessories ensures the ability to meet diverse design and installation specifications.

Panasonic, aircon.panasonic.eu

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DOLD’S ENERGY MONITORING KEEPS COLOCATION COSTS IN-CHECK DOLD Industries UK, a provider of network monitoring and functional safety solutions across industrial and infrastructure sectors, has launched the RL9405 Smart Energy Meter – enabling colocation customers to gain accurate control over rack-level energy use, so you only pay for what you use.

The ultra-compact RL9405 (just 35mm wide) fits easily into dense server racks, offering precise, real-time energy monitoring – without complex wiring or infrastructure upgrades. Fast to deploy, it enables fair, usage-based billing, while pinpointing system inefficiencies, optimising workloads, and helping to avoid costly overuse.

Users can track live and historical energy data, detect anomalies, and flag potential issues early – enabling smarter preventive maintenance and reduced downtime. Even during power outages, the RL9405 securely stores energy data, ensuring critical insights are never lost.

With Modbus TCP/RTU connectivity, remote monitoring is simple and seamless, integrating with existing systems to optimise operational efficiency.

DOLD Industries UK, dold.co.uk

LEAGEND UPS SOLUTION SAFEGUARDS BACKUP POWER SUPPLY According to leagend Solutions, the backup power supply is the second heart of a data centre – and any issue that happens to it will cause huge economic losses or even disasters.

As a result, leagend’s UPS battery management solution is a professional innovation exclusively developed for backup power applications such as data centres, telecom bases, and other applications seeking energy saving and renewable energy solutions. It guarantees the UPS batteries operate normally by monitoring and managing the key parameters of the batteries in real-time to ensure they supply stable power continuously under the occurrence of a power outage.

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Furthermore, it integrates with advanced technologies like data collection, data transfer and data processing to offer comprehensive monitoring, cloud storage, visualised data analyses and tailored services for customers.

Its capacity can be up to over 200 batteries with two different voltages simultaneously. In addition, leagend has integrated 5G and AI chips to the next-generation BMS. leagend Solutions, leagendsolutions.com

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PRODUCTS

EATON DELIVERS ENERGY SAVINGS IN ITS NEW UPS Eaton, an intelligent power management company, has announced the launch of its 9PX Gen2 5-11kW UPS, a new product that adds benefits to its 9PX solution through advanced technology upgrades and customer-centric enhancements.

It seeks to deliver best-in-class power management and battery backup for critical equipment in data centres, distributed IT, edge networks, network closets, and server rooms.

Eaton DPQ Product Line Manager, Christophe Jammes, comments, “Our latest UPS delivers market-leading efficiency of up to 97.2% in the 11kW unit thanks to innovative silicon carbide (SiC) components that not only use less power, and therefore cut energy bills, but also put operators one step ahead in emissions reduction.

“When it comes to physical footprint,” he adds, “9PX Gen2 is the compact UPS that leads the way, delivering 11kW in just 4U. It offers an unmatched and Energy Star-qualified 11% more power in a space 33% smaller than its predecessor.”

Every 9PX Gen2 UPS comes with a cybersecure Gigabit Network Card – enabling remote configuration, management, and upgrade of the entire UPS fleet, including full integration with Eaton’s Brightlayer Data Centres suite.

Eaton, eaton.com

ARTECO LAUNCHES DIRECT-TO-CHIP LIQUID COOLING FOR DATA CENTRES

Arteco, a provider of liquid cooling innovations, has announced its expansion into the data centre and electronics market with its Zitrec EC brand.

The company states that the new brand arrives at a “critical moment”, citing the escalating computational demands of today’s powerful technologies – like Generative AI and Large Language Models – which produce unprecedented heat loads that are threatening system performance, energy efficiency, and hardware reliability in the event that improved thermal management solutions aren’t implemented.

Zitrec EC, which is a versatile portfolio of Mono Propylene Glycol (MPG)-based, water-based and Mono Ethylene Glycol (MEG)-based formulations

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with OAT (Organic Additive Technology), is specifically designed to help tackle these challenges.

This advanced range of direct-to-chip coolants is engineered to deliver exceptional thermal performance and energy efficiency, allowing components to operate at higher calculating power without the risk of overheating. Its advanced features provide long-lasting corrosion protection, which can extend equipment lifespan and provide a safeguard against downtime. Zitrec EC therefore simplifies hardware maintenance, Arteco says, while significantly lowering the total cost and complexity of thermal management systems.

Arteco, arteco-coolants.com

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PRYSMIAN LAUNCHES PRE TERMINATED CABLE ASSEMBLIES

Prysmian, best known for its manufacture of power and data cables, used the Data Centre World

The innovation attracting most attention was the company’s promise of bespoke pre-terminated fibre assemblies, supplied to UK sites within days.

This exceptional turnaround is down to the location and capacity of both cable and termination manufacturing sites in Europe.

This offer is based on the premium G657 BendBright bend insensitive optical fibre, utilised in a wide variety of pre-terminated assemblies.

Prysmian FlexRibbon fibre configuration provides Base 12 and Base 16 terminations onto MTP, SN and MMC/MDC connectors. Preterminated assemblies using US Conec certified MTP/MPO connectors are also available on short lead times.

The service is incredibly flexible, and is designed to meet the need for fast turnaround on large sites.

The Prysmian service team, based in the UK, is able to take specifications for bespoke cable assemblies using a wide range of single mode and multi mode optical fibres to service the highest bandwidth requirements of modern data.

All products come with a 25-year manufacturer’s warranty.

exhibition in London to launch its wrap-around offer for digital communication within data centres.

Prysmian, prysmian.com

CONNECTORS TO BOOST DATA CENTRE ENERGY EFFICIENCY Energy costs can account for more than 50% of the total operating expenses of a data centre. To calculate the exact effect of power usage from connectors in data centres, HARTING has compared the power consumption of three different connector solutions in its independently accredited test laboratory. One of the connectors tested was the HARTING Han-Eco, with the other two being CEE (IEC 60309) plugs from different manufacturers.

The results showed that the Han-Eco connector reduced power wastage by up to 50% by using lowimpedance contacts. These contacts reduce the power lost in connections and significantly improve the Power Usage Efficiency (PUE) of data centres.

As a result, one hyperscale data centre with 15,000 racks could achieve annual power consumption savings of around £100,000.

Download your free whitepaper now to learn how HARTING connectors can improve your power usage efficiency (PUE) and reduce the lifetime costs of operating a data centre.

Harting, harting.com

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Is your Data centre ready for the growth of AI? Partner with Schneider Electric for your AI-Ready Data Centres. Our solution covers grid to chip and chip to chiller infrastructure, monitoring and management software, and services for optimization.

Explore our end-to-end physical and digital AI-ready infrastructure scaled to your needs.

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