F E A T U R E
In the coming years we expect to see increased interplay between industry and policymaking in the APAC data centre landscape in the following areas :
The sustainability imperative
The escalation in demand for compute capacity and higher rack densities means that sustainability and energy efficiency considerations are weighing heavier than ever on data centre operators . We must continue innovating in measures such as liquid cooling , AI-enabled power management , renewables and sustainable facility design to stay ahead of the curve .
Balancing growth demands versus sovereignty
Expect countries to push for greater control over data storage within their borders . While entities operating across multiple geographies and different regulations might face a fragmented market with higher compliance costs , this also opens opportunities to establish local data centres and colocation facilities to help meet local regulations .
Bridging the skills gap
The data centre industry needs more skilled engineers and technicians . Policymakers must work with industry to assist in the development of a robust talent pipeline , including policies that attract and retain both local and international expertise . Public-private partnerships must also play a deeper role in cultivating a skilled workforce .
The APAC data centre industry is at a crossroads ; success hinges on the ability to navigate policy while driving sustainable innovation . Enterprises that prioritise collaboration and invest in future-proof digital infrastructure and talent will be well-placed to thrive .
Daniel Ong , Director , Solution Architect , Asia Pacific , Digital Realty
The burgeoning enterprise AI market will be one of the biggest drivers of growth and presents a transformative opportunity for the data centre industry in APAC .
However , we believe AI adoption will not be a linear migration . Rather , AI infrastructure will mirror the dynamic evolution of the cloud , evolving from single provider models to the multi-cloud and hybrid cloud architectures dominant today . Increasingly , customers will look to combine private AI infrastructure with access to large public AI models . This allows them to access both public and private data securely for training and customisation , while maintaining control over data for enhanced privacy and security based on specific needs .
Data centres will need to evolve to meet customer demand for robust and adaptable data centre infrastructure that can help them unlock new levels of efficiency and innovation with AI . We see this in three key areas :
• Open , hybrid architecture : Multitenant data centres with enhanced connectivity between facilities offer organisations the flexibility to integrate increasingly complex digital infrastructure deployments . With open and secure platforms , customers have access to a global ecosystem of service providers , allowing them to build and orchestrate their ideal solutions easily and efficiently without the constraints of physical location or closed ecosystems .
• Modular infrastructure : Prefabricated , scalable solutions eliminate the need for costly , timeconsuming overhauls . They enable data centres to seamlessly adapt to escalating AI demands while maintaining peak performance and reducing capital expenditure .
• Sustainability : AI ’ s high power and cooling demands require a shift in digital architecture . Modular data centres allow adaptive cooling based on real-time IT equipment heat loads . This efficient power distribution reduces energy waste , offering a sustainable solution to supporting AI advancements .
Digital Realty foresaw AI ’ s trajectory early , designing our facilities for flexibility and scalability to empower customers to harness the full potential of AI . Our modular design approach enabled us to accelerate a massive AI deployment for next-gen cloud service provider CoreWeave , reducing deployment time in half . KakaoBank in Korea chose our Seoul facility for its AI lab to accelerate AIpowered innovation in financial services .
By embracing hybrid infrastructure models , high-performance connectivity and sustainable solutions , the data centre industry can be the cornerstone for the region ’ s future AI ecosystem . �
52 www . intelligentdatacentres . com