Subj : UK data centers ready for expansion To : All From : TechnologyDaily Date : Fri Nov 22 2024 11:00:05 UK data centers ready for expansion Date: Fri, 22 Nov 2024 10:58:22 +0000 Description: UK data centers get permission to grow. FULL STORY ====================================================================== A study by data center specialists Onnec has revealed that local authorities in the UKs 20 largest cities have overwhelmingly approved data center projects, with 89% of applications receiving planning permission over the past five years. Of the 88 applications reviewed, only three were rejected, five were withdrawn, and one remained undecided. Onnec looked at 44 local councils and their planning applications for the report. The researchers found that data centers are generally approved, which shows local support for digital infrastructure. To provide computing power and data storage for AI deployment makes that support crucial. Only three applications in Sheffield were rejected. Local authorities looked into possible issues around the design and impact of the centers, along with whether they would fit the character of the surroundings or damage the Green Belt. Data Center Spread Notably, the British government has made data centers critical national infrastructure to emphasize their report. That said, the report urges a holistic approach to planning and a nationwide approach to achieve the best outcomes. The UK has pledged 6.3 billion in data center investment as part of its work to make the UK a hub for AI. The UK's Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology (DSIT) is trying to reduce the friction in building data centers. It has looked into rejected projects to see where there is room for improvement. Data centers are critical for driving AI growth, and with the race for AI supremacy in full swing, the UK has recognized that to get ahead, the right infrastructure must be in place, Matt Salter, Data Centre Director at Onnec. Data centers can become the new oil for regions and cities, but only if they are planned holistically this means considering every aspect of the data center instead of focusing solely on factors such as power and cooling. For example, thinking about the importance of cabling in providing the bandwidth needed to get the most from data center hardware. London is the largest data center market in Europe, but the report suggests trying to up the availability of data centers elsewhere in the country. Relying solely on London means there is limited power availability along with problems around sustainability. Spreading data centers to other regions would also mean spreading the benefits to the people there. That means improved job opportunities not only for the data centers but for anywhere that the digital skills required for data centers are useful. Failing to take a holistic approach will result in sites that arent fit for purpose, dont deliver on the UKs needs, and degrade over time poor planning could mean a new data center can feel five years old after the first year of operation, and in need of an expensive retrofit," Salter said. "The UK risks losing ground in the race for AI supremacy if data centers arent built to last. You Might Also Like The best small business web hosting providers Finding the best Black Friday web hosting deals Or read our list of the best web hosting providers ====================================================================== Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/computing/servers-network-devices/uk-data-centers-re ady-for-expansion --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A47 (Linux/64) * Origin: tqwNet Technology News (1337:1/100) .