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Mayank Srivastava, CEO of BDx Data Centres, on building AI infrastructure across Southeast Asia: over 1 GW of power secured in Indonesia on signed PPAs, a 20-year-old Singapore site cut from a 1.65 to 1.35 PUE, why talent is the next constraint, and why he warns of "digital colonization" without sovereign AI.📊 Get more market insights HERE🤝 Speak with someone from our global data team HERE 💻 Book a platform demo HERE

📊 Get more market insights HERE As we enter 2026, the global data center industry is at a critical turning point. Historic absorption rates over the past year have been driven by the growing demand for AI infrastructure. In this episode of the Data Center Hawk podcast, Founder and CEO David Liggitt joins regional leaders Ed Socia (North America), David Sandars (EMEA), Dedi Iskandar (APAC), and Steve Sasse (Latin America) to analyze key trends and predict how power dynamics, emerging markets, and hyperscale strategies will shape the industry in the year ahead.North America leads in data center development, but the growth is shifting geographically. Regional Director Ed Socia highlights a movement toward nontraditional markets like North Dakota, Wyoming, and Missouri, driven by available power and the need to avoid community pushback. AI providers are building large, master-planned campuses in these areas.Regions like West Texas are seeing plans for massive 1-gigawatt projects, although network latency keeps traditional hubs like Chicago and Northwest Indiana relevant. Additionally, smaller enterprise demand (20-50MW) is carving a niche alongside hyperscale developments, signaling diverse growth within the market.In Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, diversification is the name of the game. Regional Director David Sandars notes a slowdown in speculative building, with some projects delayed until 2026 or 2027. Interest is expanding beyond traditional FLAP-D markets to areas like Zaragoza, Spain, and parts of Eastern Europe, including Romania, Hungary, and the Czech Republic.The Middle East is emerging as a major AI hub, with plans for multi-gigawatt campuses. Its strategic location between Europe and Asia is attracting investments not only from western hyperscalers but also from countries like South Korea, keen to support their tech industries.The Asia-Pacific market has doubled in size from 5GW to 10GW in just two years. Regional Director Dedi Iskandar highlights that while Japan and Australia remain key hubs, power constraints in major cities like Tokyo are pushing developments into tier-two markets.Johor in Southeast Asia has quickly become a 2GW market, while India’s rapid growth positions it as a future leader, potentially surpassing Tokyo. Unlike Europe’s cautious pace, APAC’s AI companies demand fast delivery, often seeking 100MW+ capacities within just 3 to 6 months. Emerging hotspots like Melbourne, Chennai, Bangkok, and Vietnam are reaping the benefits, with governments offering incentives to attract digital infrastructure.In Latin America, Chinese cloud operators such as Tencent, Alibaba, and Huawei have stepped in as US providers focus more domestically. Regional Director Steve Sasse notes expansion across Mexico, Brazil, Chile, and Peru.Looking ahead, the region is leveraging its renewable energy resources to attract AI-focused hyperscale investments. Brazil leads the market, accounting for nearly 40% of the economic base and introducing legislation to reduce GPU chip import taxes. Meanwhile, Argentina is gaining attention for its vast natural gas reserves, positioning itself as a potential dark horse for on-site power generation.The global demand for data center capacity shows no sign of slowing, but how that demand is met varies greatly by region. From gigawatt-scale campuses in West Texas and AI hubs in the Middle East to APAC’s rapid tier-two growth and LATAM’s renewable energy strategies, the industry is evolving to address power constraints and shifting needs.For investors and IT professionals, understanding these regional trends will be critical to navigating and capitalizing on the next wave of digital infrastructure growth in 2026.

The European data center market is rapidly evolving, driven by rising demand for capacity and stricter sustainability requirements. On the HawkTalk podcast, David Sandars, Regional Director EMEA at datacenterhawk, spoke with Mette Berger Gulbrandsen, Chief Marketing & Communications Officer at Green Mountain, about the company’s journey from Norwegian mountain vaults to a pan-European operator while staying committed to sustainability.Green Mountain’s unique story began in Rennesøy, Norway, where a former NATO ammunition bunker was transformed into a secure and energy-efficient data center. By using the adjacent fjord’s cold waters for cooling and renewable hydropower, the facility became a model of sustainable design. This ingenuity demonstrated that leveraging natural resources isn’t just environmentally beneficial but also operationally efficient. Following the success at Rennesøy, Green Mountain expanded to Rjukan, another remote Norwegian location ideal for secure, sustainable operations. However, the company recognized the need for proximity to economic hubs to meet client requirements for low-latency workloads. This shift led to the opening of a facility near Oslo and marked the start of a strategic “hub and spoke” model.Green Mountain’s growth accelerated after its acquisition by international owners in 2021, boosting resources for expansion. The company struck a major deal with TikTok in 2023 and began international projects, including a London acquisition and a development in Frankfurt. This balanced approach allows Green Mountain to offer clients both cost-effective, sustainable remote storage and urban connectivity.Green Mountain’s upcoming Frankfurt facility showcases how data centers can tackle power and environmental challenges. Partnering with local energy provider KMW, the site will utilize renewable wind and solar power, while replicating Green Mountain’s water-cooling method using river water.The facility will also employ gas turbines for backup power, reducing emissions compared to diesel generators, and feed excess heat into the district heating system, warming 20,000 homes. This innovative partnership not only addresses power constraints but also integrates into the local energy ecosystem to add community value.Green Mountain actively addresses local concerns by showcasing the economic benefits of its projects. Independent studies revealed the construction of its 90 MW site generated $600 million in value and supported 4,700 full-time jobs.In addition to data-driven evidence, the company engages communities through open days, educational programs, and support for local initiatives. This combination of transparency and outreach has helped Green Mountain build trust and secure long-term community support.Green Mountain’s journey from a single mountain facility to a leading European data center operator underscores the maturity of the Nordic market. The company has proven that sustainability is not just a value-add but a necessity for scaling operations. Its innovative use of geographic resources, partnerships with energy providers, and commitment to community engagement set a high standard for the industry.As demand for capacity grows, Green Mountain’s success highlights the importance of creative infrastructure reuse and deep integration with local energy systems, paving the way for a more sustainable future in data center operations.Repurposing History for Modern Data NeedsExpanding with Strategy: Remote vs. Urban HubsFrankfurt: A Blueprint for Energy CollaborationDemonstrating Economic and Social ImpactA Roadmap for Sustainable Growth

The data center industry's approach to power is undergoing a major transformation. What was once a straightforward connection to the grid has become a complex, strategic challenge. At the Advancing Data Center Construction conference, Mike Netzer of datacenterhawk spoke with Tim Stephenson, Director of Power Generation for Aligned Data Centers, to discuss the shift toward onsite power generation and its implications for the sector.One of the key shifts highlighted was the move from traditional grid reliance to "behind-the-meter" power solutions. This approach creates an independent, self-sustained power source solely for a data center campus, disconnected from the public grid. With utility infrastructure struggling to keep up with the industry’s 15-17% annual growth in power demand, onsite power generation offers operators greater control, reliability, and the ability to build facilities in areas where grid power is insufficient or unavailable. As Stephenson explained, “We’re looking at being completely off the grid, developing power designed exclusively for our data centers.”The transition to onsite power requires more than simply replacing grid power with a single alternative. Aligned employs a hybrid approach, integrating technologies like natural gas combustion turbines, reciprocating engines, and fuel cells to handle diverse power needs. Modern computing loads are volatile, spiking from 30% to 100% usage within milliseconds, so Aligned also incorporates battery energy storage systems (BESS), synchronous condensers, and supercapacitors for added stability. This layered strategy ensures reliability and prevents power disruptions.Onsite power generation brings clear advantages, including guaranteed availability, independence from utility curtailments, and scalable capacity that can grow from 100 megawatts to a gigawatt. However, these benefits come with challenges. Costs are significant, with natural gas power costing 7 to 8 cents per kilowatt-hour—higher than grid power, which benefits from economies of scale. Additionally, developing onsite power requires navigating complex permitting processes for air and water, securing fuel supply infrastructure, and addressing potential community concerns about hosting a private power plant.Data centers demand near-perfect uptime, and onsite power plants must deliver. Stephenson revealed that Aligned designs its private power plants for 99.9% reliability, far surpassing traditional commercial plants. This is achieved through modular designs and redundancy. Instead of relying on large, single units, Aligned’s plants use smaller modules like individual turbines or fuel cells. This modularity allows maintenance on one unit without disrupting overall power supply, ensuring continuous operation.As grid constraints persist, the shift to onsite power will become more widespread. Site selection is already evolving, prioritizing access to natural gas pipelines over proximity to grid interconnects. While natural gas serves as a key bridge technology, the long-term vision includes cleaner, advanced energy sources. Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), though promising, remain several years away from commercial viability, with Stephenson estimating a 7-8 year timeline.The future of data center power lies in a sophisticated mix of technologies, strategic site selection, and innovative energy solutions. By embracing onsite power generation, operators can gain greater control over their energy needs while building infrastructure for the next era of growth.Moving Toward "Behind-the-Meter" PowerA Multi-Layered Power StrategyBenefits and ChallengesBuilding for Unmatched ReliabilityThe Future of Data Center Power

In a recent episode of Hawk Talk, David Sandars, Regional Director for EMEA at datacenterhawk, interviewed Jérôme Totel, Strategy and Innovation Director at Data4. The conversation highlighted Data4’s nearly 20-year journey from its origins in France to becoming a major European data center operator. Totel shared insights on market strategy, campus development, and tackling key challenges like power availability and AI-driven growth.Strategic Growth Across EuropeData4’s growth is marked by balanced expansion into both established and emerging European markets. From its first campus in Paris in 2006, the company has expanded to Italy, Spain, Poland, Germany, and Greece. This strategy blends market analysis with customer feedback, focusing on connectivity and demand. Emerging hubs like Athens and Madrid are becoming vital due to their strategic positions. Athens connects Asia and the Middle East to Europe, while Madrid links Europe to Asia, Africa, and the Americas.Addressing Power and AI ChallengesSecuring power is a universal challenge for data center operators across Europe. Totel emphasized the importance of building where energy is available now to support the market's annual 17% growth driven by AI. Data4 is preparing for AI's demands by engineering facilities to handle high-density workloads, supporting direct liquid cooling (DLC), air cooling, or hybrid methods. Totel explained, "We are building a data center for 20, 30 years," ensuring flexibility to adapt to changing needs and megawatt densities.The Campus-Based ApproachData4’s campus model allows customers to scale within the same location, reducing complexity and costs. This approach not only provides technical advantages but also drives significant local economic and social impact. For example, the Marcoussis campus near Paris attracts around 1,000 people daily, including staff and suppliers, bolstering the regional economy.Through its "Data for Good" program, Data4 engages with local communities by educating over 100 students annually about data centers and the environmental impact of digital technologies. This program helps build awareness and encourages younger generations to consider careers in the industry.Sustainability and the FutureTotel stressed the need for sustainable growth as the European data center industry scales to meet the predicted demand of 30-35 gigawatts by 2030, up from the current 10 gigawatts. Data4 is tackling this challenge through innovative Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), such as its nuclear PPA with EDF in France, securing decarbonized energy to support grid stability. While established FLAP markets remain critical, Data4 is eyeing new zones for "giga-campuses," prioritizing locations with available power, connectivity, and skilled labor.Building Europe’s Digital FutureData4 is balancing strategic growth, future-proofing facilities, and engaging with local communities to meet the evolving demands of the digital infrastructure landscape. By expanding thoughtfully, embracing sustainability, and preparing for next-generation technologies, the company is poised to play a central role in shaping Europe’s digital future.Strategic Growth Across EuropeAddressing Power and AI ChallengesThe Campus-Based ApproachSustainability and the FutureBuilding Europe’s Digital Future

In a recent datacenterHawk podcast, David Liggitt sat down with Herson Suindah, President Director & Group CEO of SM+, to explore Indonesia’s rapidly evolving digital infrastructure market. Their discussion highlighted SM+’s vision, the unique opportunities in the region, and the company’s strategic partnerships that are setting a new standard for data center development in Southeast Asia.SM+ was founded with the mission to fill critical infrastructure gaps in Indonesia. Backed by a major Indonesian business group, the company takes a future-focused approach, integrating fiber networks, mobile operations, submarine cables, and data centers into a unified solution.Suindah explained, “If the country isn’t ready, then what do we need to do, and how are we going to do it?” This mindset drives SM+ to develop solutions that anticipate and address Indonesia’s evolving digital needs.With a population of 275 million—many of whom are young and tech-savvy—Indonesia offers massive growth potential. Rather than being limited by outdated systems, the country’s relatively clean slate gives it an advantage: the ability to build modern, efficient infrastructure from the ground up.Indonesia's openness to technology, from BlackBerry in the early days to social platforms like Instagram, shows a strong track record of digital adoption. While the country may not yet lead in tech creation, it excels at commercializing and scaling digital tools—an asset SM+ leverages in its long-term strategy.SM+ prioritizes global partnerships to accelerate knowledge-sharing and innovation. One standout example is their joint venture with Korea’s LG Group to expand regional services.“For us, it’s not about building a franchise but forming true partnerships,” Suindah said. By aligning with global leaders and attracting top-tier talent, SM+ has positioned itself as a trusted local expert and partner for international companies entering Indonesia.SM+ is currently developing an 18MW city-center data center in Jakarta using modular construction, designed for efficiency and scalability. The company overcomes regulatory and timeline challenges by implementing global best practices and innovative technologies.Beyond Indonesia, SM+ has regional ambitions. Suindah believes the country will move from being a technology consumer to becoming a hub for innovation and infrastructure leadership in Southeast Asia.SM+’s success stems from its forward-thinking approach, strong partnerships, and commitment to solving real-world infrastructure challenges. “At the very basic layer of all the things we want to build is the infrastructure,” Suindah noted.For IT professionals, investors, and global operators, the message is clear: Indonesia is an emerging powerhouse in digital infrastructure, and SM+ is leading the way.Stay tuned for more updates on SM+ and their transformative projects across Indonesia.The Vision Behind SM+: Building Indonesia’s Digital BackboneWhy Indonesia is a Market to WatchPartnerships: The Key to GrowthRevolutionizing Indonesia’s Digital InfrastructureA Blueprint for Leadership

In this conversation, David Liggitt, founder of datacenterHawk, chats with Jon Curry, VP of Operations APAC at Digital Realty, and Krishna Worotikan, CFO of Digital Realty Bersama. Together, they explore the explosive growth in Indonesia’s data center market—fueled by digital transformation, rising connectivity needs, and surging demand for cloud and AI technologies. The discussion offers valuable insight into how global expertise and local partnerships are shaping the future of Indonesia’s digital infrastructure.A central focus is the partnership between Digital Realty and Digital Realty Bersama—a joint venture just three months in, already seeing momentum. Krishna Worotikan emphasizes how this collaboration leverages Digital Realty’s global experience, particularly in Asia, while anchoring itself through local alliances. Jon Curry notes that the fusion of international standards and regional insight makes them strong enablers of digital growth in Jakarta and beyond.Indonesia’s rapid digitalization is unmistakable. Curry reflects on the transformation since 2013—from limited infrastructure to today’s booming digital banking, e-commerce, and AI activity. As enterprise cloud and AI adoption intensifies, demand for scalable, reliable infrastructure is soaring. Worotikan forecasts dramatic capacity growth—from 5 MW to 150 MW within the decade.Despite the opportunity, hurdles remain. The talent gap is a pressing issue, with Worotikan calling for stronger alignment between tech skills and emerging AI workloads. The government is actively supporting this push. Curry highlights operational complexities like liquid cooling, which will be key for supporting AI. Standardized, forward-looking solutions are critical.Digital Realty’s success in Indonesia hinges on marrying global best practices with local market knowledge. Lessons from hubs like Frankfurt and Singapore guide Jakarta’s development, while local partners ensure on-the-ground relevance. Their Service Fabric platform enables seamless connectivity to global cloud ecosystems—boosting Indonesia’s role in regional and global networks.Curry and Worotikan express optimism about Indonesia’s rise as a leading data center hub in Southeast Asia. With strong digital momentum, local-global collaboration, and infrastructure innovation, the market is set to mature rapidly. For IT leaders and investors, Indonesia represents a vibrant, strategic opportunity in the digital age.Strategic Joint Ventures for Rapid ImpactDigital Acceleration Driving Infrastructure NeedsNavigating Challenges in a Dynamic MarketLocal Insights Meet Global ScaleA Promising Future