The Top 10 Data Center Stories for November 2020

Edge, Equinix and Atlanta were the three themes that grabbed readers’ attention in November. News about new edge computing deployments continue, while the Atlanta market saw strong leasing as Microsoft readies a cloud campus nearby. Meanwhile, Equinix unveiled its newest campus in Ashburn’s Data Center Alley.

Here are the 10 most popular stories on Data Center Frontier in November 2020, in order of article views:

• Switch Teams With FedEx, Dell to Deploy Data Centers: Switch is teaming with FedEx and Dell Technologies to create an edge computing network for enterprise customers, deployed Switch modular data centers on FedEx real estate, with Dell providing hardware and managed services.
• Equinix Expands in Ashburn, Plans Fleet of Four-Story Data Centers:Equinix is expanding in Northern Virginia’s Data Center Alley, opening a new campus in Ashburn featuring an innovation lab and new design for a series of four-story data centers.
• The Emerging Players in Edge Computing: At Data Center Frontier, we’re tracking the players in the emerging edge infrastructure sector. Here’s a look at our recent profiles of some of the companies that are focused on deploying edge data centers.
• Data Bytes: CBRE Sees 373 Megawatts of Data Center Construction for 2021: More than 373 megawatts of new wholesale data center construction is underway across major markets in the United States, according to a newly-published 2021 market outlook from CBRE.
• Colony’s Digital Playbook Powers Edge Strategy for DataBank: Colony Capital has built DataBank through a deal-driven “digital playbook” that brings together a convergence of technologies, companies and investors. The goal: capture the huge opportunity in edge computing.
• Designing for Density: AI Brings Denser Racks Into Multi-Tenant Data Centers: The growing adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) poses challenges for data center design, as high-density racks of GPUs require low-latency access to massive datasets, including some in the cloud.
• Data Bytes: IDC Sees Enterprise Cloud Shift Accelerating in 2021: The COVID19 pandemic is likely to hasten the migration of enterprise IT equipment out of on-premises data centers and into data centers operated by cloud service providers and colocation specialist, according to new data from IDC.
• Microsoft Plans Cloud Data Center Campus Near Atlanta: Microsoft is finalizing plans for a data center campus near Atlanta, according to local economic development officials, who this week authorized tax incentives and a $420 million bond resolution to support the project.
• Data Center Leasing Accelerates in Atlanta Market: Data center activity is accelerating in the Greater Atlanta market, with strong leasing in the third quarter by QTS Data Centers and Switch, and a substantial expansion by Facebook.
• Vantage Raises $1.25 Billion in Equity Capital: Vantage Data Centers has raised $1.25 billion in equity funding from its current investors, led by Digital Colony. The funding reinforces the value proposition of building wholesale data center space for hyperscale customers, including the leading players in cloud computing and online commerce.

In November, Data Center Frontier’s guest column series, Voices of the Industry, featured insight from leaders at Service Express, Aligned,  WTEC,  and DataBank. Here are the Voices columns that were most popular with DCF readers last month:

• Applying Sustainability Practices That Will Reach Data Center Net Zero Energy Goals (Nortek): Kris Holla, Group Vice President, Channel Sales for Nortek Data Center Cooling, highlights how focus on renewable energy alone will not help data centers reach sustainability net-zero goals.
• Cooling Edge Data Centers: It Requires More Thought (TAS Energy): The team at TAS Energy highlights a variety of different approaches to cooling for edge data centers, from direct expansion cooling systems, to chilled water solutions, free cooling and more.
• Growing A Sustainable Data Center Business in Challenging Times (Iron Mountain): Rick Crutchley, Vice President and General Manager of Iron Mountain Data Centers North America explores how the industry can thrive in uncertain times.

Keep pace with the fact-moving world of data centers and cloud computing by following us on Twitter and Facebook, connecting with Data Center Frontier editor Rich Miller on LinkedIn, and signing up for our weekly newspaper using the form below.