Roundup: Digital Realty Marks Major Milestones in AI, Quantum Computing, Data Center Development

Digital Realty, on the short list of the world's largest wholesale data center providers, continues to execute a series of progressive strategic collaborations and initiatives designed to advance its position as a global leader in artificial intelligence (AI) and quantum computing infrastructure, pursue its 2030 carbon emissions reduction goals, and even provide veteran career enablement. 

The company has a significant global footprint, with more than 300 data centers in 50 metropolitan areas across 25 countries with more than 5,000 customers. The company’s annual total revenue is about $6.0 billion as reported in its Q2 2025 earnings report in July. 

Here, we provide a comprehensive roundup of its latest activities, offering perspectives on how they impact data centers, energy providers, commercial and industrial sectors, and consumers. 

Dell, DXC Alliance Supports Enterprise Private AI Adoption

Digital Realty recently announced a collaboration with Dell Technologies and IT services company DXC Technology to accelerate enterprise adoption of private AI infrastructure at scale and support quantum-AI infrastructure growth for future global hybrid quantum-AI applications.

It combines Digital Realty’s global data center platform, PlatformDIGITAL, Dell’s AI Factory solutions, and DXC’s implementation and operational management expertise to deliver an integrated, end-to-end approach for deploying AI directly at the data source.

The goal is to provide enterprises with access to scalable, repeatable AI architecture that simplifies the pathway from AI concept to production. This is achieved while maintaining close proximity to data and hybrid cloud environments by using Digital Realty’s ServiceFabric interconnection platform.

Key features include: 

• Dell AI Factory Deployed at PlatformDIGITAL. This is designed to provide a scalable, high-density environment optimized for AI workloads, combining Dell’s infrastructure with DXC’s experience.
• Validated AI Use Cases. A curated library of private AI solutions is designed to help organizations accelerate adoption and achieve measurable business outcomes.
• Integrated End-to-End Deployment. DXC leads planning, implementation, and management, providing a deployment toolkit and blueprint for scalable private AI operations.
• Expert-Led Enablement Services. These provide training and support for transformation.

OQC, NVIDIA Alliance Launches First NYC Quantum-AI Data Center

In further effort supporting support quantum-AI infrastructure growth, Digital Realty and quantum-computer builder Oxford Quantum Circuits (OQC) recently launched the first quantum-AI data center in New York City, located at Digital Realty’s JFK10 facility and powered by NVIDIA GH200 Grace Hopper Superchips. It’s a major milestone in integrating quantum computing and AI supercomputing within a single, enterprise-grade data center environment. 

The collaboration combines Reading, United Kingdom-based OQC’s GENESIS quantum computer, NVIDIA’s accelerated AI hardware, and Digital Realty’s global PlatformDIGITAL infrastructure to deliver scalable quantum-AI capabilities for a variety of industries.

Some if its features include: 

• First-of-its-Kind Integration. OQC’s GENESIS quantum computer—New York’s first— built with NVIDIA Grace Hopper Superchips, supports hybrid workloads and enterprise adoption at scale. OQC representatives expect that future GENESIS systems will ship with NVIDIA accelerated computing as standard, building on its earlier collaboration integrating the NVIDIA CUDA-Q platform and providing developers tools to build hybrid quantum-AI applications.
• Enterprise-Ready Quantum-AI Platform. The platform is designed so companies can access quantum and AI resources with minimal infrastructure barriers.
• Applications Across Sectors. The data center supports advanced use cases in finance, for risk modeling, fraud detection, and derivatives pricing; security, for simulation, logistics optimization, and decision-making; and AI acceleration, for faster model training and quantum-enhanced machine learning.
• Global Scalability. OQC already has systems operating in London and Tokyo, and the alliance extends its data center deployments to New York.  

Vultr Partnership to Delivers Global AI Infrastructure for Businesses

Digital Realty has also partnered with Vultr, the world’s largest privately-held cloud infrastructure company, to deliver enterprise-ready, GPU-accelerated AI infrastructure in key global markets. This alliance marks a major step toward making AI infrastructure more accessible and compliant, while providing an alternative to large, centralized hyperscalers, according to representatives. 

The partnership combines Vultr’s GPU-accelerated cloud with Digital Realty’s data-centric infrastructure so organizations can run AI workloads with greater speed, security, and compliance. Through direct integration with Digital Realty’s ServiceFabric interconnection platform, users can access Digital Realty AIPx for secure, low-latency connectivity across hybrid environments. 

Vultr’s high-density GPU clusters—accelerated by NVIDIA HGX B200 and AMD Instinct MI325X chips—are now deployed on Digital Realty’s PlatformDIGITAL global data center platform. These resources are live in Atlanta, Dallas, London, and San Francisco, with additional deployments underway in Frankfurt, Mumbai, Sydney, Singapore, and Tokyo.

Key benefits are described by the company are as follows: 

• Enterprises gain fast access to GPU resources through direct interconnection.
• AI workloads can be deployed immediately in pre-validated environments designed for training, inference, and agentic AI.
• Local infrastructure alignment supports efforts to address compliance and sovereignty requirements across global regions.
• Capacity can scale seamlessly with consumption-based models and no long-term lock-in.
• The architecture is built from the ground up for AI, optimized for high-density, GPU-intensive computing.

New Innovation Lab Accelerates AI, Hybrid Cloud Implementation

To help organizations test and implement these and other Digital Realty AI architectures, the company has launched the Digital Realty Innovation Lab (DRIL), a state-of-the-art facility where partners and customers can test, validate, and optimize AI configurations and hybrid cloud infrastructure before full-scale deployment. They can bring their own workloads or use preconfigured infrastructure.

Located in a colocation data center at the company’s Northern Virginia campus, customers can collaborate with partners to replicate real-world architectures for realistic, low-risk testing. They can test performance and connect to cloud and network providers via ServiceFabric, the company’s interconnection platform.

Key features of the DRIL include:

• High-Density AI and HPC Testing. The DRIL supports AI and high-performance computing (HPC) workloads with high-density colocation, accommodating workloads up to 150 kW per cabinet.

• AI Infrastructure Optimization. The ePlus AI Experience Center lets businesses explore AI-specific power, cooling, and GPU resource requirements in an environment optimized for AI infrastructure.

• Hybrid Cloud Validation. With direct cloud connectivity, users can refine hybrid strategies and onboard through cross connects.

• AI Workload Orchestration. Customers can orchestrate AI workloads across Digital Realty's Private AI Exchange (AIPx) for seamless integration and performance.

• Latency Testing Across Locations. Enterprises can test latency scenarios for seamless performance across multiple locations and cloud destinations.

The firm’s Northern Virginia campus is the primary DRIL location, but companies can also test latency scenarios between there and other remote locations. DRIL rollout to other global locations is already in progress, and London is scheduled to go live in early 2026.

Digital Realty, Redeployable Launch Pathway for Veteran Technical Careers

As new data centers are created, they need talented workers. To that end, Digital Realty has partnered with Redeployable, an AI-powered career platform for veterans, to expand access to technical careers in the United Kingdom and United States. The collaboration launched a Site Engineer Pathway, now live on the Redeployable platform. It helps veterans explore, prepare for, and transition into roles at Digital Realty.

Nearly half of veterans leave their first civilian role within a year, often due to unclear expectations, poor skill translation, and limited support, according to Redeployable. The Site Engineer Pathway uses real-world relevance and replaces vague job descriptions with an experience-based view of technical careers.

Veterans can engage in scenario-based “job drops” simulating real facility and system challenges so they can assess their fit for the role before applying. They also get access to Digital Realty’s hiring managers. Their military experience is reviewed by experts who value the mission-critical thinking and operational discipline essential for data-center operations. 

Its AI-driven platform translates military experience into relevant skills, identifies suitable career paths, and provides practical guidance on interviews and networking.

Digital Realty Expands U.S. Clean Energy Portfolio with Hydropower, Solar Power

As part of its overall sustainability strategy for all its global operations, Digital Realty has signed agreements with power providers in Illinois and Pennsylvania to support hydropower and solar power renewable energy infrastructure in Illinois and the Pennsylvania-New Jersey-Maryland markets.  

One new arrangement includes long-term renewable energy agreements with Pennsylvania-based Current Hydro LLC to procure 500 GWh of clean, baseload hydropower from three projects along the Ohio River in the Eastern U.S., with commercial operations expected to start in 2029. This marks a significant expansion of Digital Realty’s contracted hydropower resources.

Under the agreements, the firm will purchase renewable electricity and associated environmental attributes from the hydroelectric projects in: 

• New Cumberland (Hancock County, West Virginia).
• Pike Island (Belmont County, Ohio).
• Robert C. Byrd (Mason County, West Virginia). 

Totaling 68 MW of total expected capacity, the projects will upgrade existing lock-and-dam infrastructure to integrate clean energy generation, avoiding new dam construction or ecological impact.  

In addition, Digital Realty has expanded its Illinois renewable energy commitment by building on its initial 2024 community solar agreement in the state. The company signed new contracts with independent power producer Soltage for additional solar projects totaling 33.5 MW DC statewide.  

Digital Realty’s share—3.4 MW DC of locally sourced solar energy—will support state grids and residents while creating about 88 local jobs. The company already matches 100% of the electricity used by its 11 Illinois data centers with renewable or carbon-free energy; the new projects increase the portion generated locally in Lake, Will, and Stephenson counties. 

These agreements mark a significant step in the company's global sustainability strategy, which includes a goal to reduce data-center Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 68% and Scope 3 emissions by 24% by 2030. 

The company is working to decarbonize its global operations, according to firm representatives. For example, it avoided emitting 1.8 million metric tons of CO₂-equivalent emissions in 2022. And it matches more than 185 of its data centers globally with renewable energy, achieving 75% clean energy coverage across its portfolio.

The company's 2024 Impact Report is now available.

Strategic Moves Continue

These alliances and initiatives reflect Digital Realty’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its role in the global technology landscape, focusing simultaneously on enabling pioneering AI and quantum computing, supporting renewable energy generation, and building a talent pipeline through its veteran recruitment efforts. We’ll continue to report on its activities.

At Data Center Frontier, we talk the industry talk and walk the industry walk. In that spirit, DCF Staff members may occasionally use AI tools to assist with content. Elements of this article were created with help from OpenAI's GPT5.

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