Data Center News Roundup: 2024 Industry Trends, New Developments in Focus

With data center news moving faster than ever, we want to make it easy for industry professionals to cut through the noise and find the most important stories of the week.

The Data Center Knowledge News Roundup brings you the latest news and developments across the data center industry – from investments and mergers to security threats and industry trends.

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2024 Predictions 

Hello, once again, from the DCK editorial team – and Happy New Year! 

If there was an overarching theme within the data center industry during 2023, it was that data centers reached new frontiers, both literally and figuratively. 

As the industry gears up for what’s hoped to be another strong year, don’t miss our exclusive predictions that outline the upcoming trends for 2024: 

This insight from our industry experts will help you kickstart the year on a high note. 

Movers and Shakers 

Intelhas appointed former Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company executive Justin Hotard to head its data center and artificial intelligence group.

Hotard was responsible for HPE’s high-performance computing, AI, and labs. At Intel, he’ll oversee some of the company’s most important products, including the Xeon server processors. He will succeed company veteran Sandra Riera, who is moving to Intel’s programmable solutions business. 

Meanwhile, reports have emerged that ASML Holding canceled shipments of some of its machines to China at the request of US President Joe Biden’s administration, weeks before export bans on the high-end chipmaking equipment came into effect, people familiar with the matter said. 

The Dutch manufacturer had licenses to ship three top-of-the-line deep ultraviolet lithography machines to Chinese firms until January when new Dutch restrictions take full effect. However, US officials reached out to ASML to ask them to immediately halt pre-scheduled shipments of some of the machines to Chinese customers, according to people familiar with the matter. 

American Tower Corporation agreed to sell its operations in India to an affiliate of Brookfield Asset Management, in a deal worth about $2.5 billion to the US networking company. 

The sale lets American Tower focus on its telecommunications tower and data center businesses in markets such as the US. 

New Builds 

In data center development news this week, EdgeCore Digital Infrastructure has announced the completion of a $1.9 billion debt refinancing transaction to fund scalable development on its data center campus in Mesa, Arizona. 

"The development of scalable data center campuses designed to support the density requirements of hyperscalers is EdgeCore's sole focus, and one that we address with sustainable construction, operations and business practices in mind," said EdgeCore spokesperson, Julie Brewer. 

Elsewhere, N+One has signed a memorandum of understanding for the construction of a new facility in Casablanca, Morocco, while Marcos Peigo, co-founder and CEO at Scala Data Centers, unveiled what’s purportedly the first-ever weather-proof outdoor data center construction in Latin America. 

Peigo took to LinkedIn to share pictures of the Tamboré Campus SGRUTB10, currently under construction in Brazil and covered by a huge inflatable tent ahead of the rainy season. 
For more on the latest global data center developments, check out our in-depth January roundup. 

Hi-Tech Developments

We're just a week into January, and the tech world has already delivered some significant news updates. 

First, Europe is set to launch Jupiter, its first exascale computer to rival the most powerful supercomputers in the world. 

Jupiter will be housed at the Jülich Supercomputing Centre in Germany and is expected to be capable of one exaflop, or one billion-billion calculations per second. The cost of building and operating the supercomputer for six years is projected at €500 million ($545 million). 

Meanwhile, New Scientist revealed that researchers have created a functional semiconductor from graphene for the first time, creating the possibility of computer chips with greater performance and efficiency. 

What’s In Your Go-Bag? 

Finally, have you ever wondered what tools a data center engineer needs to keep a large global infrastructure running? Now you can find out, thanks to an interesting video posted to YouTube: 

A laptop, KVM adaptor, label maker, fiber patch cables, serial console adapter, WiFi adaptor, USB hub, RJ45 crimper, cable cutters, and flashlight were all listed as must-have in this TSA-compliant data center go-bag. 

However, one user said the noise-canceling headphones should be replaced by “actual ear protection,” given how noisy data centers can get. 

Is there anything you feel is missing from this list? Let us know in the comments below. 

Other Great Reads on DCK This Week 

NHS Data Centers Now 'Fully Decommissioned' Following Spine Move to Cloud. Cloud migration for the UK health system's information-sharing platform is complete. 

Cooling Innovation in Action: An In-Depth Look at the COOLERCHIPS Initiative. This free report offers an in-depth look at the US Department of Energy’s COOLERCHIPS initiative. 

7 Top AI Companies to Watch in 2024. These are the top AI companies to watch in 2024 – ones that could potentially challenge OpenAI. 

The EU Takes the Lead in AI Regulation. The EU’s Artificial Intelligence Act is intended to create a balance between regulation and innovation – and its implementation will be felt by partners all over the world. 

Samsung Delays Production at New US Factory to 2025. The news potentially deals another blow to the Biden administration's ambition to increase domestic semiconductor supplies.