In response to external requests for informed commentary on the subject, and based on a flood of recent news in response to current major industry trends, the DCF Editorial Desk considers where the growth of digital infrastructure is headed. There is growing empirical belief that: Driven by the huge AI boom, the role of edge and micro data centers is ironically becoming front and center.
Back to basics, as data center monitoring specialists Sunbird DCIM so aptly characterizes, “Edge data centers are located close to the populations they serve, with cloud computing resources and cached A small facility that provides content to end users, typically connected to a larger data center. A central data center or multiple data centers.”
In the emerging world of AI, ML, and IoT, the low latency and location advantages of edge and remote computing are likely to become not just nice-to-have, but must-have propositions. The list of edge use cases listed by Sunbird in their handy and evergreen commentary above is: What is an edge data center? This claim reads like evidence for autonomous applications, smart cities, manufacturing, financial institutions, telemedicine, augmented reality, AI virtual assistants, video surveillance, gaming, content distribution, and more.
And this list will undoubtedly include many more, perhaps undreamed-of applications. They all travel at the speed of light to and from the nearest data center (that's what we like to tell our kids). But of course, as Jeff Goldblum, as the hotshot scientist in the movie, passionately points out, Jurassic Park, everything “must go faster”. Then came the early revolution in modular edge and micro data center facilities.
Take It from Tony Grayson
We know that the word “revolution” should not be used lightly. However, in his recent insightful post on LinkedIn, he writes: “Embrace the micro data center revolution” Tony Grayson, a prominent influencer in the data center industry and a recognized leader in business and technology, currently serves as Veterans Chairman of Infrastructure Masons of Seattle and Compass Data Centers. “A shift to micro data centers (DCs) is beginning to occur.”
Grayson believes that adopting micro-DCs offers a compelling proposition, offering not just scalability but critical flexibility and responsiveness to the changing demands of the digital world. “When it’s time to upgrade or expand, deploying a new set of micro DCs can be easier and more cost-effective than retrofitting old infrastructure,” he writes.
Grayson's post continues:
“The pace of change in our industry is staggering, reducing the effectiveness of traditional long-term planning. As we look to the future, building for the 'what if' three to five years from now is an important step forward. It is becoming increasingly clear that many people are betting. The top mark is missing.
why? Because the demand for computing is exploding, and the lifespan of servers is increasing… In this environment, you can tailor your data center to your specific deployment with little room for expansion. It makes practical sense. This strategy recognizes that new data centers will be needed to meet future needs squarely.
Think of the Micro DC as a consumable item, similar to the server it's built into. It has a usable lifespan. By the time a server reaches the end of its lifespan, technical and operational requirements will have evolved to the point where new facility designs are not just necessary, but opportunities for innovation. ”
Agreement between NTT and Schneider Electric provides momentum for edge and micro data centers
After all, the news cycle is usually a reliable guide. Here at Data Center Frontier, we recently looked at how new data center industry partnerships and M&A are driving operator adoption of liquid cooling technology as a cornerstone of AI computing. Now, the same dynamic appears to be impacting the realm of modular edge data centers as well.
So, in their newly announced “Powering AI Innovation at the Edge” initiative, NTT Data and Schneider Electric are now “enabling edge connectivity everywhere.”
In jointly delivering the infrastructure to support the demand for AI applications at the edge, the two companies are collaborating with Germany's Marienpark Berlin to enable a “connected experience” throughout this historic building and bring it to the edge. Support the computational demands of generative AI usage.
The new solution combines NTT Data's Edge as a Service offering to manage edge-to-cloud, private 5G and IoT capabilities, and Schneider Electric's EcoStruxure product line, a modular data center platform that combines OT controls and the latest IT technologies. It's a combination.
The partners say their joint platform will enable companies to maximize energy efficiency when meeting the demands of compute-intensive tasks such as machine vision, predictive maintenance, and other AI inference applications at the edge.
“We listen to our customers and know that the future of digital transformation lies in processing the vast amounts of data generated by edge devices,” said Vice President of New Ventures and Innovation, NTT Ltd. said Shahid Ahmed. “That's why we're excited. We have solutions to address these obstacles and are ready to lead the way to a more connected and efficient digital world. We are excited about the prospects of what our continued collaboration with Schneider Electric means for the industrial sector and beyond.”
According to NTT Data's Edge Advantage report, nearly 70% of enterprises are accelerating edge adoption to solve critical business challenges. Through the new platform offerings, the partners say customers can adapt to digital transformation in remote and brownfield locations where high computing requires critical infrastructure such as power, cooling, racking, and specialized IoT. It says it can now implement a complete solution, including a coordinated edge data center. and an AI management system.
In addition, the two companies are looking to address common customer requirements to meet the growing demand from organizations looking to leverage edge computing to support automation and enable data-driven decision-making. He said he would enter the
MWC Barcelona to Marienpark Berlin
Naming their new collaboration, NTT Data and Schneider Electric announced at Mobile World Congress (MWC Barcelona 2024) this week that they will deploy the first private 5G-enabled EcoStruxure data center in Berlin's Marienpark. This historic site is being developed as an innovation park, covering over 30 hectares (equivalent to 74 acres). The deployment will focus on providing enhanced connectivity and computing experiences to users across campus.
Guido Schütte, Managing Director of Marienpark Berlin, said: “Today's innovation ecosystem at Marienpark is increasingly dependent on specific technological infrastructures. Accessible computing power and high connectivity are key issues. Demands of future users of our community We need an innovative environment with this kind of infrastructure to meet our needs.”
As NTT Data and Schneider Electric noted, the two companies initially engaged in “co-innovation” to test the power of private 5G technology at Schneider Electric's Lexington Smart Factory. The smart factory is the first smart factory showcase site among the company's U.S. factories and utilizes blending. Drive energy efficiency and drive sustainability goals with private 5G, IoT connectivity, edge analytics, and predictive analytics technologies.
Rob McKernan, president of Schneider Electric's cloud and service provider division, said:
“After leveraging NTT Data’s expertise in private 5G connectivity and maximizing synergies with our in-facility EcoStruxure architecture, it’s time to expand our collaboration and offer a complete solution to our industrial customers.” We work together to help clients around the world deploy the right edge computing infrastructure with connected devices, specialized industrial solutions, and modular data centers to access valuable data, especially in the context of IoT and emerging AI requirements. We aim to help you gain insight.”
The companies claim that this new partnership will ultimately address the challenges posed by Industry 4.0 applications, ensuring seamless connectivity, high bandwidth, and secure low-latency connectivity through edge data centers. I am. As quoted in the press release, Camille Mendler, chief analyst for enterprise services at industry research firm Omdia, said:
“Industry 4.0 relies on actionable, data-driven intelligence delivered in real time, whether in factories, industrial parks, airports or office campuses. by 2030, it will account for the majority of digital interactions. To benefit from AI insights, businesses must leverage digital resources at the edge and the technology infrastructure that supports them. You need to invest now.”
The new partnership with NTT builds on a trend exemplified last fall when Schneider Electric, JLL and Lumen announced plans to expand modular data centers across the United States to meet digital infrastructure demands. ing.