Artificial intelligence is rapidly redefining the technology landscape, and its impact on data center infrastructure in Asia is profound. While there is much to consider, here are some of the top trends we’re seeing in the market.
High-density DC infrastructure is now the new normal
With the proliferation of AI, rack densities have increased dramatically over the years. It’s no longer just about adding power to the rack and expanding infrastructure, but essentially, rethinking the design, power, cooling and operations within the data centre to meet the requirements of this new normal.
DC development opportunities across Asia are set to rise
While DC hubs within the region have traditionally been in countries like Singapore, Sydney, Melbourne and Hong Kong, we’ve seen substantial growth in data centers across other Southeast Asian markets including Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Korea and Japan over the past twelve months, and Governments putting more policies in place to support the industry’s growth.
Liquid cooling underpins AI Data Centres
With heat generated from AI compute, traditional air systems are no longer able to keep up. Liquid cooling, on the other hand, is able to do so. As companies look to scale their data centre capacity to meet the AI demand, we’re seeing more of a shift from air to liquid.
Infrastructure needs to be flexible, scalable and future-proof
Capitalizing on the opportunities of AI requires navigating a number of variables beyond just cooling and power requirements. As rack loads increase, so does rack weight. This has led to a growth in campus style arrangements in countries like Malaysia and Indonesia as it enables easy increase in floor loading and future expansion. Modular power and cooling systems also allow for flexibility as the needs of AI evolve.
Overcoming challenges to ride the AI wave
While AI presents a huge amount of opportunity, there are challenges that need to be overcome. The pursuit of increased power is not just based on its availability, but also on its reliability. Water for data centre operations is also scarce, and as data centre environments evolved, this also brings about a new need for a different set of skilled workforce.
We are just at the start of the AI era, and demand is only set to grow. The task ahead is not just to keep pace with AI, but to build resilient foundations designed to meet and adapt to the evolving technology needs.
Paul Churchill recently shared some of these insights in an interview with DCD Talks. Click here to watch the full video.
