Italy has long been considered an important country in the data center industry, and the market continues to grow and evolve. In recent years, Italy has seen the emergence of new data centers, the expansion of existing facilities, and the development of new technologies to help meet the needs of businesses in the country. As a result, the data center market has become increasingly competitive and offers a wide range of options for businesses looking to invest in the technology. JSA Media Consultant João Marques Lima offers a closer look.
A data centre is a facility that houses large amounts of computer hardware, software, and other equipment used to store, process, and transmit data.
These facilities are often designed and built to meet the specific needs of businesses and are often located near major cities and towns.
In Italy, home to more than 62 million people and a GDP of US$1.82 trillion, there are a number of data centers located in major cities such as Milan, Rome, Florence, and Naples.
According to the latest report from ResearchAndMarkets.com, the Italian data centre market is expected to reach a value of US$5.2 billion by 2027. In its regional report, the group also states that the total investment in the Italian data centre market was over US$2 billion in 2020.
Think tank Cloudscene estimates that there are currently 153 data centres and 196 service providers in the country.
The market is witnessing an increase in the number of internet users, leading to the generation of more data traffic, which is driving the growth of the market. In terms of square footage, Italy is projected to have around 3 million square feet of data centre space by 2027. However, as common practice in the sector, the estimate is likely to fall short from the true expansion numbers.
Moreover, the adoption of submarine cables is expected to further boost the Italy data centre market due to the growing demand for hyperscale capacity.
The country is also observing an uptake for colocation service providers for their data centre spaces due to the growth of COVID-19-induced demand.
In terms of energy availability, Italy has a good coverage in the energy sector, which is important for any data centre market.
Major cloud service providers are planning to set up cloud regions in the country, which will further propel the growth of the market.
Benefits of Investing in the Italian Data Center Market
There are a number of benefits to investing in the Italian data center market. The country is home to a growing number of businesses, and these businesses often rely on data centers to store and process vast amounts of data. As a result, these businesses require reliable, high-performance data centers to ensure that their data is safe and secure. Additionally, the Italian data center market offers access to some of the most advanced technology and software in the world, allowing businesses to take advantage of the latest innovations in the industry.
There are a number of data center providers in Italy, offering businesses a variety of options to suit their needs. Some of the most popular providers in Italy include HPE, IBM, Data4, Vantage Data Centers, Atlas Edge, STACK Infrastructure and Equinix. Each of these providers offers a range of services, ranging from basic storage and hosting to advanced cloud computing. Additionally, each provider offers a range of managed services, allowing businesses to outsource the management of their data centers to a trusted provider.
The northern part of Italy is home to some of the most advanced data centers in the country. The cities of Milan, Turin, and Genoa are all major hubs for data centers, and present a range of services and facilities to companies looking to expand their presence in the country. Milan, in particular, is a major center for data centers and cloud hosting, with major players such as Amazon Web Services, Google, and Microsoft all having a presence in the city. In addition, Italy’s northernmost regions are home to a number of major telecommunications companies, giving companies access to some of the most advanced digital infrastructure in the country.
The south of Italy is also home to a number of data centers, with the major cities of Rome and Naples being the most important for the country’s technology industry. Rome is the largest city in Italy and is home to a number of major data center providers, including Hewlett Packard Enterprise and IBM. The city also boasts a number of other major technology companies, such as SAP, Oracle, and Dell, making it a hub for cloud computing and data storage.
In addition to the major cities, Italy’s southern regions are also home to a number of smaller data centers and cloud hosting providers. The cities of Bari, Salerno, and Bologna are all important technology hubs, and offer companies the opportunity to access a range of services and facilities.
The recently launched Italian Datacenter Association, or IDA, has become proof of the rapidly expanding data center scene across the country with all major operators – colo and hyperscale – now members. The association intends to, amongst other things, strengthen Italy as a location for the development and presence of data centers, foster more streamlined processes for building and operating facilities, promote energy efficiency and environmental sustainability, and develop talent.
Emmanuel Becker, President of IDA, said: “Today there is no business without digital. Strengthened by this conviction.
“The association will make a decisive contribution to the digitalisation of the country. We have formed a united front with the main companies active in the data center sector in Italy to promote the economic growth of the nation.”
###
