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The epicentre of connectivity is the data centre , serving as a central hub for all data and digital interactions . Large , climate-controlled rooms fortified with high security and supported by robust , uninterrupted power are intrinsic to global communication . But data centres shouldn ’ t just be thought of as huge out-of-town developments , we have an opportunity to increase urban presence , transforming historic strategic exchanges into colocation hosts .
This will stitch together a resilient digital fabric for the UK and give businesses a boost . While colocation centres vary greatly between providers , with some located in traditional data centre facilities , the positive impact of transforming long-term strategic exchanges should not be understated , particularly on the environment .
By threading the needle between old infrastructure and future demands , colocation services help ensure the UK remains at the forefront of global connectivity and closer to net zero goals too .
Battling a power and space dilemma
From video calls and streaming to AI and collaboration tools , the mind boggles to think about how individuals and businesses use data-hungry apps to stay connected on the go . More than 402.74 million terabytes of data are created each day and this will only increase .
Sustaining a robust and resilient data centre to underpin this is crucial but it isn ’ t easy . Not only does a data centre require significant infrastructure investment to ensure it can keep up with data demands , but the energy , expertise and space needed to maintain one is huge too .
Whilst global corporations may be able to budget for this , small and medium-sized enterprise ( SMEs ) often can ’ t or may only need small estates before expanding .
So how do we solve this dilemma ? Through colocation .
By enabling organisations to rent the data centre space they need across the country , colocation boosts latency and availability . For example , businesses could improve user experience by colocating within data centres strategically placed within major long-term strategic exchanges or using services to manage seasonal spikes in traffic without the need for significant upfront investment .
Breaking down the benefits
Colocation boasts numerous benefits that businesses of all sizes should take advantage of . The three key things you need to know are :
1 . It ’ s cost-effective . By sharing infrastructure with other tenants , colocation can help to reduce capital expenditures . This also means that businesses , that might initially only need a part of a data centre , can start small and grow as their business does . This also protects them from having to put in substantial investment upfront .
2 . It offers greater reliability . Colocation centres are designed to be robust and are ingrained with Disaster Recovery measures to guarantee Business Continuity . This is essential for businesses that rely on uninterrupted access to data for both their own operations and to service their customers .
Urban colocation centres can also help to bring data closer to the end-users , reducing latency and improving user experience . By strategically placing their data centre operations within major strategic exchanges in densely populated areas , businesses can better manage seasonal spikes in traffic and ensure faster , more reliable connections for their customers .
3 . It ’ s smart and sustainable . As legacy networks are decommissioned , such as the public switch
telephone network ( PSTN ) and 2G and 3G networks ,
Ian Cottingham , Director , Mobile Network Operators , BT Wholesale
Data centres shouldn ’ t just be thought of as huge out-of-town developments , we have an opportunity to increase urban presence , transforming historic strategic exchanges into colocation hosts .
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