FOREWORD
FOREWORD
The broadband debate...
05
Looking towards the future
The data centre infrastructure landscape is constantly evolving, and the building
of new facilities couldn’t be more polarised. On the one hand we’re seeing
supersized data centres from the likes of Apple, Facebook and Google. But on the
other, with the rise of edge computing where smaller data centres are positioned
at the edge of a network to quickly connect users to services including mobile
HDvast
video
and cloud
services.
also
seeing
a flurry
Not a month goes by without someone finding a newcomputing,
way to send
amounts
of data
down We’re
a single
fibre,
but how
willof even smaller
facilities
emerging.
ever-present high-speed broadband make a difference
to our Internet
experience? We could be interconnected with experts from
Modular
data centres
are the
at the
heart
of this growing
phenomenon,
and while
all conceivable professions, accessing scientific and everyday
equipment
all over
globe,
reaching
communities
of all shapes
it’s unlikely they’ll mark the end of larger corporate and co-location facilities, they
and sizes, using all sorts of new applications and services — all in real time. High-speed broadband can enable our projects to
present us with an interesting look at how data centres are changing. Although it’s
be adopted across both our business and social lives,not
and
thethe
only
effective
waywho
to deliver
this future
is with approach
a fibre optic-based
just
bigger
players
are taking
a modular
and, the options
infrastructure.Tech investment is hitting record highs in available
the UK and
the
essential
foundation
of
this
booming
growth
is access
to
can range from a prefabricated building to a room,
to a converted
broadband. In an ideal world the whole of the Unitedshipping
Kingdom’s
telecoms
network
would
be
based
off
a
pure
fibre
optic
network,
container, to a small self-contained enclosure with a minimal footprint.
but in reality it makes more economic sense to upgradeThis
whatroute
already
Convincing
stakeholders
that environmental
fibre is a necessary
mayexists.
be taken
simply for
cost savings,
efficiencies and
faster
for users,
but modular
datathe
centres
arecase
important
forThe
small
and large
investment is yet another obstacle. There is a clear role
hereaccess
for providers
to help
demonstrate
business
for fibre.
good
companies
alike.ever
For closer
small to
mediumbut
enterprises,
they
provide
the additional
Cooling
news is that all
of the major operators are bringing fibre
optic cables
to homes,
we need to
focus
on take-up
of
Data Centre Climate Control
advantage
andwe
benefits
centres,
but
superfast broadband by businesses, not just consumers.
In ten or features
twenty years
might offered
be ableby
to traditional
replace thedata
last few
metres
of without
the
associated
investment.
copper and coax with a true fibre optic connection, but time will tell.
Exciting times are indeed ahead, and thanks to collaborative exercises such as
the
Open Compute Project, different elements of the industry are moving forwards
Enjoy the issue.
together. Coupled with the quickening pace of advances in rack, enclosure and
cooling technologies, and the future certainly looks bright.
Nick Wells
July/August 2016
NETWORKS
EUROPE
The magazine for network and data centre professionals
PHYSICAL
SECURITY
OPEN COMPUTE
PROJECT
MODULAR DATA
CENTRES
Racks - the last line of defence
or the first layer of security?
Is collaboration more
efficient than ownership?
Data centre hardware in
multiple locations.
Editor – Netcomms Europe
James Abbott
Editor – Networks Europe
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www.networkseuropemagazine.com
NETCOMMS europe Volume V Issue 3 2015
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