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Latest episodes

Feb 28, 2025 • 18min
Bogota Data Center Market Overview - Latin America Regional Podcast: Ep 2
Get more market insights here:https://shorturl.at/QWTRtWelcome to episode 2 of our industry insight series, where Steve Sasse, our Regional Director for Americas, and Daniel Correia, Senior Insight Analyst at DatacenterHawk, deep dive into the vibrant LATAM data center market.Understanding the Market Size and Major PlayersIn this section, Daniel shares some critical figures outlining Bogota's data center prowess. With a commissioned power capacity of 37 megawatts and another 60 in the pipeline, Bogota's digital infrastructure is thriving. Exploring the Benefits of Zona FrancaZona Franca, located in Bogota, stands as a beacon of opportunity for data center operators. The area offers attractive tax and regulatory perks like tax exemptions and reduced import/export duties that help operators lower operational costs and cultivate a welcoming business environment.Unlocked Market Potential and the Role of PoliticsOur experts believe that Bogota holds untapped potential for growth, particularly post the 2026 elections. Political matters such as tax reforms and foreign direct investments shape the landscape of the data center industry in Colombia. As the market readies for an expansion phase, data center providers are already preparing to cater to the expected surge in demand.Harnessing Renewable Energy and Exploring Expansion PossibilitiesFinally, the conversation shifts to Colombia's use of renewable energy sources and expansion plans. With hydro as their primary renewable energy source and increasing investments in wind and solar, Colombia is leading the sustainability race. Moreover, while Bogota holds the majority of the data center market share, other cities like Medellin and Cali are on the radar for potential edge data center expansions in the near future.Tune in to the full episode for more detailed insights into the Bogota Columbia market and its promising future.

Feb 20, 2025 • 23min
Understanding Powered Shell Data Centers
When it comes to the data center industry, staying informed about evolving development models is critical. And recently, Powered Shells have gained significant attention in the market.We sat down with industry experts David Liggitt and Mike Netzer to discuss the rise of Powered Shell data centers and their role in meeting today’s increasing demand for efficient and adaptable infrastructure. This blog explores everything from the history of Powered Shells to the benefits they offer end-users, data center operators, and developers.What is a Powered Shell?A Powered Shell is a purpose-built, secure data center facility that includes the physical structure, power to the site, and connectivity options, such as proximity to fiber providers. However, it omits critical IT infrastructure like UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) systems, generators, and cooling systems, allowing end-users to install their own components.This model contrasts with Turnkey Data Centers, which include all necessary IT equipment, ready for immediate operation. Powered Shells provide a flexible and cost-effective alternative, with leasing arrangements typically based on square footage rather than the industry-standard price per kilowatt (kW).Why Are Powered Shells Gaining Popularity Now?The modern data center landscape looks vastly different from that of a decade ago. Key factors contributing to the renewed interest in Powered Shells include:1. Hyperscale InvestmentBig-name companies like Amazon, Microsoft, Google, and Meta are making massive investments in data center infrastructure—announcing plans to spend $100 billion, $80 billion, $75 billion, and $60–80 billion respectively. This surge in demand for scalable solutions drives innovative approaches like Powered Shell development.2. Speed to MarketTo keep up with rapid growth, companies are seeking faster ways to bring data center capacity online. Powered Shells provide an advantage by allowing end-users to set up critical infrastructure and operations in less time.3. Flexibility and CustomizationUnlike Turnkey models, Powered Shells offer end-users the flexibility to install and manage their own IT, power, and cooling equipment. This approach is particularly appealing to organizations with unique requirements, such as liquid cooling or customized design preferences.4. Capital Allocation EfficiencyFor many businesses, building a full Turnkey data center is cost-prohibitive. Powered Shells reduce upfront capital demands while still delivering a secure, scalable solution.Geographic Trends and Market AdoptionPowered Shell developments have historically been concentrated in key markets like Northern Virginia, which accounts for approximately 100 of the 130 Powered Shell deals tracked globally. However, this model is gaining traction in other regions due to constraints around land availability, power, and evolving end-user needs.Developers and operators looking to expand internationally should also monitor markets like Europe. For example, a recent €200 billion investment in France for AI and data center infrastructure highlights the growing demand beyond the U.S.Looking AheadAs data center deals grow in size—often exceeding hundreds of megawatts—hybrid models combining Powered Shell and Turnkey facilities are becoming increasingly common. These arrangements allow developers to balance capital allocation while meeting diverse client needs.Powered Shells also provide a natural entry point for industrial developers entering the data center market. By leveraging their expertise in building large-scale industrial sites, these developers can adapt their portfolios to serve the growing digital infrastructure sector.

Feb 18, 2025 • 26min
Data Center Challenges and Opportunities with Santiago Suinaga, CEO of iMasons
Santiago Suinaga, CEO of Infrastructure Masons (iMasons), discusses the rapid evolution of the data center industry. He highlights the 'Four Ps' challenges: Power constraints are pushing developers to seek nontraditional markets. The talent gap is a pressing issue, emphasizing the need for skilled professionals. He also addresses the industry's perception, advocating for greater public awareness. Additionally, Santiago shares insights on innovative energy solutions and collaboration's vital role in overcoming these hurdles and ensuring future growth.

Feb 12, 2025 • 26min
Land Battle: Powered vs Unpowered in Data Center Development
Our latest discussion features Mike Netzer and David Liggitt, as they explore the topic of powered land in the data center industry. The Transformation of Data Centers: Take a journey through the history of data centers, highlighting the migration from rural markets to bustling cities such as Chicago, Phoenix, and Northern Virginia, fueled by cloud availability zones. The New Era of Data Center Development: Discover the current focus on powered land. Developers are buying up land, supplying power, and selling it for profit. With an ever-growing demand for larger data centers, from 36MW to a staggering 500MW, the landscape is quickly changing. Navigating Challenges in Power Land Acquisition: Not everything is smooth sailing in the industry. Developers face hurdles in obtaining power for land development, as utility companies impose more stringent requirements and costs for site surveys and study plans. Balancing Opportunities and Risks: Enter the world of high stakes and high returns in the data center space. This long-term investment requires substantial capital and expertise, with shifting market dynamics focusing on alternative energy solutions and strategic workforce planning. Key Insights: The US data center market is booming and drawing in a crowd of investors and developers. To be successful, one must understand the landscape, differentiate real versus speculative projects, and make strategic decisions.

Feb 11, 2025 • 19min
APAC Regional Podcast Episode 1
The Asia-Pacific (APAC) region continues to be a vital hub for the global data center industry, driven by rapid digital transformation, growing cloud adoption, and the increasing demand for artificial intelligence (AI) applications. To unpack the latest developments in this fast-moving sector, datacenterHawk recently hosted a podcast featuring Dedi Iskandar, Regional Director – APAC, and Donny Gunadi, Senior Insight Analyst – APAC. Together, they provided deep insights into the APAC data center market, including emerging trends, key players, and the dynamics shaping this burgeoning industry.During the discussion, Donny highlighted significant developments in the APAC region over the past five years. One notable trend is the influx of Western and Chinese hyperscalers entering the market, particularly in countries like Indonesia and other Southeast Asian nations. These hyperscalers—major cloud service providers such as AWS, Microsoft, and Alibaba Cloud—are driving colocation demand and pushing the industry forward.Interestingly, while Australia's data center market remains dominated by Western hyperscalers such as AWS and Google, countries like Indonesia have emerged as particularly attractive markets due to their large populations and increasing digital maturity. Meanwhile, AI-related requirements across the region are also ramping up, especially as both cloud providers and enterprises explore the potential of AI training and inference workloads.The hosts also explored how mature markets such as Sydney, Singapore, and Tokyo differ from rapidly growing emerging markets like Bangkok, Jakarta, and Johor Bahru. Mature markets typically offer robust infrastructure, established connectivity, and higher levels of competition. These regions remain highly attractive but may face growth limitations due to high land prices and limited power availability.On the other hand, emerging markets present unique opportunities. Regions like Jakarta and Batam have attracted significant investments, partially due to Singapore’s moratorium on new data center developments. These markets offer more affordable real estate opportunities and untapped potential, but they also come with challenges such as uneven access to power infrastructure and connectivity hurdles.For instance, Jakarta, with its population of over 270 million, is a prime example of a fast-growing market with high demand. However, as Donny emphasized, different markets require tailored strategies based on local regulations, infrastructure maturity, and availability of land and resources.Among the emerging markets discussed, Melbourne stood out as a promising alternative to its larger Australian counterpart, Sydney. Despite Sydney’s position as the dominant leader in the market—being two to three times larger in scale—Melbourne offers distinct advantages. Donny identified the following factors driving Melbourne's growth:Comparable Population: With approximately 5–5.5 million residents, Melbourne’s population is similar to Sydney’s, making it an attractive target for data center investment.Affordable Land Prices: Industrial areas in Melbourne’s northwest have been effectively converted into data center campuses, offering cost advantages over Sydney.Emerging Connectivity: Efforts to enhance Melbourne’s telecommunication and submarine cable infrastructure are bolstering its competitiveness as a key data center hub.Colocation Providers and Hyperscalers: Major players like Equinix and hyperscalers such as AWS are increasing their investment in the city, adding momentum to Melbourne's rise.This combination of factors places Melbourne as a high-potential market, particularly for data center operators looking for cost-effective entry points with long-term growth potential.

Jan 30, 2025 • 28min
PTC Recap 2025 & DeepSeek Thoughts
Take an insider's look into the rapidly evolving data center industry with this riveting discussion featuring Mike Netzer, VP of Sales and Marketing, and David Liggitt, Founder/President at datacenterHawk. This video delves deep into the industry's hottest topics, providing a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and opportunities currently unfolding.
Key Insights:
Pacific Telecommunications Council (PTC) Conference: The growth in attendance and escalating interest in data centers underscores the importance and influence of this industry.
AI Technology Impacts: Understand the ripple effects of new AI technology on data center design, power requirements, and financial complexities.
Cooling & Design Flexibility: Learn about the challenges and potential of liquid cooling and design flexibility in the changing landscape of data centers.
Credibility & Experience: Delve into why credibility, financial expertise, and hands-on experience are invaluable assets in data center operation and development.
Navigating Market Shifts: Gather insights into the strategic decision-making required to adapt to market shifts and technological advancements for sustained success.
Immerse yourself in this enlightening conversation and equip yourself with the knowledge to navigate the ever-changing data center industry!
Watch, learn, and stay ahead of the curve with the industry leaders!

Jan 23, 2025 • 19min
Regional Podcast Episode 1 – EMEA
Join David Sandars, our Regional Director for EMEA, and Luis Bravo, a Senior Insight Analyst here at datacenterHawk, as they dive into an enlightening discussion about the development of the European data center industry.
In this podcast chat, David and Luis explore the industry's evolution over the past three decades. They shed light on the key markets like Frankfurt, London, Amsterdam, Paris, and Dublin that have shaped the European data center landscape.
The conversation then turns south, exploring the emergence of fresh markets in Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece, and Austria. Our experts delve into the factors fueling this development, such as power availability and regulatory climates.
Specific insights are given into Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece, and Poland's data center developments. These insights showcase the significant investments being made and the activities of hyperscalers in these regions.
The discussion ventures into the colder climates of Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Norway, and Iceland, where new locations are being scouted.
In conclusion, this conversation emphasizes the industry's shift towards new markets, the importance of sustainability practices, and how connectivity is driving growth.
Watch now to gain a deeper understanding of the evolving landscape of the European data center industry.

Jan 22, 2025 • 16min
Regional Podcast Episode 1 – Latin America
In this podcast discussion, Steve Sasse, our Regional Director for the Americas, and Daniel Correia, our talented Senior Insight Analyst, explore the complexities and opportunities within the Latin American data center market.
Opening Insights
Our experts start by introducing the overall market size, naming key players, and explaining some of the unique elements that characterize the Latin American region. We learn that the total commissioned power of the Latin American data center market stands at around 1.3 gigawatts - an impressive figure given the region's growing tech economies.
Key Markets
Sao Paulo emerges as the lead market, accounting for 44% of the region's power. However, Santiago in Chile and Querétaro in Mexico also hold important positions, highlighting the varied opportunities for investment and growth.
Unique Market Aspects
The experts delve into the unique facets of the Latin American market, including cheap land availability and strong investments in renewable energy. These factors make the region a viable location for data center establishments keen to capitalize on cost-effective land and energy supplies.
Emerging Markets and Power Challenges
Our experts highlight a few emerging cities such as Rio de Janeiro, Fortaleza, Buenos Aires, and Bogota. They also delve into the inherent power challenges in the region, notably in Brazil and Querétaro, due to distribution difficulties and administrative hurdles.
Market Entry Strategies
To conclude, the conversation focuses on strategies for successful entry into this promising market. Crucial factors such as understanding local cultures, hiring local talent, navigating regulations, and energy access take centre stage. Notably, our experts emphasize that what works in one market may not necessarily be effective in another, underpinning the need for adaptive strategies.
Whether you're a seasoned data center professional or a newcomer to the industry, this video is a must-watch for those interested in the Latin American data center market. Click through to gain valuable insights that could shape your strategic planning and growth in the region!

Jan 22, 2025 • 23min
Next-Gen Data Centers: Insights on Efficiency and Design
Host, Mike Netzer of datacenterHawk connects with the innovative minds behind Hyper Solutions, Dennis Strieter and Vladimir Gulkarov. Together, they delve into the unique world of the data center industry, discussing their journey, the challenges they've faced, and the future trajectory of the industry.
From Humble Beginnings to Industry Leaders
In the opening segment, Dennis and Vladimir recount their individual paths into the data center industry. Dennis transitioned from a humble role as an office manager to becoming a top salesperson in the industry, while for Vladimir, it was a familial influence that carved his niche in the sector, starting in high-performance computing before transitioning to PDI and Eaton Corp.
The Birth of Hyper Solutions
The discussion moves forward to the birth of Hyper Solutions, a company born out of the trials faced during the COVID-19 pandemic with the vision to bring innovative solutions to data center manufacturing. They aim to disrupt the industry through a network effect model, akin to companies like Uber and Airbnb. Hyper Solutions' approach focuses on improving assembly processes, cutting down on lead times, and enhancing quality through innovative engineering and the smart use of distributed resources.
Future-Proofing the Data Center Industry
The conversation then gravitates towards the future, underscoring the importance of sustained innovation, scalability, and adapting to emerging technological demands. They predict that the industry will shift towards water-cooled systems and increased miniaturization of equipment for enhanced efficiency in power distribution. This future-gazing discussion highlights the need for continuous innovation, waste reduction, and improved product design to meet the ever-changing data center requirements, catering to the demands of both hyperscalers and enterprises.

Jan 14, 2025 • 33min
Data Centers In Space?! - Quarterly Data Center Update
On our latest edition of the datacenterHawk Podcast, Mike Netzer and David Liggitt engaged in a discussion about the future of data centers. They touched upon a range of topics from the potential of alternative energy sources to the growth in key markets such as Atlanta and Dallas. In this blog post, we distill the significant insights from the conversation and gauge their impact on the evolution of the data center industry.
Global Market Trends in the Data Center Industry
The conversation underscored the hefty investments pouring into data centers worldwide – North America, Europe, Latin America, or the Asia-Pacific. Concentrating on unique market microtrends, we see an industry evolving towards a more globalized approach. This shift is propelled by soaring demands for data center services and the necessity for advanced infrastructure to support emergent technologies like AI.
The Evolution of Data Center Designs
Another central issue discussed was the changing design of data centers, particularly with respect to liquid cooling density. Tech giants like Microsoft are reassessing their campus designs to accommodate new technologies and enhance efficiency. Reflecting the industry's relentless urge to adapt to changing needs and optimize operations, as data centers grow more intricate and power-demanding, innovative design solutions become critical to cater to the burgeoning demand for digital services.
Navigating the Power Supply Challenge in Data Center Contracts
The conversation also delved into the intricacies of securing utility provisions in data center contracts. With emphasis on PowerShell deals and the necessity for flexibility in lease structures, data center operators are steering through convoluted agreements to maintain a steady power supply. As the industry progresses, the significance of strategic partnerships and robust contractual frameworks increases. By facing these challenges head-on, data center operators can circumvent risks and enhance operational resilience.
Putting Data Centers in Space?
Leveraging the insights shared by Mike and David, the concept of data centers in space introduces a groundbreaking frontier for the industry. By utilizing the unique environment of space, operators can harness benefits such as consistent cooling due to extreme temperatures and the potential for efficient energy use through advanced solar technologies. Additionally, placing data centers in orbit could alleviate terrestrial constraints, such as land scarcity and environmental impact, while enabling faster global networking through reduced latency in certain configurations. However, this ambitious vision comes with significant technical, logistical, and regulatory challenges that require innovative solutions, extensive collaboration, and substantial investment. As this area continues to evolve, it represents a bold step toward redefining the possibilities within the data center landscape.
Wrapping up, the dialogue between Mike Netzer and David Liggitt presents an insightful lens to view the current and future trajectory of the data center industry. From geographical expansions to design innovations and contractual nuances, the industry is witnessing massive transformations to cater to the demands of an increasingly digital world. By staying abreast of these changes and being adaptable, data center professionals can effectively steer through these shifts and drive sustainable growth in the dynamic data center market.