Happy Friday all, and welcome to Data Center Digest.
This is the newsletter that examines data centers and the people, technologies, and trends that make them run.

Here’s what we’re looking at today:

• How are we going to fix the data center staffing shortage? (We have ideas)

• EdgeCore is switching it up to 800G, raising the bar for AI

• Big Deals: QTS is investing big in the Lonestar state, two new Atlanta projects to add 5 million sqft

• Hot Links: A fascinating podcast about cabling and a nice article about AI and hyperscalers and hard choices

Est. read time: 5mins 02secs

How are we going to staff these Tier II/III data centers?

For over 10 years, the data center industry has been grappling with a talent shortage. As aging professionals are nearing retirement in the coming decade, the shifting market conditions are going to make staffing a massive challenge.

Changing landscape

Global data consumption is skyrocketing. But with Tier 1 markets getting overly saturated (vacancy rates in some cities are at record lows) demand is starting to branch out to Tier II and III markets, places like the Midwest, Boston, and Denver.

This trend will increase demand for staff at legacy facilities.

And while Tier I hyperscale facilities are optimized for minimal staff, these older, smaller facilities in Tier II and Tier III markets aren’t as efficient.
So a shift in the industry toward a greater number of smaller sites is likely to greatly intensify the need for qualified data center people.

Invisible Industry

The data center world is, not by accident, a very anonymous sector. It's only over the past couple of years we've seen branding on buildings and data centers announcing their community presence.

This invisibility hinders recruitment. According to Uptime Institute's surveys, 53% of operators struggled to find qualified workers in 2022, up from 47% in 2021. And the gender gap's glaring: only 4% of companies are close to gender balance.

Not to mention, the industry’s staffing requirements will grow to 2.3 million professionals — adding 300,000 trained professionals to the sector in as little as five years.

How do we fix it? Some ideas:

• Cross-training: Leveraging skills from related fields, such as HVAC or construction where data center needs are matched with specific competencies, could be critical.

• Public-Private Partnerships (PPP): Collaborate with local governments to create specialized training programs, leveraging government resources and industry expertise to equip candidates with industry-specific skills.

• Apprenticeships: Meet talented kids where they are! Partner with educational institutions to offer hands-on apprenticeship programs, providing students with real-world experience while filling short-term staffing needs.

• Industry Awareness Campaigns: Launch global campaigns highlighting the importance of data centers in our modern world, their career potential, and their foundational role in emerging tech sectors.

Or data centers can do what EPI is doing and offer millions in scholarships for new data center pros to get professionally certified.

Edgecore raises the bar with 800G switches

Edgecore Networks (not EdgeCore Data Centers) is diving deeper into the AI and machine learning (ML) space by introducing its 800G-optimized switch designed to cater to AI/ML tasks in data centers.

The Taiwan-based company's latest offering, the DCS560, boasts 51.2 Tb/s switching capacity.
It features 64 ports that support 800G interfaces, powered by Broadcom’s StrataXGS Tomahawk 5 series silicon, aimed specifically to enhance hyperscale data center functionalities.

Nanda Ravindran, VP of product management at Edgecore, emphasized that AI/ML tasks present unique networking demands.

DCS560

The DCS560, with its adaptive routing and dynamic load-balancing features, is tailored to meet these challenges, ensuring optimal job completion durations.

The DCS560 is designed with hyperscale data centers adopting Ethernet-based fabrics to hasten AI task completion times.
Available in two models – one with OSFP800 optical interfaces and another with QSFP-DD800 – the switch was designed for flexibility in cabling and optics.

Notably, the DCS560 is built for high reliability with features like redundant power supplies and fans. The switch also runs on the open-source SONiC (Software for Open Networking in the Cloud) platform, which has been gaining traction in the telecom sector.

Edgcore claims that the DCS560 offers double the bandwidth, energy efficiency, and superior load balancing over its predecessors.

This release places Edgecore in direct competition with giants like Arista Networks and Cisco, all striving to dominate the high-speed AI/ML switch market in data centers.

- Big Deals -

QTS to invest another $200 million in Las Colinas

QTS Realty Trust, based in Kansas, is planning a $180 million data center project in Las Colinas, Dallas-Fort Worth. Having ventured into North Texas in 2014 by acquiring a 700,000-square-foot property in Irving, QTS transformed a former semiconductor plant on Longhorn Drive and has since expanded its over 50-acre campus.

 Read more here

Two new Atlanta projects to add nearly 5 million sqft

Vantage Data Centers intends to construct a new campus in Douglas County, Atlanta, spanning 1.7 million square feet across three buildings. The project aims for completion by December 2025.

This will be Vantage’s first data center in Georgia, complementing their existing sites in Virginia, Washington, Arizona, and California.
Douglas County hosts various data center operators, including Switch, Google, Microsoft, and T5. CyrusOne previously built a campus in 2017 but sold it in 2021, and EdgeConneX also shows interest in the region.

This news comes on the heels of an announcement that Flexential plans to build another massive campus in the area as well.

Read more here

Hot Links

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- Taylor