Data4, a leading provider of data centers in Europe, announced today, as part of the Platform Global 2024 event, the first major investment of more than 300 million euros for the development of a new data center campus in Peania, in Eastern Attica.

This investment is part of the €7 billion expansion investment program in Europe until 2030, which aims to make Data4 the leading provider of data centers in Europe.

Data4 has a pan-European presence and operates in various markets such as France, Italy, Spain, Poland, Germany, and is now entering the Greek market, which is a promising connectivity hub in the Mediterranean.

“We are excited to expand our presence in Greece, a country that offers strategic advantages in terms of location, connectivity and economic dynamism. This investment will not only support our growth ambitions, but will significantly contribute to the local economy and the digital ecosystem of Greece. Data centers support the development of cloud and AI services, as they are the treasury of data management for companies and public administration and are essential for the operation of efficient and sustainable digital services for Greek citizens,” said Olivier Micheli, President and CEO of Data4.

Strategic location and employment

The new campus will be located in an industrial zone, ensuring proximity to important energy resources. ATH1 will be built on a 7.5-hectare plot in Paiana and will be powered by up to 90 MW of power.

A data center campus acts as a catalyst for job creation, increasing local employment and strengthening the economy. Data4’s ATH1 will include a wide range of skills: managers, engineers, technicians, workers, etc. The Group estimates that by 2030 it will have created more than 7,000 permanent jobs on its campuses in Europe and over 500 permanent jobs on its Greek campus.

Greece as a strategic hub of connectivity

Greece’s privileged position as a hub between Europe, Asia and Africa makes it an ideal location for international connectivity projects. The country’s integration into the global network is further strengthened by the arrival of several submarine cables, such as the AAE-1 cable system, which connects Greece to key markets in the Far East, Middle East and Africa. It is estimated that by the end of 2024, 20 submarine cables will connect Greece with the Middle East, North Africa and Asia region. At the same time, the Greek market for data centers is developing rapidly, with the total capacity of the market expected to more than double by 2030.

By 2030, the number of data centers in Europe is expected to increase by 2.5 times, reaching approximately 23 GW of installed capacity. Almost half of this power (11 GW) should be dedicated to artificial intelligence, according to studies by Data4*, and Greece will not be an exception to this fundamental trend.

Innovation, Sustainability and Artificial Intelligence (AI) Development

With the advent of artificial intelligence, the ability of data centers to process billions of data in real time becomes even more critical. Artificial intelligence (AI) harnesses the computing power of data centers to analyze, interpret and predict trends, optimizing resource management and improving basic services offered to citizens. In an age where data-driven decisions are vital, data center infrastructure powered by artificial intelligence (AI) is the pillar upon which sustainable digital growth rests.

To ensure such sustainable digital growth, Data4 aims to achieve BREEAM certification with an “Excellent” rating for its data centers in Greece. This certification covers key criteria such as energy efficiency, water management, sustainable materials such as low-carbon concrete, and biodiversity conservation. By meeting these strict standards, Data4 will be among the first in Europe and the first in Greece to have data centers certified with BREEAM, setting a new benchmark for sustainability in the industry.

In addition, Data4 has introduced innovations across its European campuses to reduce its environmental footprint, such as the use of artificial intelligence (AI) models to improve energy efficiency and extend the life of equipment through predictive maintenance . Artificial intelligence (AI) is used to enhance the resilience and scalability of the company’s data centers, making them better equipped to cope with the increasing demands of artificial intelligence (AI).

Partners for the Greek project

Greek law firm Zepos & Giannopoulos, along with engineering firms Cap Ingelec and Blue Sun, played a key role in guiding the legal and technical aspects of the construction of the new data center campus. Knight Frank helped secure the transaction, as did Hill International, which assisted Data4 with advice and with the licensing process.

Data4 is a major European provider and investor in the data center market. The Group finances, designs, builds and operates its own centers.

Data4 Group has pioneered a highly connected, resilient and sustainable data center model, aiming to support its customers’ long-term digital growth by providing them with scalable and secure hosting solutions for their IT servers, from a single rack to an exclusive building.

The Group is committed to a progressive approach to sustainable development through the Data4 Good program, which is based on 4 main pillars: environment, people, community and governance.

Data4 Group manages some of the most powerful data centers in Europe, with land and power reserves that are unique in the European market. Data4’s data centers in France, Italy, Spain, Poland, Germany and now in Greece host international cloud providers and major telecommunications companies, as well as innovative technology companies and multinationals.