In Vittuone, near Milan, the Frenchwoman Data4 invested approximately 500 million euros in the construction and development of the MIL02 data center campus. The first infrastructure will be active by 2027. The investment is part of the expansion project to strengthen the group’s presence and competitiveness on the Italian market, redeveloping former industrial areas to encourage the digitalisation of the country.
Data4 invests in Italy
Data4 aims, in fact, to offer customers theaccess to a European network of ultra-connected infrastructures thanks to its 6 data center campuses among the most powerful in Europe. The campuses are located not only in France and Italy, but also in Germany, Spain, Poland and Luxembourg. There digitalisation of the country passes through the construction of physical infrastructures, the data centers, which house the digital platform containing the sensitive data of citizens, banks, institutions and businesses. An activity that impacts the territory on multiple levels, and whose demand is constantly growing.
A total power of 100MW
Construction work on the first Data Center on the new MIL2 campus is expected to be completed by early 2027. It alone will have a power of 15 MW and, when completed, will allow Data4 to create synergies between its sites thanks to direct connectivity between the two campuses. Once all the buildings have been completed, the Vittuone site will have 4 Data Centers, for a total power of 100MW. Upon completion of the infrastructure construction works, Data4 will be gift in Italy with 18 Data Centers distributed over 28 hectares of land and a total power of approximately 300MW.
Develop infrastructure
Davide Suppia, Country Director, Vice President Sales and IDA Board Member of Data4 Italia
For the development of our digital infrastructures in Italy, Data4 plans to invest one billion euros between 2023 and 2029. They will be used for the implementation of other data centers and innovative projects that aim to reduce the environmental impact linked to our activity. Thanks to this strategic investment, Data4 confirms itself among the Italian and European leaders of Data Centers.With the purchase of land in Vittuone we pursue the goal of being more and more present on Italian territory, responding to the growing demand for Data Centers, driven by the acceleration of national digitalisation. In a context in which the demand for digital services is constantly growing, investing in infrastructures such as Data Centers becomes strategic for to support digital transformation and actively contribute to the economic development of the country, as well as local businesses and communities.
Investing in the local ecosystem
Greg McCulloch, Chief Development Officer Data4 Group
This acquisition is part of our ambition to become the main operator pan-European in the data center sector. Furthermore, it strengthens our presence in northern Italy. Following the transformation of Italtel’s former industrial site in Cornaredo into a data center campus, the acquisition of the MIL02 Di Vittuone site underlines our commitment to the region and our desire to continue to invest in and work with the local ecosystem.
Sustainability at the center of construction and operational management
To achieve more responsible digital development, Data4 works on sustainable projects and solutions to reduce the carbon dioxide emissions of Data Centers on the environment. The Vittuone campus, in fact, will be built on 50-60% brownfield. In line with this vision the group will use it for the construction of new infrastructures concrete low carbon. This type of concrete allows for a reduction in CO2 emissions compared to traditional concrete. As already done for the Cornaredo campus, built on a former Italtel area, now regenerated.
Data4 invests in Italy and focuses on the MIL02 data center campus
As regards the energy impact, in addition to using electricity coming 100% from renewable energy sources, the most recent and innovative solutions such as the Energy Efficiency Hub will be implemented on the Vittuone campus. These, thanks to artificial intelligence, analyze the best solutions to make systems more efficient and sustainable cooling down of data centers. They also calculate and analyze the quantity of CO2 emitted during the life cycle (LCA) of the infrastructures present on the Campus. Thanks to a €2.2 billion bank loan, obtained in October through a larger capital raising operation, the group now manages 6 of the most powerful data center campuses in Europe.