Data Center Nation 2024 is poised to witness the unveiling of the data center prowess of Italy, as the Italian Trade Agency (ITA) convenes a distinguished panel of industry leaders. Taking place today, May 14, 2024, at the Madinat Jumeirah Conference Centre – Johara Ballroom, this event features ITA’s panel led by Lorenzo Fanara, Italian Ambassador to the UAE, alongside Valerio Soldani, Director at ITA Dubai, Mario Stefani, Head of CEO Staff at Polo Strategico Nazionale, Andrea Lazzaroli, Head of Business Marketing at Open Fiber, and Raffaele Laudani, Councilor of Bologna’s Municipality.
ITA aims to shed light on Italy’s vibrant data center market and its limitless investment potential across various sectors. With insights determined to reshape industry perspectives, ITA promises to showcase Italy’s thriving data center landscape, focusing on its dynamic market and expansive investment prospects spanning across IT and infrastructure sectors. Furthermore, Italy’s increasing focus on digital enablers and transformers, including the Cloud market forecasted at USD 5.68 billion in 2022, emphasises its commitment to digitization projects and transformative technologies like Blockchain, Cybersecurity, Big Data, and AI/Cognitive, aimed at revolutionizing data management and analysis.
In the UAE, the data center industry is projected at CAGR of over 5% between 2021 and 2025. Colocation, managed service providers, and hyperscalers are set to dominate the market, while enterprise data centers are primed for significant growth in rack power density. Simultaneously, Italy’s data center market has demonstrated impressive growth, reaching USD 3.03 billion in 2023 and forecasted to soar to USD 3.83 billion by 2029, boasting a CAGR of 3.98%. The surge in investment, with expectations of up to USD 15 billion by 2025, underscores Italy’s allure for European cloud providers seeking to establish data centers.
“Positioned to serve as a pivotal hub for data center growth in Europe, Italy boasts a strategic location and advanced cloud adoption, solidifying its status as a mature player within Europe and beyond. With a surge in specialists and contributions from industry leaders, Italy demonstrates an unwavering dedication to technological advancement. Moreover, coupled with a favourable investor climate and increasing confidence in its digital infrastructure, Italy presents compelling opportunities for investment and innovation in the data center sector, paving the way for strategic partnerships with the UAE and wider Gulf region”, said Lorenzo Fanara, Italian Ambassador to the UAE.
Italy is swiftly emerging as a favoured destination for cloud services, mirroring the trajectory of its burgeoning data center sector, positioning the country as Europe’s latest data hub. This trend owes much to local providers who are diverging from the traditional ‘one size fits all’ approach, instead offering bespoke, tailored solutions that precisely cater to the unique needs of companies transitioning to cloud infrastructure.
Valerio Soldani, Director, ITA Dubai, highlighted the importance of the data center industry: “Italy is a must-go destination for Data Centers investments: with huge projects in the digital transformation driven by the NRPP / Next Generation EU plan, 2nd manufacturing powerhouse in Europe, and a thriving innovation-intensive industrial ecosystem”.
As European businesses seek tailored solutions and deeper engagement within their regions, regional cloud providers are increasingly becoming the preferred choice. Possessing intimate knowledge of local needs, navigating regional laws and regulations adeptly, leveraging cultural assets, and addressing specific challenges, these providers offer a compelling proposition. Encouraged by governments, this trend fosters the growth and maturity of indigenous cloud enterprises. Italy, with its strategic geographic location, favourable socio-economic climate, and commitment to regulatory compliance, stands poised to consolidate its standing as a pivotal force in Europe’s evolving cloud and data center realm. As Italy continues its digital evolution, it not only unlocks new avenues for economic expansion and job opportunities but also reaffirms its prominence in shaping Europe’s digital frontier.
Driven by the INVEST IN ITALY campaign, Italy showcases a dynamic and diverse industrial landscape, fuelled by a surging demand for cloud services among national companies, and bolstered by extensive ultrabroadband and 5G coverage. This combination positions Italy as a prime destination for international players looking to establish data centers or utilize colocation and hosting services. Supported by a robust innovation ecosystem, which includes universities and research hubs dedicated to Data Science and HPC, as well as state-of-the-art supercomputers like the pre-Exascale “Leonardo,” Italy offers a strategic environment conducive to R&D activities and the exploration of HPC applications across various sectors.
Meet the Italian industry leaders at DCN Dubai 2024, 14 May, 2024 Madinat Jumeirah Conference Centre – Johara Ballroom, to explore the exciting prospects in the data center industry. For more information please visit.
