Europe's colocation boom set to continue in 2020

Predictions for the year ahead
As we look towards a brand new decade with 2020, it’s important to look back at what has been achieved within the last ten years and recognize how far data technology has come. From Amazon’s Alexa ecosystem and the creation of the Xbox to the launch of Apple’s first iPad and the progression of driverless cars, it’s hard to imagine a world where these devices and technologies didn’t exist, which was indeed the case pre-2010.
With the continual creation and expansion of technology, devices, and global connectivity, of course, comes more and more data and information to be transmitted and processed, which has naturally shaped how data centers and cloud providers have operated and serviced customer needs over the last ten years. We take a look at what 2020 could look like for the data center and cloud industries in 2020 and beyond.
Brexit
Whilst it is still unclear what form Brexit will take and whether the recent UK election result will halt or change proceedings, it could be said there has been a hesitancy surrounding digital infrastructure investment within the UK as a result of the ongoing uncertainty, with a survey by the Institute of Directors finding that nearly four out of ten IT firms might relocate their operations overseas due to Brexit.
However, with the tech scene has seen a 14 per cent growth in the number of new technology start-ups in 2018, there will hopefully be a surge in confidence and investment once the Brexit issue is resolved one way or the other, with this continued growth of technology and new ideas bringing with it a natural demand for digital infrastructure.
Broader European growth in digital infrastructure and companies prioritizing geographical expansion has seen a huge uptick in 2019, however.
As companies continue to strive for global connectivity and hybrid solutions, we expect to see ongoing new deployments by hyperscale customers. A recent survey by law firm DLA Piper corroborates this positive prediction for the year ahead, showing that 92 percent of debt and equity investors expect the overall value of investment into Europe's data center infrastructure to increase over the next 24 months.
From a business perspective, there is a tangible sense of urgency to end uncertainty within the UK and bring the country back up to speed with the rest of the continent.
Digital services
New digital service providers are continuing to be created and catapulted into the wider world. Businesses will continue to implement cloud, IoT and edge computing technologies to disrupt traditional verticals. With the rising popularity of e-sports platforms such as Twitch; AI-enabled technology like facial recognition; and infrastructure for driverless vehicles, data demand is set to go beyond anything we’ve seen before.
This unprecedented volume of data will certainly force companies and operators to invest in new hardware capable of operating at higher temperatures, more efficient cooling techniques and buildings which accommodate greater power densities.
Green tariffs and renewables
Much like Brexit, sustainability and energy efficiency are “buzzwords” of the past few years, with mainstream global movements ensuring the ethical practices of businesses, or lack thereof, are front and center of public consciousness.
It is expected that by 2025, the ICT industry could use 20 per cent of all electricity and emit up to 5.5 per cent of the world’s carbon emissions, so it’s important that the industry shows it is doing more to secure the right sources of power, get that power to the right locations, and be consistently optimizing efficiency at all sites. Now is the time to make real change with ongoing and effective solutions.
The biggest sustainability challenge for providers is in balancing power needs with the best renewable and low-carbon energy sources across their portfolios of facilities and it’s going to be interesting to see how this plays out into 2020. The biggest challenge we face is power shortage - let alone sustainable power availability. Our sense is that the demand for sustainable power outstrips any nation's ability to create sustainable power.
Industry consolidation and enterprise data center decision making
A new report from INAP suggests that 9 in 10 organizations will move workloads off-premises by 2022, as enterprises continue to leverage colocation facilities and avail of efficient, reliable and flexible options. This will be a huge source of expansion and perhaps the next phase of growth in the data center industry, as companies continue to evaluate their current technology portfolios as we go into 2020 and how to best utilize developing technologies to help manage their growing datasets.
Higher networking performance, more cost-effective solutions, and less manual maintenance are also factors taken into account when enterprises consider an off-premise or hybrid approach and we expect these to remain of utmost priority for the majority of companies both in the UK and elsewhere.
Whilst no one can fully predict what’s next, one thing that’s certain is that data center operators must remain agile and flexible enough to pivot to respond to customer demands and changing needs as necessary.
From artificial intelligence and human augmentation technology to cryptocurrency and e-commerce, the persistent advance of technology in all aspects of everyday life is only set to create more data and more demand from customers, which means the need for data centers and state-of-the-art storage solutions is only set to increase.

Latest Jobs
-
- Identity Channel Partner Manager | London
- London
- N/A
-
Identity Channel Partner Manager | London Location: South East UK (commutable to London) We are working with a Cyber Security business who are looking for a Channel Partner Manager to drive and grow relationships across their identity ecosystem. Prior experience working within VARs, distributors, vendors or resellers in the identity space is essential. You must have experience working with technologies such as CyberArk, Sailpoint, Okta etc Responsibilities will include, but not be limited to: Build, maintain and develop strong relationships with channel partners. Work closely with partner sales teams to support growth drive sales opportunities. Identify and onboard new partners while strengthening existing partnerships. Act as the key point of contact for all channel-related activity. If you are an experienced channel professional, with experience in the Identity space and are ready for your next challenge, apply today.
-
- Service Architect- DACH regions
- Germany
- Upto €110,000 plus bonus and benefits
-
Lead Service Architect with the authority and experience to take control of complex, multi-million-euro outsourcing bids. This role is about leading the Service/ solutioning effort, bringing structure to chaos, and driving the entire bid team to deliver winning proposals. The company area a global managed services business working with enterprise and public sector clients, across Cloud, End-User Computing, Digital Workplace, Service Desk, and Network Infrastructure. What You’ll Do: Lead Service/ solution design from qualification to contract. Control bid teams — architects, pricing, delivery, and SMEs. Break down RFPs/RFIs into actionable, costed, client-ready solutions. Present internally and to clients at decision-maker level. Run solution workshops, own the architecture, and shape the financial model. You’ll Need: Experience working as a Service architect, Service Manager or Customer Success Manager R Gravitas to lead and drive teams through high-stakes bids. Deep knowledge of managed services delivery and commercial models. Strong technical grasp: Cloud, Security, EUC, Unified Comms, Service Desk, and more. Experience leading deals across onshore, offshore, and hybrid delivery models.
-
- Deal Architect- DACH region
- Germany
- Upto €110,000 plus bonus and benefits
-
Lead Deal Architect with the authority and experience to take control of complex, multi-million-euro outsourcing bids. This role is about leading the solutioning/ Service effort, bringing structure to chaos, and driving the entire bid team to deliver winning proposals. The company is a global managed services business providing solutions to enterprise and public sector clients, across Cloud, End-User Computing, Digital Workplace, Service Desk, and Network Infrastructure. What You’ll Do: Lead the deal from qualification to contract. Control bid teams — architects, pricing, delivery, and SMEs. Break down RFPs/RFIs into actionable, costed, client-ready solutions. Present internally and to clients at decision-maker level. Run solution workshops, own the architecture, and shape the financial model. Be responsible for the service Wrap and ensuring the Service meets clients requirements You’ll Need: A back ground with IT Services Experience in a similar type of role, for example: Deal, Service, or Solution Architect in ICT outsourcing. Gravitas to lead and drive teams through high-stakes bids. Deep knowledge of managed services delivery and commercial models. Strong technical knowledge: Cloud, Security, EUC, Unified Comms, Service Desk, and more. Experience leading deals across onshore, offshore, and hybrid delivery models.
-
- Pre Sales Lead- IT Services
- Germany
- Upto €100,000 plus benefits
-
As the Pre-Sales Lead (Sales Engineer/ Solution Architect) you will drive large-scale ICT managed services and outsourcing deals (from €0.5M to €20M+). You'll work directly with Business Development and clients to design high-impact solutions across Cloud (Azure, IaaS, SaaS, PaaS), EUC, Unified Comms, Security (SIEM, PAM), Networks, and Smart Workplaces. What You’ll Do: Lead the end-to-end pre-sales cycle — from RFI/RFP to contract. Design innovative, client-specific solutions with technical & commercial impact. Present at CxO level and steer proposal strategies & financial models. Collaborate closely with Portfolio, Service Desk, Field, and Digital Workplace teams. Support deal shaping with strong knowledge of ITIL, SIAM, Automation, and cost analysis. What You’ll Bring: Have strong experience in pre-sales or solution architecture. Experience with €M+ managed service deals. Deep technical expertise in modern ICT stack and enterprise IT services. Strong German (C1) and English communication skills. Certifications: ITIL v3/v4 required; SIAM, ISO20000 desirable.