We were able to make our first visit to the new Datum Data Centre on the Cody Technology Park, home of defence contractor Qinetiq and located adjacent to the historic Farnborough airfield.
Needless to say one of the first things you are aware of on site is the overall level of security, with the whole campus well patrolled to ensure the sensitive nature of Qinetiq’s work remains protected. Datum will essentially have its own compound within this highly secure campus.
The data centre building is some 44,000 sq ft of net tech divided into four halls, each housing some 250 cabs at a standard 3.5kW, 16A each and the first hall, located on the ground floor, is due to go live during November. A low PUE of 1.2 is targeted with Datum using a flooded airflow design enhanced with an adiabatic system to provide additional cooling when required, a system we are seeing more and more in data centres located away from city centres.
The Datum campus also includes a separate energy centre next door to the data centre building housing UPS, generators. The site has 6MW in total delivered on dual dedicated transformers from separate substations.
Connectivity at present is provided by BT and CW, with Vtesse apparently also due on site soon.
Colo-X Comment
Datum is backed by the same group behind managed services provider Attenda and indeed Attenda are the first customer for Datum, taking about a 1/3 of the first hall. Of course this is great for a new operator, ensuring the site will be busy and active from day one and Attenda’s presence will help pull additional connectivity through to the site. Indeed Datum’s site is adjacent to wholesale data centre operator Ark, so doubtless some synergy from a network point of view of a larger data centre “hub” emerging here. Our discussion with Datum regarding pricing puts the company firmly in the typical price range we see in UK data centres away from central London. All in all another attractive, high quality addition to the regional UK data centre market. Call us to discuss suitability and pricing.