Google to invest €5bn in AI infrastructure in Belgium
Google will invest €5 billion ($5.8 billion) over the next two years to expand its cloud and AI infrastructure in Belgium, focusing on the Saint-Ghislain data center campus. The initiative, which will create around 300 full-time jobs, includes partnerships with Eneco, Luminous, and Renner to develop new onshore wind farms for renewable energy.
Bikash Koley, Google’s vice president for global infrastructure, said the move “deepens Google’s roots in Belgium” and drives AI-driven transformation. Prime Minister Bart De Wever called it a “powerful sign of trust” in Belgium’s role as a digital innovation hub. The investment builds on Google’s long-term presence in the country, which began in 2009, and follows the start of construction on a new campus in Farciennes in 2024.
NTT breaks ground on Osaka data center, Japan
NTT has begun construction on its new Osaka North 1 Data Center, a 36MW campus located in Ibaraki City, Osaka Prefecture, about 20km from central Osaka. The first of two three-story buildings will deliver 18MW of capacity across 5,000 sqm and is expected to be operational by early 2028. The groundbreaking ceremony included a traditional Shinto ritual attended by senior company executives.
With more than 1.5GW of global data center capacity across 20 countries, NTT continues to expand its footprint in Japan, where it already operates facilities in Osaka, Keihanna, and Shiroi. The Osaka area remains a key data hub for Japan, attracting major operators such as Equinix, Digital Realty, Stack, Vantage, and CloudHQ.
120-acre data center to be built between Calgary and Edmonton, Canada
A 120-acre data center will be developed between Calgary and Edmonton, Canada, following Red Deer County’s approval of the project on October 7. The modular facility, proposed by Agritech Haven International (AHI), will be located in Blindman Industrial Park and include an administration building. While capacity details weren’t disclosed, AHI CEO Sunny Sarpal said the data center will be waterless, ultra-quiet, and minimally staffed, operated by a “global technology partner.”
Future phases could integrate vertical farming, education and research facilities, and telecom infrastructure. Alberta’s ample energy supply continues to make it a magnet for large-scale data center developments — recent reports link Meta to a project near Edmonton, and investor Kevin O’Leary has proposed a massive 5.5GW campus called “Wonder Valley” in Grande Prairie.
US tech giants to invest nearly $1.4 trillion in AI infrastructure by 2027
Goldman Sachs Global Investment Research projects that U.S. tech giants — led by Microsoft, Amazon, and Alphabet — will invest nearly $1.4 trillion in AI and cloud infrastructure between 2025 and 2027. Microsoft is expected to lead with $376 billion in spending, followed by Amazon Web Services with $321 billion, Alphabet with $304 billion, Meta with $279 billion, and Oracle with $115 billion. This surge highlights the growing race to dominate AI infrastructure and cloud computing capacity worldwide.
However, the bank warns that this massive expansion could strain global power grids. Goldman Sachs predicts that data center energy demand will grow by 50% by 2027 and 165% by 2030, with AI workloads alone accounting for 27% of total usage. To support this growth, approximately $720 billion in grid investments may be needed globally by 2030. Analysts caution that if AI adoption slows, demand could fall short of expectations by up to 13GW — but for now, hyperscalers continue to drive unprecedented growth in digital infrastructure.
Oracle and SoftBank come together to provide Sovereign Cloud and AI services in Japan
Oracle Corporation and SoftBank Corp. have announced a partnership to deliver sovereign cloud and AI services in Japan. SoftBank will launch its new Cloud PF Type A, powered by Oracle Alloy, to support critical infrastructure sectors and drive Japan’s digital transformation. The platform will introduce AI services in phases, leveraging generative AI and high-performance GPUs to meet the growing demand for innovation and competitiveness across Japan’s economy.
The collaboration will see SoftBank deploy Oracle Alloy in its eastern and western Japan data centers, ensuring all data and systems remain managed within the country. The eastern facility will launch in April 2026, followed by the western data center in October 2026. Oracle executives emphasized that the partnership will provide secure, high-performance cloud and AI capabilities that meet Japan’s sovereignty requirements while enabling organizations to accelerate digital and AI adoption efficiently.
Related Digital breaks ground on $1.2bn data center in Cheyenne, Wyoming, will host CoreWeave servers
Related Digital has begun construction on a $1.2 billion data center campus in Cheyenne, Wyoming, which will host AI infrastructure for CoreWeave. The 115-acre site could eventually reach 302MW of capacity, with CoreWeave securing a long-term lease for 88MW. The project, expected to generate over $250 million in tax revenue and create 700 construction jobs and 40 permanent roles, marks a major economic boost for the region.
The first phase—a 184,000 sq ft facility—is set for completion by late 2026, featuring air-cooled technology that uses minimal water. Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon praised the project for promoting innovation while preserving local resources. CoreWeave’s COO, Sachin Jain, highlighted the company’s commitment to sustainable AI expansion and community investment. Related Digital, launched earlier this year by Related Companies, has a 5GW pipeline of data centers across North America, with other developments in Ontario and Illinois.
Google subsidiary proposes 1GW data center in Visakhapatnam, India
A Google subsidiary, Raiden Infotech India Private Limited, has proposed building a 1GW AI data center campus in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, with an estimated $10 billion investment. The plan includes three sites across the district: 120 acres in Adivivaram, 200 acres in Tarluvada, and 160 acres in the Rambilli–Achyutapuram cluster. Construction is expected to begin in March 2026 and operations to start by July 2028.
Raiden has requested 2.1GW of power from local utilities to support the project, which is pending approval from Andhra Pradesh’s IT Minister, Nara Lokesh, expected on October 14. This proposal follows earlier reports of a $6 billion Google data center initiative in the same region, potentially signaling an expansion. The development underscores Google’s growing investment in India’s AI and cloud infrastructure, complementing existing Google Cloud regions in Mumbai and Delhi, and upcoming projects like a sovereign AI cloud with Airtel Business and the Blue Raman subsea cable, set to land in Mumbai later in 2025.
CleanArc buys more land for debut Virginia campus, taking site to potential 900MW
CleanArc Data Centers has acquired an additional 87.5 acres in Caroline County, Virginia, expanding its debut data center campus to a potential capacity of 900MW. The company originally planned a 600MW campus but now aims to deliver an extra 300MW through this expansion.
Construction is set to begin in late 2025, with the first 300MW phase expected to go live in early 2027. The second phase is scheduled for 2030, and the final 300MW tranche is projected for completion between 2033 and 2035. CEO James Trout said the expansion will help meet the needs of hyperscale clients while maintaining a commitment to sustainability and local community impact.
CleanArc, launched by 547 Energy and now majority-owned by Snowhawk, focuses on building hyperscale campuses supported by clean energy agreements. The Caroline County site, formerly the Virginia Bazaar flea market, will feature three buildings with two data halls each. The region is seeing growing interest from data center developers, including Amazon and Avaio, as Northern Virginia becomes increasingly crowded.
Honeywell, LS Electric partner on integrated data center power solutions
Honeywell has partnered with South Korea’s LS Electric to develop integrated power management solutions for data centers and large commercial buildings. The collaboration combines Honeywell’s expertise in automation and control systems with LS Electric’s experience in electrical infrastructure to create unified platforms that improve reliability, efficiency, and sustainability. Together, the companies plan to co-develop products that merge building management and electrical distribution systems, using predictive analytics to detect and prevent power issues before they cause downtime. These systems will also leverage Honeywell’s AI-enabled Forge platform and LS Electric’s control software to optimize power usage and ensure stable operations for energy-intensive facilities.
As part of the partnership, Honeywell and LS Electric will design a modular battery energy storage system (BESS) aimed at helping data centers and industrial sites manage energy more effectively. The BESS will use real-time data such as electricity rates, grid conditions, and weather forecasts to create microgrids that stabilize power during peak demand and reduce reliance on the main grid. LS Electric, which currently holds around 60% of South Korea’s commercial data center power infrastructure market, views this partnership as an opportunity to expand further into the North American market. The company has already secured major deals in the US and across Asia, including a $46 million contract to supply power solutions for an AI data center and a collaboration with Naver Cloud to integrate AI into power management systems.
Colt DCS plans three new data centers in Hayes, UK
Colt Data Centre Services (Colt DCS) has secured approval from Hillingdon Council to build three new data centers—LON6, LON7, and LON8—in Hayes, West London, on the current site of Hayes Bridge Retail Park and Heathrow Interchange. The project will span four phases, including an Innovation Hub for Brunel University and the local community, and now awaits review by London Mayor Sadiq Khan. Covering around 100,000 square meters and powered by 73 diesel generators, the facilities will expand Colt’s London presence, which currently includes two operational data centers offering 44.4MW of capacity and a new campus under construction. Founded in 1992 and acquired by Fidelity Investments in 2015, Colt DCS operates 13 data centers globally with nine more in development across the UK, Europe, and APAC.
Google looks to build up to six data centers near nuclear power site in Linn County, Iowa
Google is exploring plans to build up to six data centers near the decommissioned Duane Arnold Energy Center in Linn County, Iowa. During an October 6 meeting, local officials confirmed that Google is funding a water usage study to assess the environmental impact of the proposed development, which would coincide with efforts to restart the nearby nuclear facility. The initiative follows Google’s June 2025 pledge to invest $7 billion in expanding its Iowa data center footprint, including a new campus in Cedar Rapids and an expansion in Council Bluffs. While no timeline has been announced, the county is currently drafting ordinances for data centers, nuclear power, and gas power. If approved, the project would mark Google’s first presence in Linn County, further solidifying Iowa as a key hub for the company’s growing U.S. infrastructure investments.
Atlas Renewable to develop three data centers at Açu port in Rio, Brazil – report
US-based Atlas Renewable plans to build at least three data centers at the Port of Açu industrial complex in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, marking its first direct investment in the data center industry. The projects have been submitted to Brazil’s Ministry of Mines and Energy for grid connection approval through its local subsidiary, Atlas Comercializadora de Energia. Previously focused on renewable energy generation and supply contracts with firms like OData and V.tal, Atlas—acquired by Global Infrastructure Partners in 2022, now owned by BlackRock—is expanding into digital infrastructure. The Port of Açu offers strategic advantages for such projects, including abundant renewable energy sources, available water for cooling, and proximity to submarine cables. These factors, along with the area’s ample space and minimal environmental interference, make it an attractive hub for AI and data storage applications.
Data center planned on 795 acres of farmland in south Joliet, Illinois
A new three-story data center complex has been proposed on a 795-acre farmland site in south Joliet, Illinois, by HW Technology Park Development LLC, a division of Hillwood Development Company. The project will include 24 data center-related buildings and a ComEd substation, fully funded by the developer, though details about the facility’s capacity remain undisclosed. Local officials are currently reviewing key aspects of the plan, including power and water requirements, before moving forward with approval. Construction on the first buildings is expected to begin in 2027. The site, located between Schweitzer Road and Millsdale Road, sits near a proposed warehouse park by NorthPoint Development, which has faced local opposition. Joliet’s proximity to Chicago and Aurora—two major data center markets—positions it as an emerging hub for large-scale digital infrastructure projects.
Aligned Data Centers set for $40bn GIP takeover – report
Aligned Data Centers is reportedly close to being acquired by Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) in a deal valued at around $40 billion, according to Bloomberg. GIP, now owned by BlackRock, is in advanced negotiations with Aligned’s current owner, Macquarie Asset Management, though no final agreement has been reached. The AI investment firm MGX, backed by Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala Investment Company, may also increase its stake as part of the deal. Headquartered in Texas, Aligned operates data center campuses across key U.S. markets, including Chicago, Dallas, Salt Lake City, Phoenix, and Northern Virginia, with additional sites under development. The acquisition would further strengthen BlackRock and GIP’s growing presence in the digital infrastructure sector, which already includes investments in CyrusOne, Vantage Towers, and Mainova Webhouse, as well as partnerships with Microsoft and MGX through their $30 billion AI Infrastructure Partnership.
Europe investors offload €17bn in data centres amid AI boom: report
Private equity firms in Europe are rushing to capitalize on the AI-driven data center boom, launching around €17 billion in asset sales within weeks, according to the Financial Times. Oaktree Capital is selling part of Pure DC for up to €5 billion, Partners Group seeks €4 billion for atNorth, and EQT is offloading GlobalConnect for about €8 billion. Other firms like Deutsche Bank’s DWS and Orange are also planning divestments, while BlackRock’s GIP is nearing a $40 billion acquisition of U.S.-based Aligned Data Centers. The surge comes as investors look to profit from rising demand and long-term revenues, with Synergy Research reporting 162 completed data center M&A deals worth over $46 billion in 2025 and another $35 billion still pending.
KIO Data Centers to open second data centre in Guatemala
KIO Data Centers announced plans to build its second data center in Guatemala, located next to its existing GTM1 site at Technology Park (Campus TEC Guatemala). The new facility will quadruple the company’s capacity in the country and directly connect to GTM1, providing access to 19 network providers. Designed for sustainability, the center will run on about 80% renewable energy with a targeted PUE of 1.5 and support up to 2 MW of IT load. CEO Octavio Camerena said the expansion reinforces KIO’s commitment to Central America’s digital growth and AI-ready infrastructure. The site will pursue Tier III certification and other global standards such as SSAE18, ISO 27001, and PCI-DSS.
Brazil’s Eletrobras to develop data center in Campinas
Brazilian energy giant Eletrobras is preparing to develop its first-ever data center, planning a new campus in the Campinas region of São Paulo. The project is currently in the early documentation phase with Brazil’s Ministry of Mines and Energy. Known as the country’s largest power generation and distribution company, Eletrobras manages 82 power plants and 74,000 km of transmission lines, representing 21% of Brazil’s electricity generation. The initiative marks the company’s entry into the data center market, following previous partnerships such as the Rio AI City project, which aims for 3.2GW of capacity by 2032. Campinas has become a hotspot for digital infrastructure, attracting major players like Ascenty, Microsoft, Odata, and Scala. Eletrobras Vice President Elio Wolff emphasized that the company’s vast energy network and technical expertise position it to play a major role in powering Brazil’s data infrastructure and global-scale digital expansion.
AMD to supply OpenAI with 6GW-worth of GPUs, 1GW deployment from 2026
AMD has signed a multi-year deal to supply OpenAI with GPUs totaling 6GW of power capacity, starting with a 1GW deployment in 2026. The agreement also gives OpenAI the option to acquire up to a 10 percent stake in AMD—about 160 million shares—tied to milestone-based GPU purchases. At current valuations, this stake would cost around $27 billion. OpenAI plans to use AMD’s MI450 chips to build a 1GW data center next year, though the location and developer haven’t been disclosed. The deal follows OpenAI’s recent agreement with Nvidia for 10GW of hardware and highlights the company’s massive compute expansion plans despite not yet turning a profit. Both AMD CEO Lisa Su and OpenAI’s Sam Altman called the partnership a milestone for scaling global AI infrastructure.
