How AI is Driving Global Data Centre Growth at Equinix

Equinix’s Leanne Starace on AI’s Impact on Global Infrastructure Development

Leanne Starace, senior vice president of global technical sales and solutions at Equinix, highlights how artificial intelligence is influencing data centre growth and the infrastructure that supports it.

Data centres are increasingly visible in daily life, serving as the essential backbone where service providers and enterprises enable digital innovation on a global scale. Equinix, one of the largest interconnected data centre operators, offers secure, accessible environments for data and the interconnectivity needed to maximize its value.

Starace explains, “Technology has made complex processes appear seamless, like having a cell phone in your hand. Behind the scenes, real-time services depend on our more than 270 data centres across 75 metros on six continents. We work with leading companies such as AWS, Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure, and Nvidia to deliver these experiences.”

Meeting the Rising Demand for AI Data Centres

Equinix is experiencing significant growth driven by AI. Starace notes that half of the company's top 25 deals in the first quarter were AI-related. Partnerships with AI leaders like Nvidia continue to expand, alongside growth in cloud services, enterprise IT, and digital transformation.

To keep pace, Equinix is actively building new data centres and expanding existing ones, with 59 major projects underway across 25 countries. Starace points out that while large-scale AI training deployments are prominent, many companies are focusing on localized AI inference, leveraging Equinix’s global infrastructure and low-latency networks for efficient AI workloads.

Adapting Infrastructure for High-Density Compute

AI workloads require data centres capable of supporting higher density compute than traditional facilities. Starace explains that the equipment is heavier and generates more heat, demanding advanced structural designs and cooling technologies.

“Traditional cold-air cooling isn’t enough for high-performance AI hardware,” she says. “Equinix has invested in liquid cooling at over 100 of its locations to keep GPUs cool and efficient.”

Other factors driving demand include reshoring advanced manufacturing, electrification, and the need for reliable power and grid networks to support compute infrastructure worldwide.

The Role of Connectivity in AI-Ready Data Centres

Strong fibre connectivity is essential to support AI workloads, providing ultra-low latency and scalability. Starace emphasizes that the physical infrastructure—fibre optic cables, routers, switches, satellites, subsea cables, and data centres—is the foundation for digital experiences.

Equinix focuses on rapid data movement between data centres to enable seamless digital solutions. “Our interconnected global network leverages fibre optic technology and partnerships with carriers worldwide to meet high-speed connectivity demands,” Starace explains. “Interconnectivity is critical for these technologies to function.”

Equinix’s xScale data centres provide hyperscale companies with large-scale deployments that integrate with existing access points, enabling direct connectivity to a global ecosystem of customers. These facilities support core AI workloads for major cloud providers and other key players.

Starace adds that Equinix’s strategic investments include over US$8 billion in hyperscale joint ventures across Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Americas, with more than 35 facilities planned to deliver over 725MW of IT capacity.

Flexibility as a Strategic Advantage

With AI transforming the data centre landscape, flexibility in technology and interconnectivity is vital. Equinix enables customers to innovate rapidly by offering access to a broad global portfolio of partners and a consistent experience across locations.

“Flexibility lets customers deploy digital infrastructure with greater choice and resilience, which is essential in this evolving AI-driven economy,” Starace says.

Looking Ahead

Data centres will continue to play a key role in supporting technology transformation and AI innovation. Starace points out that AI is driving efficiency and value across industries, making events like the Datacloud Global Congress important for sharing insights on infrastructure and connectivity development.

For IT professionals and developers interested in furthering their AI skills, exploring comprehensive training options can be beneficial. Resources like Complete AI Training offer curated courses to stay current with AI technology trends and infrastructure demands.