In discussions about current and future digital infrastructure, data centers are often imagined as gigantic industrial facilities filled with servers, powered by robust electrical and cooling systems. However, industry experts emphasize that the true distinction between a building with computers and a world-class data center isn’t in the installed kilowatts but in the connectivity it can offer.
Criticism of the “Machine Container” Model
Aaron Wendel, head of NOCIX, LLC, expressed this clearly in a recent analysis:
“Anyone can take a building, install electricity, set up cooling, add some infrastructure, and call it a data center. People do it all the time; it’s not that hard. The real value of a data center comes from its connectivity—the number of networks that consider it their home.”
This observation highlights a reality often overshadowed by the investment figures or installed electrical capacity. Connectivity transforms a data center into a nerve center of the Internet, enabling traffic exchange among multiple carriers and networks.
PeeringDB: The Interconnection Benchmark
The most reliable indicator of a data center’s importance isn’t found in company press releases but in PeeringDB, the collaborative database that collects information on network interconnections worldwide.
According to this platform, the most valuable data centers aren’t necessarily those hosting the most servers but those hosting the greatest number of operators and content providers, creating a network effect that significantly boosts their strategic importance.
In the United States, notable examples include giants like Equinix Ashburn (DC), known as the “Internet meeting point on the East Coast,” and facilities in Dallas, Chicago, and Silicon Valley, which host hundreds of operators. Globally, hubs in Frankfurt, Amsterdam, London, and Singapore continue to be key references for international connectivity.
Connectivity vs. Power Capacity
For years, the narrative around data centers focused on megawatts contracted and their capacity to host tens of thousands of servers. But Wendel’s observation is clear: without interconnection, a data center is merely a hardware warehouse.
The difference between a local data center with a single Internet provider and an international interconnection hub lies in:
- Number of available carriers: more providers mean more redundancy options and better prices.
- Neutral Internet Exchanges (IXPs): facilitate traffic exchange without intermediaries.
- Private peering between major networks: direct agreements that improve latency and service quality.
- Access to submarine or national backbone cables: critical in strategic regions like Europe or Asia.
The Perspective in Spain and Europe
In Spain, the expansion of Madrid’s data center ecosystem has been driven by this very debate. The capital has positioned itself as an emerging European digital hub not just because of its energy capacity but also due to investment in interconnection points, presence of international carriers, and deployment of submarine cables linking the Iberian Peninsula.
For entrepreneurs like David Carrero, co-founder of Stackscale, “interconnection is what brings a data center to life. Without it, it’s just a tech warehouse. Spain’s big opportunity is to become a digital bridge between Europe, Africa, and Latin America, and that depends more on connectivity than on installed watts.”
Conclusion
The message is clear: electric power and cooling are necessary conditions but not sufficient. What makes a data center a critical piece of the global digital economy is interconnection, network diversity, and the ability to serve as a meeting point for thousands of autonomous systems.
As Wendel put it, “the true value of a data center is measured by the number of networks that call it home.” This metric isn’t just a technical detail; it’s what defines a country’s or city’s competitiveness in the 21st-century digital economy.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. What is PeeringDB, and why does it matter?
PeeringDB is a collaborative database where network operators, content providers, and data centers record interconnection information. It has become the go-to resource for assessing a data center’s connectivity.
2. What’s the difference between a data center with many servers and an interconnection hub?
A data center with servers but without interconnection acts as an isolated warehouse. An interconnected hub allows multiple networks to connect and peer, improving latency, redundancy, and costs.
3. What role does Spain play in this global interconnection map?
Madrid is emerging as a European digital hub thanks to international carriers and submarine cable connections, positioning it as a gateway between continents.
4. How does connectivity influence a data center’s competitiveness?
A data center with extensive connectivity attracts more clients, reduces transit costs, improves service quality, and becomes a strategic node within the Internet.