Data Centres Europe Market Revenue Growth Forecast to Reach ˆ745 Million by 2007

London, April 6th 2005 - A new report from consultants BroadGroup, forecasts that revenues for Data Centers in the countries surveyed* will more than double 2003 levels and reach ˆ745 million by 2007.

The report, Data Centres Europe, records that most of the companies interviewed had turned cash positive - more than a third during 2004, and is now entering a period of market maturity. Importantly, new and differentiated products and services are shifting the business model away from basic colocation and web hosting.

Growth is being fuelled by a number of factors including a broadening of customer base, the provision of managed services, regulatory requirements in the financial services sector, and new conditions emerging for investment in a market that is, in contrast to the US, sufficiently tight to expand. Business continuity and disaster recovery appeared as major concerns for end users.

The report also identified a key shift towards utility computing. However only a small number of Data Centers had so far invested in blade servers, the technology leap required to open new markets in which Data Centers were previously unable to compete.

London continues to be the main hub in Europe, and where prices continue to rise, but the report identified other cities where Data Centres will increase in scale and capabilities over the next twelve to eighteen months. In the longer term, where Data Centers are short of space, dark fibre links will be used for connection between centers and cities. 

What is evident from the research is the degree of complexity that now exists for customer, and services segmentation. Data Centres are confronting new challenges in creating value added and ‘sized' services for an increasingly diverse customer base. With the majority of Data Center stock being 4-5 years old, and the introduction of transforming technologies, the industry is facing a further period of change.

Much of the future concern of Data Centers will focus on power, security, infrastructure and connectivity. The main cost pressure affecting companies interviewed is raw electrical power. Carrier neutrality - where the Data Center is able to offer more than three independent connection routes - is favoured and operators are able to charge premium prices. Space too is a major issue and the report examines the current status across cities in Europe.

The report views managed services as a major opportunity for Data Centers, but suggests competitive rivalry could emerge with integrators, who hold strengths in customer relationships and architectural solutions.  InterXion and IBM featured as the two most frequently quoted competitors of other players in the research.

Key findings from the survey will be presented at DataCentres Europe 2005 taking place in London April 28-29 -   www.datacentreseurope.com - and the report is available for purchase from BroadGroup at www.broad-group.com

* EU 14 plus Czech Republic and Hungary