DAMAC, Vodafone partner to launch $100m data center in Turkey

Scheduled for completion in 2025, the 6-megawatt facility reflects Vodafone’s vision to lead Turkey’s digital transformation and underscores its commitment to the country’s future.

Aqil Ali, the Vice Chairman and Board Member of EDGNEX Data Centres by DAMAC, and Engin Aksoy, the CEO of Vodafone Turkey, attended the press conference in Istanbul for the Vodafone Izmir Data Centre project.

Aqil Ali said, “Our joint venture with Vodafone is a significant milestone for DAMAC, providing essential digital infrastructure for the growing market on Turkey’s western coast. The Eastern Mediterranean region has a high demand for data centres, making Izmir, one of the largest and oldest cities in Turkey, an ideal location to meet this need. Our goal is to build global strategic partnerships that will have a major effect on local digital economies, and the collaboration with Vodafone will result in a top-notch facility in a constantly evolving market.”

Engin Aksoy said, “Vodafone holds a significant position in the investment landscape of our country. Our role in the Turkish economy is important as a key player. The real value of our investments over the span of 17 years has exceeded TL 157,6 billion. The Vodafone ecosystem made a significant contribution of TL 68 billion to Turkey’s GDP during the fiscal year of 2022-23.

“Over the next five years, our plan is to grow exponentially with investments in Data Centre, Cloud Solutions, Cyber Security, Mobile Private Network, and IoT. The cloud computing market is projected to hit 947,3 billion dollars by 2026. We believe that Turkey should take part in this rising economy. It remains crucial to invest in reliable and high-capacity data centres for cloud computing,’ he added.

“Taking this into consideration, we collaborated with DAMAC to build a new data centre in Turkey, and established a joint venture. Our goal through this strategic partnership is to develop data centre facilities in both Turkey and international markets. The data centre we are set to build in Izmir will be our primary joint project. We expect the total investment amount to reach $100 million. The data centre will be a major milestone in our technology investments. Vodafone will continue to leverage its global experience and local capabilities to contribute to the sustainable growth of our country,” he further explained.

Designed to meet the highest industry standards, the 6-megawatt facility will adhere to Tier 3 specifications, guaranteeing 99.982 percent uptime and complete redundancy.

Earthquake-resistant construction and redundant infrastructure further ensure maximum reliability and uptime.

Recognising the importance of sustainability, the data center will incorporate a significant green energy component, minimizing its environmental impact.

Strategical position

Izmir is situated in proximity to numerous submarine cable transit hubs, offering connectivity to Europe, Africa, and Asia. Through its strategic position, the ongoing development of submarine cables in this region is highly appealing to internet exchange points and content delivery network (CDN) providers.

The submarine cable system is set to establish a connection between Turkey and Greece, bridging the cities of Izmir, Athens, and Crete. This will provide data centre customers access with low latency through redundant connection routes.

“One-stop shop”

The new data center will function as a “one-stop-shop” for customers, offering end-to-end services and catering to a diverse clientele.

Content creators, wholesale service providers, businesses seeking disaster recovery solutions, and even hyperscalers will all find the data center’s services valuable.

Additionally, its carrier-independent status makes it attractive to customers across various segments. This strategic location, combined with redundant connection routes via terrestrial and submarine cables, provides low-latency connections, further enhancing its appeal.

With its cutting-edge technology, strategic location, and commitment to sustainability, the new data center promises to be a pivotal hub for both OTT and hyperscaler segments, offering alternative geographical routes for data center services.