Atman, Beyond.pl, Data4, Equinix, and 3S, the owners and operators of the largest data centers in Poland, have joined forces to strengthen the potential of the Polish data center industry, educate the market, and create new jobs through cooperation with authorities, legislative changes, and leveraging the experience of similar organizations in Europe.
Data centers are the foundation of the functioning of the modern digital world, not only due to the processing of increasing amounts of data from various sectors of the economy, but also due to the digital processes, payment transactions, and advanced computational tasks carried out within them. The ongoing digital transformation offers unprecedented opportunities for the data center industry while also presenting challenges in areas such as cybersecurity, protection of critical IT infrastructure, business continuity, energy efficiency, and climate change mitigation.
“Whatever happens online happens in data centers and also has a physical dimension related to IT infrastructure, from which we now require not only reliability and scalability but also minimal impact on climate change. This is a challenge for the entire data center industry in Poland, and therefore, by leveraging economies of scale, we are uniting our efforts to achieve better performance in our facilities, which is impossible to achieve in smaller, dispersed colocation facilities,” says Sławomir Koszołko, CEO of Atman.
Maintaining the continuity of any company or institution is intrinsically linked to the uninterrupted operation of the entire IT environment, which includes either their own data centers or, increasingly, server rooms provided by verified and certified suppliers. Among the goals of the newly formed Association is to maintain uncompromising quality of data center services in Poland and to build industry standards commonly practiced in foreign markets.
“Digital transformation has redefined how IT is perceived by businesses. Today, IT is the foundation on which competitive advantages are built, market changes are adapted to, and customer needs are met. However, this also generates responsibility. Business security now depends more than ever on IT, both at the application and infrastructure layers. As data center service providers, we address issues related to the secure maintenance of the technology environments necessary for efficient access to data and systems. Therefore, one of our cooperation goals is the standardization of services across the industry and continuously improving their quality. We want to support the business continuity of companies using the services of Polish data center providers,” says Wojciech Stramski, CEO of Beyond.pl.
By creating the policy for the so-called “Digital Decade,” the EU is preparing Europeans and enterprises for a sustainable and human-centered digital future. Data centers occupy an important place at the intersection of several areas: digital transformation of enterprises, digital skills of society, digitization of public services, and secure digital infrastructure. The Association aims to support the digitization process in Poland and help leverage the opportunities associated with digital acceleration.
“Digitization is the future that will encompass many areas of life for each of us. Data centers, as critical infrastructure, will enable the digital transformation of businesses and administration while simultaneously serving as ‘green’ and secure data and computing power repositories. As the Data Center Association in Poland, we aim to support the development of the local data center market, share experience and expert knowledge, and accelerate the digitization process in our country,” emphasizes Adam Ponichtera, director of the Polish branch of Data4.
“In today’s world, changes are happening quickly and unpredictably. To meet them, continuous digital transformation based on data analytics and digital infrastructure enabling efficient implementation of business strategies is needed. Our mission is to develop the Polish economy through the expansion of data centers, and our goal is to fully exploit market opportunities for digital Poland and meet customer needs in a rapidly developing market. We want to create infrastructural conditions that enable businesses to implement strategic ideas, attract investors, and, by continuously improving processes, education, and the implementation of modern, environmentally focused solutions, we also support Polish companies in their quest for sustainable development,” comments Sylwia Pyśkiewicz, Managing Director of Equinix Poland.
The Association’s activities as an industry organization serve not only business purposes but also market education in the direction of improving physical and digital security, training future staff in the face of the current deficit of specialized maintenance workers for colocation facilities. Close cooperation with local authorities at all levels should translate into legislative changes favorable to the industry and the supply of new jobs.
“Our goal is to connect—literally and figuratively. To connect the industry environment to continuously improve the quality of offered services, to connect companies with Data Center-based technologies to optimize their operational activities, and to connect people with technology through education that will show the great possibilities that data processing center-based services offer today and in the future,” adds Monika Roś-Gruszczyk, CEO of 3S Data Center.
According to analysts, in 2021 the value of the Polish data processing center services market was 2.58 billion PLN, and the supply of power in the commercial data center services market increased by 20%. In the long term, the target power of currently planned data centers in Poland will be 300 MW. The unflagging pace of growth in the local market has already attracted the attention of the largest global IT service providers who have located their regions in Poland. The activities of the Association aim to promote Poland as a new, dynamically developing data center hub, supplementing the stabilized FLAP-D markets and attracting the interest of international customers.
