atNorth, a leading high-performance colocation provider, has announced the launch of its new data center in Kista, a leading ICT cluster in Stockholm, Sweden. It is the first data center in Sweden specifically designed for high density workloads, such as advanced calculations for AI, simulations, and risk analysis.
In response to increased demand for next generation High Performance Computing (HPC) data centers, this site is the first establishment of this scale in the Stockholm region to be designed specifically for computationally heavy HPC workloads.
“For a country like Sweden and a city like Stockholm, which is at the forefront of digitalisation, data centers are an important part of the business ecosystem. Data centers are necessary whenever we use digital services, mobile apps or conduct digital meetings. We are pleased with atNorth’s choice to establish itself in Stockholm, as we actively work to show hospitality to innovative companies that create value for the region,” explained the Mayor of Stockholm, Anna König Jerlmyr.
Closer to the customers
The Stockholm location positions atNorth even closer to its customers, enabling the company to help deliver not just more computing power but also services and efficiencies at speed and scale for its customers. It has been built from the ground up to be scalable and flexible in order to cater to evolving market changes and customer needs. With sustainability at the heart of atNorth’s operations, the center has also been designed to operate with the lowest carbon footprint possible.
“Data-driven businesses require a new type of data center. We will be the first colocation player in the Nordics to build a facility fully equipped for high-capacity services from the start. The choice of Stockholm and surrounding Sweden is strategic, with its access to renewable energy, great connectivity and an infrastructure that allows us to deliver our services with high precision to customers both in and outside the Nordic region. We are very pleased to open the gates in Kista today,” said Stefan Jofors-aTribe, who leads atNorth’s establishment in Sweden as the Nordic Sales Director.
atNorth’s expansion in Sweden
The launch of the new site is the first step in atNorth’s expansion in Sweden. Upon completion, atNorth’s Stockholm data center will span a total of 6,400sqm with the IT capacity of more than 11mW. Due to high demand, next phase of the buildout that will add about 4,8mW of IT capacity, which will bring the overall capacity to over 6mW is already underway with expected deployment in the autumn of 2022.
atNorth’s new data center campus meets all current security and energy efficiency requirements and more. The new data halls are built to handle high performance computing workloads, requiring high power density and cooling requirements. The first data hall is completed with a capacity of 1.5mW. With up to 40 kw per rack capacity for air-cooled IT equipment, high performance is combined with cost efficiency. The service offering is tailored to include the most cost-effective solution based on volume and computing power needs.
The new data center uses efficient heat recovery for both air cooled and liquid cooled IT infrastructures. All the residual heat from the data center is recycled in collaboration with Stockholm Exergi, whose district heating plant is in proximity, where the excess heat generated from the new data center could heat up to 20,000 apartments. The new site operates on 100% renewable energy making it extremely energy efficient. This directly aligns to atNorth’s continued commitment to sustainability and overarching contribution to circular economy principles in the data center industry.
