Dallas, TX (1888PressRelease)
May 02, 2008 - Despite the slow down in the national economy, the data center market in Dallas and Fort Worth still appears to be growing by leaps and bounds. A data center is a building constructed specifically for catering to servers which are computers that are always on. They typically have multiple fiber connections, conditioned power, backup generators, raised floors, heightened security and industrial air conditioners.
Known as the “Silicon Prairie,” technology juggernauts EDS, Verizon, and Texas Instruments call the Metroplex home. And with over 25 universities and colleges in the area, there is no shortage of technology savvy labor. Another major factor in the attractiveness of Dallas Fort Worth for data centers is its geographic location. It’s in the central United States which is out of reach from hurricanes, volcanoes, earthquakes or deep freezes that become more common the further north you go. The region is also equidistant from both the East and West Coasts and is one of the country’s major fiber hubs.
Prices going up.
At last count there were 12 data center’s available to the public and probably 30 more privately held one-tenant data centers in Dallas and Fort Worth. Despite the abundance of competition, data center prices are still on the rise and don’t appear to be going down any time soon.
“In 2004, the average cabinet in a data center was running about $700 per month. Today, they are closer to $2000,” says www.InDallas.net President Rocky Ahmann, a data center finder in the area. “There are still deals out there but they are becoming harder to find and demand is not slowing down.”
Probably the biggest contributor towards the increase in demand is the advances in technology. “5 years ago, a 6-foot tall rack of computer gear would house, on average, around 10 servers which would consume 2 or 3 kilowatts of power.” says Ahmann. “Today, the same sized cabinet holds 40 servers and consumes 20 kilowatts while at the same time producing dramatically more heat.”
Ahmann says that it is not uncommon to go into a half empty data center and learn they are sold out because they can’t get more power or cooling into the area.
Demand has also grown because of federal regulations implemented over the last 4 years requiring the health care industry and publicly traded companies to back up their records at more than one location. The overall growth and corporate reliance on the internet has even further driven the need for data centers.
The Dallas Central Business District (CBD) uses a grid power distribution system which is largely considered the most reliable in the world. In the United States, only New York City, Washington D.C., Chicago and Atlanta can also make such a claim. The demand for more data centers is not exclusive to North Texas. At last year’s North American Network Operators’ Group (NANOG) conference attendees pointed out that there is a 12 month waiting list for diesel generators which are a must have for build a data center. For more information go to http://www.indallas.net
