Commercial Real Estate News
Exponential AI Growth to Drive Asia Pacific's Data Center Market
According to JLL's new Global Data Centre Outlook, the mass adoption of cloud computing and artificial intelligence (AI) is driving exponential growth for the data center sector. Accounting for 79% of overall demand, hyperscalers (predominantly the global cloud service providers) and edge data centers (smaller facilities located close to the populations and infrastructure they serve) are leading as the fastest growing segments of the market.
According to JLL, the hyperscale market is expected to grow 20% from 2021 to 2026, as more tech companies look to meet surging demand for data processing and storage requirements. With over 300 new hyperscale sites in development globally today, that number is expected to surpass 1,000 by the end of 2024 - up from around 500 sites just five years ago.
Data center uptake in Asia will continue despite economic headwinds, supported by factors including sustained social media usage in mainland China (938 million users) and India (467 million users).
JLL said the regional hub status of Tokyo, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Sydney remain sound, with a combined 3000MW of total inventory and 765MW under construction. However, enterprises are increasingly considering other hubs and edge markets, including Jakarta and Mumbai, due to growing mobile phone usage.
Christopher Street, Managing Director, Head of Data Centers JLL Asia Pacific said, "Just five years ago, campus build sizes were commonly around 50MW. Today, it is not uncommon to see buildings of 100MW or more. Asia Pacific currently makes up 26% share of global hyperscale data center capacity in 2022. In mature markets like Singapore, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Shanghai and Sydney, we are witnessing a huge gap in capacity, and they are being bridged quickly with large new builds. Furthermore, emerging edge markets are receiving strong interest from cloud providers and hyperscalers. Given the region's influence in the global economy, significant opportunity now exists in this market."
Speaking of the growth momentum of data centers in Hong Kong, Timmy Fung, Senior Director of JLL Data Centre Capital Markets in Greater China said, "Despite the headwinds in recent years, we believe Hong Kong is still an attractive location for data centers due to its transparent real estate market, world-class telecommunications networks, strong data privacy laws, and other unique and irreplaceable qualities. The demand for data center capacity to support AI is growing rapidly, with most research reports indicating that the global data center market for AI is expected to grow at CAGR 25%+. Considering the Hong Kong government has been very supportive of AI, we expect AI companies will continue to expand their footprint in the city, fueling the growth of the data center market in the region."
However, growth comes with its challenges. Globally, 53% of data center operators struggle with finding qualified candidates, and 42% face challenges in retaining staff. Along with talent, sustainability is now a top priority for data centre developers, operators and investors, including addressing energy use and emissions. Legislation and self-regulatory initiatives, such as Singapore's Data Centre Moratorium, are setting standards to mitigate the climate impact of the industry.
Glen Duncan, Data Centre Research Director of JLL Asia Pacific added, "Sustainability has been a standout theme since the pandemic. Encouragingly, many Asia Pacific businesses have embarked on purpose-driven sustainability programs to deliver impact on climate action for sustainable real estate. With more operators looking to use innovative solutions for energy efficiency, we are confident that the sector's green ambitions would further advance.
"For data center users, outsourcing all their operations or hiring a third-party specialist can help mitigate labor challenges. Those who react the fastest to respond to the twin challenges of talent and sustainability stand to benefit from cost and operational efficiencies perspectives."
