Cushman & Wakefield : 2021 Global Data Center Market Comparison

Cloud Computing, AI, and 5G Accelerate Growth of Data Center Development and Investment Around the World

Data Centers, once an afterthought for global enterprises, are now a cornerstone of the information economy, and well over $100 billion has poured into the asset class over the past decade, according to Cushman & Wakefield'sGlobal Data Center Market Comparison.

The Global Market Comparison is the first data center report of its kind, openly discussing and ranking top markets for site selection and investment. This study reveals the thought process that underpins all data center work on behalf of our clients at Cushman & Wakefield, providing a rigorous and analytical approach for maximum value.

This study evaluated 1,189 data centers around the world, utilizing a unique weighted methodologyto rank 48 global marketsand arrive at our Overall Top Tenmarkets. Key emerging data center markets are also identified in theTen Markets to Watchsection.

Key Takeaways:

• The 2020 pandemic accelerated the change in corporate IT strategy, as companies rapidly shifted to the cloud. Continuation and optimization of this shift will continue throughout the next several years, creating further emphasis on cloud services availability and connectivity across platforms.Read more in Cushman & Wakefield's State of the Cloud Report.

• Construction of new product has skyrocketed, with the 1.6 GW under construction across markets studied last year swelling to 2.9 GW in this year's edition. This is the equivalent of nearly two-and-a-half Northern Virginias being added to global supply, most of which has been spoken for.

• Secondary marketscontinue to grow in importance, with areas particularly in Europe and Asia of interest as some workloads move to the edge. These secondary locales often provide greater margins for data center operators, with some growing to primary market status in future.Read more in Cushman & Wakefield's Data Centre European Secondary Markets Report.