Digital infrastructure provider Equinix is expanding its data centre capacity for high-density computing architectures and launching the global network of Equinix Enhanced Performance Innovation Centers (EPIC). Frankfurt am Main is among the first locations worldwide, alongside London, Paris, Osaka and Sydney, where the new environments are available immediately. The company plans to expand to additional locations in 2027.
Growing power densities require modern cooling concepts
As AI applications transition from testing phases into regular operation, demands on cooling, power supply and networking within data centres are increasing considerably. High-performance GPU platforms result in significantly higher rack densities, pushing conventional air cooling to its limits and making liquid cooling a fundamental requirement for cost-effective operation. Many companies face the challenge of rapidly implementing modern AI infrastructures, yet currently lack the practical experience needed for the complex operation of liquid-cooled high-performance computing systems.
The EPIC facilities address this interface. They are directly integrated into Equinix's ongoing data centre operations. There, businesses have the opportunity to test modern liquid-cooled CPU and GPU systems in collaboration with hardware and technology partners under real production conditions. This enables technical and operational hurdles to be identified in advance, reducing risks when scaling from concept to production readiness.
Validation under real production conditions
Brian Stein, Senior Vice President of Infrastructure Products and Services at Equinix, emphasises that liquid cooling is indispensable for modern enterprise infrastructures and the practical deployment of AI. Through the new centres, companies can validate their solutions in conjunction with the existing technology ecosystem prior to large-scale rollouts. The concept relies on several functional pillars:
- —Co-operation with technology partners and equipment manufacturers to align combined cooling solutions under real-world conditions
- —Building practical experience to determine suitable technical environments prior to final implementation
- —Conducting all tests directly within active data centres under real operating conditions
The initiative builds on earlier development steps by the operator. Equinix established its first Co-Innovation Facility to test new technologies back in 2022, followed by Solution Validation Centers in 2024. According to Matthieu Blumberg, SVP at technology firm Criteo, Equinix's practical testing environment provided the foundation for gradually and reliably integrating liquid cooling into a cross-site AI infrastructure.
