Tag: #INFRASTRUCTURE

Digital Infrastructure Groups Merge to Strengthen Industry Representation

Today two key digital infrastructure organisations are merging to drive the growth and success of the digital infrastructure ecosystem in and from Ireland. Host in Ireland and Digital Infrastructure Ireland will join together under the Digital Infrastructure Ireland name, reflecting both the criticality of the industry and the need for urgent action by the Irish Government to advance the sector in Ireland.

Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Digitalisation and National Development Mr Jack Chambers TD will give the keynote address at the Digital Infrastructure Ireland Launch event next week which comes after five years of a de facto moratorium on the data centre industry and investment by-passing Ireland due to policy ambiguity and uncertainty.

The founder of Host in Ireland, Garry Connolly, said the industry needs one powerful voice to champion the digital infrastructure industry. “Ireland and the Irish digital infrastructure ecosystem have long been trusted global partners for designing, building, and supplying digital infrastructure. The industry needs a collective voice to represent the diverse sectors and communities that drive this critical industry. While the ecosystem has soared in recent years, the industry here at home faces serious challenges, including energy constraints, sustainability, and regulatory uncertainty.”

“It’s time to try something new. The CRU consultation should initiate a collaborative effort, bringing together government, agencies, and industry leaders to plot a course for Ireland and this trillion dollar global industry. Ireland’s energy challenges demand immediate action from top public and private experts to address grid constraints, solutions, and investments—not just in the medium and long-term, but immediately, as there are too many opportunities in limbo. Now more than ever, we must move beyond incremental steps and take giant leaps to embrace bold, forward-thinking policies. We need to build on Ireland’s 60+ year history with data by embracing a future that demands us to be creative, brave, and relentless.”

To guide its strategic direction and ensure a partner-driven vision remains at the forefront, Digital Infrastructure Ireland is establishing a Strategic Advisory Board. This board will be composed of industry leaders and professional experts who will play a crucial role in shaping the future of the organisation. The initial Advisory Board will be co-chaired by the long-established data centre industry veteran, Maurice Mortell, and Michelle Wallace, COO for Host in Ireland.

“The challenges we face as an industry in Ireland are getting serious and require a proactive and robust approach to advocacy and awareness. A lack of policy clarity is putting future investment at risk,” said Maurice Mortell, co-chair of the advisory board at Digital Infrastructure Ireland. “The Government must take an active role in enabling the next wave of cloud and AI-driven growth, or Ireland will be left behind as other markets seize these opportunities. Digital Infrastructure Ireland is committed to addressing these issues through collaboration, advocacy and proactive engagement with policymakers to ensure the industry can continue to thrive.”

About Digital Infrastructure Ireland

Digital Infrastructure Ireland is a global initiative dedicated to driving the growth and success of the digital infrastructure ecosystem both in and from Ireland.

As a partner-driven organisation, our community brings together companies with world-class expertise at every stage of the digital infrastructure lifecycle. From design and construction to operation and maintenance, our partners embody a spirit of “co-opetition” and collaboration that strengthens Ireland’s standing as a global leader in digital infrastructure.

Digital Infrastructure Ireland serves as a collective voice for the digital infrastructure ecosystem to ensure it remains a trusted partner for designing, building, and supplying digital infrastructure across Europe and beyond.

Ookla Shares Analysis of Storm Éowyn’s Impact on Telecoms Infrastructure

The UK and Ireland are in recovery mode after Storm Éowyn wreaked havoc on electricity and telecoms infrastructure in recent days. With record wind gusts exceeding 180 km/h recorded in Ireland and a ‘major incident’ declared on the Isle of Man, the storm has been historic in both its strength and the extent of the damage caused across the islands.

Today, Ookla Shares Analysis of Storm Éowyn’s Impact on Telecoms Infrastructure severe and sustained decline in mobile performance across all operators in Ireland and parts of the UK on a scale not seen before.

On the day the storm made landfall (24th January), median mobile download speeds in Ireland (10.04 Mbps) were 78% lower than the preceding 7-day average of 47.43 Mbps, while median latency was 23% higher at 47.6 ms. In Scotland and Northern Ireland, mobile download speeds at the 10th percentile—a critical metric reflecting the poorest network performance—dropped significantly on the same day, falling by 63% to 2.19 Mbps and by 74% to 1.31 Mbps, respectively, compared to the 7-day average.

The unprecedented scale of impact on telecoms infrastructure serves as the latest and most high-profile call to action for hardening networks against increasingly frequent and severe storms in the UK and Ireland.

You can find the full analysis and Speedtest Intelligence® data here: https://www.ookla.com/articles/storm-eowyn

Why Did EV Sales Fall Off a Cliff in 2024?

A record €616 million in green energy supports were awarded by the Irish government in 2024 to households, businesses, communities and the public sector, according to data published last week by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI).

These supports included grants for energy upgrades and renewable energy, including 29,000 grants for solar panels, an increase of 25% on 2023 figures.

However, electric vehicles sales decreased by 24% in 2024, with just 17,459 new electric vehicles registered in the country, compared to the 22,852 sold in 2023.

Despite the fall in sales, more than €52 million grant aid was invested for 12,000 electric vehicles and over 15,400 residential EV chargers.

While EV sales in 2024 were still higher than the 15,678 new electric cars sold in Ireland in 2022, the drop off has become a cause for concern.

One of the main reasons given for the slump in EV sales last year is a lack of confidence among motorists regarding the availability of public charging infrastructure, leading to range anxiety.

There are over 2,500 publicly available charging stations in Ireland according to SEAI figures, which is a much smaller number compared with countries with a similar population.

Norway boasted more than 27,500 public EV charging stations as of Q2 2024, Denmark had close to 18,000 at the start of last year, and Finland had a far smaller but still impressive 3,600 charging stations by late 2023.

Even Lithuania, with a population nearly half the size of Ireland, had over 2,200 public charge points operational by Q3 2024.

A key feature of the decrease in sales in 2024 compared with 2023 figures, is that the slump was clustered around counties in the west and northwest.

In Cavan, 83 new electric vehicles were registered between January and December last year, a 48.77% drop compared with the previous year.

Co. Sligo and Co. Leitrim the north-west saw decreases of 45.9% and 44.83% respectively.

Meanwhile, sales in Co. Clare dropped by 43.36%, and by 42.91% in Co. Mayo.

“The western region saw a decline in electric car sales far above the national average – and this is also where there is less investment in infrastructure,” explained energy expert Brian Kelly of EnergyEfficiency.ie.

“This can be seen as an indication that one of the main reasons for the reduction in sales last year was a lack of consumer confidence in public charging infrastructure,” he said.

Mr Kelly explained that this lack of investment in infrastructure has led to range anxiety among motorists, which has negatively affected sales over the past year.

“Even when there are chargers present along routes of travel, some motorists are finding themselves waiting long periods of time for one to become available,” said Mr Kelly.

“To encourage EV adoption, the new government must take swift action to quell public apathy and concerns around range anxiety by investing heavily in charging stations.”

While the slow roll out of public chargers has hindered ambitious  government targets, Mr Kelly said there is reason to believe that 2025 could be more promising.

“Last December 296 new electric vehicles were registered in the state, up 48.7% compared with the same month the previous year,” he said.

“This is a level of growth far greater than the overall decline seen in the course of 2024.”

There are other reasons for optimism too – last year saw a significant push for the construction of large numbers of new public charging stations along motorways and national road networks, as well as in towns and villages.

Last summer grant funding was awarded through ZEVI for 131 high powered charging stations at locations close to motorways across the country.

Further grant funding to improve the access to EV charging along Ireland’s national roads have also been announced since then.

2025 should also see the implementation of the first stages of the Regional and Local EV Charging Network Plan which aims to increase the number of EV charging stations available in cities, towns, and villages, which may increase public confidence and diminish range anxiety.

Data Breach Prevention Tips For Your Business

A data breach can significantly damage a business. It can result in the loss of proprietary information, damage to the company’s reputation, and costly remediation. The average data breach costs a business millions of dollars, but the impact extends beyond finances. How can a business prevent these attacks?

Data and Sensitive Information

To protect its data, a company must know where this data is located and what it contains. All data sets must be inventoried, and all locations must be determined. In addition, the company needs to regularly update its inventory and locations to ensure it is always aware of where data is. Furthermore, businesses that need a cloud fax provider or another third-party service must ensure the service selected conducts this inventory and knows the location of its sensitive client information.

Limit Access 

Business owners must limit access to sensitive data. Only those employees and contractors who must view this information should be granted access. Sadly, many business owners offer privileged access to those who don’t truly need it and put their data at unnecessary risk when doing so. By establishing and enforcing policies regarding privileged access, the business owner can reduce the risk of a data breach. They must ensure regular oversight of this data and use access management tools to facilitate and enforce the policies. 

Infrastructure Patches

IT security teams must monitor their networks and systems. When a security patch is offered, it needs to be used immediately. Zero-day exploits remain a problem today, so IT security teams must be aware of this and immediately take action when a manufacturer issues a software patch. Doing so will reduce the risk of unauthorized access to sensitive data.

Network Perimeter

Network perimeter security serves as the first line of defense against unauthorized access. Many companies use firewalls, and they may also benefit from intrusion prevention and detection systems. Access control lists are popular among business owners, and they often turn to other tools to ensure business data can flow internally while identifying and stopping outside threats.

Endpoint Security Controls

Every business needs endpoint security controls in place. For example, malware detection software is essential today. As the distribution of users and workloads expands, traditional perimeter security tools become less useful. Endpoint security, when properly implemented and managed, offers the highest level of security against internet-based threats.

Lateral Movement

When a cybercriminal successfully overcomes the company’s perimeter security, they immediately look for other systems they can access and infiltrate. Limiting unsanctioned lateral movement can stop them in their tracks. Microsegmentation is helpful because it establishes isolated network zones.

Data Encryption

Companies often focus on encrypting data during transmission. Sensitive data should also be encrypted at rest to prevent unauthorized parties from accessing it. Never assume a corporate network is secure. Always encrypt the data even as it moves internally.

Password Policies

Countless data breaches occurred because employees did not have robust passwords. Business owners must require passwords for all applications and services running on their network. These requirements might include a minimum password length, multi-factor authentication, or mandatory monthly or quarterly password changes.

Training

Any person with access to sensitive data must undergo comprehensive cybersecurity training. Employees and contractors are two groups that need this training. Whether intentional or unintentional, mistakes on the part of staff, contractors, and partners continue to be a significant threat to data security. This area is also the hardest to protect against. Regular training can reduce the risk.

Data breach prevention is essential. However, companies must also focus on other areas. Business owners must find the right mix of cybersecurity policies for their organizational risk appetite. When the right mix is found, business productivity increases while the risk of a security incident goes down. Every business wants this. 

Qualcom one of first Irish partners to achieve Microsoft Azure Infrastructure designation

Qualcom, a leading Irish provider of IT and cybersecurity services, today announces that it has achieved a Microsoft designation in Azure Infrastructure. Qualcom is one of a select number of Microsoft partners in Ireland to receive this designation.

Qualcom was recognised for its expertise in delivering innovative solutions built on Microsoft Azure technology which meet the evolving needs of customers and drive their growth. With this certification, customers will benefit from an enriched range of Azure capabilities including accelerated migration to the cloud and enhanced security and flexibility. Qualcom can leverage increased access to Microsoft resources and highly skilled technicians to continue to strengthen its Azure service portfolio.

Adding to its existing Microsoft Modern Work SME and Enterprise designations, this new recognition demonstrates Qualcom’s commitment to remaining at the forefront of technological advancement to deliver increased value to customers.

David Kinsella, Technical Director, Qualcom, said: “This designation helps to solidify our position as a leader in the market, and recognises the commitment of the entire team in providing cutting-edge Microsoft solutions to our customers. We remain dedicated to continuous improvement and innovation across our technology solutions to drive customers’ success. We look forward to continuing to work closely with the Microsoft team to enhance our capabilities.”

Fergal Quigley, Microsoft Azure Business Lead at MicroWarehouse, one of Ireland’s largest Microsoft distributors, said: “As one of a select group of partners in Ireland to have achieved this certification, this underscores Qualcom’s deep dedication to integrating Microsoft technology solutions that lead to customer growth. It gives customers the confidence to innovate, backed up by a team of highly skilled professionals and the highest quality of service and support.”

Park Place Announces New Liquid Cooling Solutions to Cut Costs and Carbon Emissions for Ireland Data Centres

Park Place Technologies, the world’s leading global data centre and networking optimisation firm, today announces the expansion of its portfolio of IT infrastructure services with the introduction of two Liquid Cooling solutions for data centres: Immersion Liquid Cooling and Direct-to-Chip Cooling.

This announcement comes at a critical time for businesses who are seeing a dramatic increase in the compute power they require, driven by adoption of technologies like AI and IoT. This in turn is driving the need for more on-prem hardware, more space for that hardware, and more energy to run it all – presenting a significant financial and environmental challenge for businesses. Park Place Technology’s new Liquid Cooling solutions present a strong solution for businesses looking to address these challenges as the technology has the potential to deliver strong financial and environmental results.

Direct-to-Chip is an advanced cooling method that applies coolant directly to the server components that generate the most heat including CPUs and GPUs. Immersion cooling empowers data centre operators to do more with less: less space and less energy. Using these methods, businesses can increase their Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) by up to 18 times, and rack density by up to 10 times. Ultimately, this can help deliver power savings of up to 50%, which in turn leads to lower operation costs.

From an environmental perspective, liquid cooling is significantly more efficient than traditional air cooling. At present, air cooling technology only captures 30% of the heat generated by the servers, compared to the 100% captured by immersion cooling, resulting in lower carbon emissions for businesses that opt for immersion cooling methods.

Park Place Technologies can deliver a complete, turn-key solution for organisations looking to implement Liquid Cooling technology, removing the complexity of adoption, which is a common barrier for businesses. Park Place Technologies provides a single-vendor solution for the whole process from procuring the hardware, conversion of the servers for liquid cooling, installation, maintenance, monitoring and management of the hardware and the cooling technology.

“Our new Liquid Cooling offerings have the potential to have a significant impact on our customers’ costs and carbon emissions, two of the key issues they face today,” said Chris Carreiro, Chief Technology Officer, at Park Place Technologies.  “Park Place Technologies is ideally positioned to help organisations cut their data centre operations costs, giving them the opportunity to re-invest in driving innovation across their businesses.

The decision to invest in Immersion Cooling and Direct-to-Chip Cooling depends on various factors, including the specific requirements of the data center, budget constraints, the desired level of cooling efficiency, and infrastructure complexity. Park Place Technologies can work closely with customers to find the best solution for their business, and can guide them towards the best long-term strategy, while offering short-term results. This takes much of the complexity out of the process, which will enable more businesses to capitalise on this exciting new technology.”

Hyper-Converged Infrastructure: Time to Upgrade the Data Center?

Numerous companies are constantly looking for technologies that can help take data centers to the next level. In addition, companies are interested in minimizing costs, increasing productivity, and improving flexibility when using innovative solutions. 

That is why the number of companies that have chosen in favor of a hyper converged data center is now increasing. Most organizations have already moved on to building HCI data centers, or are making every effort to use HCI hyper converged infrastructure. 

Many experts are interested in the question of what is so unusual and special in such an architecture. We will talk about what HCI is, how traditional data centers work, and what makes this innovative solution stand out. 

Table of Contents:

  • What is hyperconverged infrastructure?
  • One step back to the traditional infrastructure
  • Hyper converged infrastructure to improve data centers
  • Analysis of the costs and benefits

What is hyperconverged infrastructure? 

“Too, over, excessive, beyond” is what the “hyper-” prefix implies. Thus, we can say that this is a completely new level for converged infrastructure. If in CI each component is separate and can be used independently, then HCI is the union of all components into one. Component integration is achieved through software-defined technology. 

By components we mean the following: 

  • Computing power; 
  • Storage; 
  • Servers; 
  • Networks. 

All of them can now be managed using a single interface. This means that there is no longer a need to hire a team of IT specialists since companies need only one system administrator to manage the data center. The hyper-converged infrastructure definition also implies that the scaling process is now achieved simply by adding new blocks as needed, which is easy and fast. 

One step back to the traditional infrastructure 

Each specialist understands what traditional architecture is. This includes the following components: 

  • Server; 
  • Storage; 
  • A group of software components that are used to support a virtual environment. 

Each component of such a data center performs only a specific function. Thus, there is no question of flexibility at all. If you need to do computing tasks, then you need to use a server for this. For example, it is not suitable specifically for storing data. For networking purposes, you need to use completely different equipment that will be used only for this and nothing else. 

Based on this, we observe complete isolation. All isolated layers perform a specific function. This means that you will not be able to manage them in a consolidated way. For each purpose and each piece of equipment, a separate control system is needed. 

Moreover, you cannot limit yourself to only one specialist to manage each component. You need teams of specialists for different purposes because the amount of work is huge. Component management requires people with different skill sets. At the same time, in general, at least three teams of specialists are needed who will be responsible for the operation of all components. Furthermore, other specialists will be needed who specialize in working with virtualization, security issues and policies, and so on. 

Traditional architecture is characterized by being quite challenging in terms of deployment, maintenance, and management. The disadvantages include delays in the provision of IT services, as well as applications. Building such an architecture is inexpensive, but if you need more capacity, then you will run into a whole host of problems. 

Given that you need multiple teams, running all the processes becomes more of a challenge as multiple teams are difficult to coordinate. 

Hyper converged infrastructure to improve data centers 

A radical change from the traditional architecture is that in a hyper converged infrastructure, you no longer need to manage each component individually. That is why this architecture is the new better future of multiple data centers. All components are now combined and connected by one structure. Everything that previously had to be controlled separately can now be controlled using just one program. 

To change the legacy architecture to a more modern one, you need to interact with one reliable supplier who will be responsible for both equipment support and software support. Companies can get a pre-configured platform that meets their needs. That is why the deployment process will not seem like torment for specialists. Thus, costs are significantly reduced, as well as the hassle of equipment compatibility. 

To perform the virtualization process, the system needs to use a virtual machine monitor, a software that creates and runs VMs. In addition, various data services will be installed on the platform, and other third-party applications can also be installed on it. Such a platform is easy to acquire, deploy, and manage. Companies receive increased efficiency and exponential economic efficiency. This infrastructure is ideal for companies that need to reduce the time of market entry and perform complex data calculations more quickly. 

Analysis of the costs and benefits 

There are good reasons to implement such an innovative solution because companies need to know what they will get in the end. The following reasons are confirmation that companies should take a step in this direction: 

Reducing the cost of maintaining the environment 

Such an infrastructure helps companies reduce the cost of maintaining a data center environment. This includes reduced electricity costs, space occupied by servers, a cooling system for servers, and wiring. 

Convenient management 

Since all components are combined and can be managed using software on a single console, the time spent on troubleshooting is reduced. In addition, if you need many specialists with different skill sets to manage a traditional architecture, then you need one generalist to manage such an architecture. 

Scale as needed 

If you need to increase volumes, then it will not be difficult. To do this, you just need to determine the desired capacity and purchase additional boxes that are easy to install. 

For any workload 

This is a universal solution that is suitable for companies operating in various industries. The platforms support a huge number of applications and also different types of workloads. 

Decreased TCO 

By choosing this solution, you can interact with a single vendor that will provide support for both hardware and software. You benefit from a reduction in the total cost of ownership as well as a reduction in both capital and operating costs. 

Conclusion 

HCI, compared to other architectures, has many more benefits for companies in various industries. If this solution suits your specific goals, needs, and workloads, then you should start thinking about how to modernize your data center and increase performance. 

Nokia signs 5G deal to become BT’s largest infrastructure partner. #Nokia #5G #BT

Nokia today announced that it has extended its long-term strategic relationship with BT into the 5G arena, following its selection as a 5G RAN vendor for the UK operator. As part of the deal, which will make Nokia BT’s largest equipment provider, Nokia will provide equipment and services at BT radio sites across the UK, helping to evolve BT’s radio access network to 5G and supporting its goal of maintaining the UK’s best network.

BT’s Nokia-powered network, which currently includes Greater London, the Midlands and rural locations, will be extended to also cover multiple other towns and cities across the United Kingdom( Aberdeen, Bournemouth, Brighton, Cambridge, Carlisle, Cheltenham-Gloucester, Chesterfield, Dundee, Exeter, Grimsby, Hull, Ipswich, Lincoln, Newbury, Northampton, Norwich, Peterborough, Plymouth, Southampton, Stoke-on-Trent, Swindon, Torbay, York). This enhanced Nokia footprint will support BT’s commitments to the UK government around the use of High Risk Vendors (HRVs) in UK network infrastructure.

Nokia will supply its AirScale Single RAN (S-RAN) portfolio for both indoor and outdoor coverage, including 5G RAN, AirScale base stations and Nokia AirScale radio access products. These solutions will enable BT to build on its existing network leadership in the UK  to deliver connectivity and capacity benefits to consumers at ultra-low latencies as well as reducing complexity and increasing cost efficiencies. The deal will also see Nokia optimize BT’s 2G and 4G networks and work alongside BT on the development of the OpenRAN ecosystem.

As part of BT’s network transformation, the operator will also utilize Nokia Software’s ng-SDM and NetAct network management platform, supporting the network evolution to 5G. These build upon the existing network architecture and provide an immediate cornerstone and single platform for new 5G-based services. Nokia will also provide its state-of-the-art Cell Site Gateway product providing key backhaul connectivity.

 

Nokia will also provide digital design and deployment for a faster time to market as well as optimization and technical support services.

Philip Jansen, CEO, BT Group said: “Digital connectivity is critical to the UK’s economic future, creating jobs and underpinning sustainable growth. That’s why BT is making game-changing investments in full fibre and 5G. In a fast-moving and competitive market, it’s critical we make the right technology choices. With this next stage of our successful relationship with Nokia we will continue to lead the rollout of fixed and mobile networks to deliver stand-out experiences for customers.”

Pekka Lundmark, President and CEO, Nokia, said: “I am delighted that BT has extended its partnership with Nokia on 5G RAN, making Nokia BT’s largest infrastructure partner. Our two companies have collaborated for over a quarter of a century in order to deliver best-in-class connectivity to people across the United Kingdom. We are proud to support BT’s 5G network evolution and look forward to working even more closely together in the years to come.”

AWS Ground Station is now available in Ireland and EU. #AWS #Amazon #Data

AWS Ground Station is a fully managed service that provides you global access to your space workloads. AWS Ground Station enables you to downlink data and provide satellite commands across multiple regions quickly, easily, and cost-effectively without having to worry about building or managing their own ground station infrastructure. AWS Ground Station is available today in six AWS Regions around the world. To see a list of supported regions, please visit the Global Infrastructure Region Table webpage.

The recency of data is particularly critical when it comes to tracking and acting upon fast-moving conditions on Earth. This timeliness depends on frequent communications between ground stations and satellites, which can only be achieved with a large, global footprint of antennas maintaining frequent contact with orbiting satellites. The AWS Ground Station deployment in Ireland provides a second region in Europe to communicate with your satellite. Stockholm is the other AWS Region in the EU that offers AWS Ground Station.  

Customers can easily integrate their space workloads with other AWS services in real-time using Amazon’s low-latency, high-bandwidth global network. Customers can stream their satellite data to Amazon EC2 for real-time processing, store data in Amazon S3 for low cost archiving, flow data through Amazon Rekognition for imaging analysis, or apply AI/ML algorithms to satellite images with Amazon SageMaker. 

To learn more about AWS Ground Station, visit here. To get started with AWS Ground Station, visit the AWS Management console here.