Vodafone Turkey’s CEO, Engin Aksoy, announced a strategic collaboration with Edgnex Data Centres by DAMAC to establish a new data center in Turkey, foreseeing a total investment of $100 million. The joint venture, set to be located in Izmir, was unveiled during a press conference attended by Aksoy and Aqil Ali, Vice President and Board Member of Edgnex Data Centres by DAMAC.
Aksoy stated, “We are joining forces with DAMAC to bring a new data center to our country. The total investment for our joint data center project in Izmir is expected to reach $100 million, with a 50-50 partnership.” The collaboration aims to address the growing demand for digital infrastructure in the region, with the new data center anticipated to be operational in the first quarter of 2025.
Initially focused on data transfer and hosting services, the Izmir-based center plans to expand its capacity to 6 megawatts in the long term, making it one of Vodafone’s largest data centers in the Aegean Region. The facility is part of Vodafone’s broader strategy to enhance its presence in cloud solutions, cybersecurity, customized mobile networks, and the Internet of Things (IoT) over the next five years.
Aksoy emphasized the crucial role of digital transformation in strengthening economies and societies, highlighting the telecommunications sector’s leading role in achieving Turkey’s “Digital Turkey” vision. He outlined Vodafone’s commitment to contributing to economic and social development through the widespread deployment of next-generation technologies and digital tools.
“This investment marks a significant milestone for us,” commented Aqil Ali, underscoring the importance of the collaboration in facilitating efficient modular growth. The new data center is designed to meet Tier 3 standards, ensuring high availability, fault tolerance, and state-of-the-art technology features with close to zero operational errors.
Notably, the Izmir location’s strategic positioning provides access to several undersea cable transit stations connecting Europe, Africa, and Asia. This advantageous location aligns with ongoing undersea cable development projects, internet exchange points, and content delivery network (CDN) providers in the Eastern Mediterranean region.
Aksoy and Ali both emphasized the 50-50 partnership structure, underlining their commitment to creating new employment opportunities and contributing to the local and national economies. Aksoy also highlighted the potential role of artificial intelligence in the new center, positioning it as a key element of Vodafone’s technology investments.
Vodafone, currently operating five data centers in Istanbul, Izmir, Ankara, and Adana, aims to make the Izmir center a central hub, particularly for content creators, wholesale service providers, and enterprises requiring disaster recovery center (DRC) services. The facility will cater to the “over-the-top” (OTT) internet media service providers and hyperscale service providers, making it a vital center in the region.
The new data center, constructed with earthquake-resistant standards and incorporating green energy components, is expected to play a pivotal role in Vodafone’s goal to become a carbon-neutral company. Vodafone’s commitment to sustainability is further evident in its usage of 100% renewable energy across all of its existing data centers.
With the planned completion of the Izmir data center in 2025, Vodafone is poised to reinforce its position as a leading digital infrastructure provider, contributing significantly to the continued growth and resilience of Turkey’s digital economy.
source: aa.com.tr / prepared by Melisa Beğiç