Data4, a European data center provider, has announced a €300 million investment in Greece to develop a data center campus in Paiania, on the outskirts of Athens. The announcement was made on 11 September during the Platform Global 2024 event. It is part of the company's expansion plan to increase its European presence.
The campus, known as ATH1, will be Data4's first investment in Greece, a country the group says offers a strategic location and is well-connected to key markets in Europe, Africa, and Asia. This project is part of the company's broader plan to increase its European capacity to become Europe's leading data center operator and invest €7 billion by 2030.
Job creation and benefits for the local economy
The campus will be located on a 7.5-hectare site in an industrial area near Athens. It will have a capacity of up to 90 MW. The campus construction is expected to boost local employment, creating more than 500 jobs in Greece.
In addition to the economic benefits, Data4 has highlighted Greece's importance as a new location in its European network of data centers. According to the company, this project will help meet the region's growing demand for data storage and processing services.
Greece has become a connectivity hub
Greece has emerged as a strategic hub in the Mediterranean due to the arrival of several submarine cables connecting the country to markets in the Middle East, Asia, and Africa. This has attracted several technology companies that see the country as a critical access point for global connectivity. Currently, 20 submarine cables connect Greece to these regions, reinforcing its importance as a growing digital hub.
Data4's entry into the Greek market also comes when data center capacity in Greece is expected to double by 2030, driven by growing demand for digital services.
Prospects for growth and sustainability
The data center market in Europe is expanding, with forecasts indicating a 2.5-fold increase in installed capacity by 2030. With its strategic position and growing infrastructure, Greece is emerging as a significant player in this growth. In addition, Data4 plans for the ATH1 campus to meet sustainability standards by obtaining BREEAM certification, which guarantees the use of technologies and materials that minimize environmental impact.
