Data4, a leading European data center provider, laid the foundation stone for its new data center campus in Paiania, Eastern Attica, during a groundbreaking ceremony held on November 19, 2024.
The event was honored by the presence of Greece’s Prime Minister, Mr. Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the French Ambassador to Greece, Ms. Laurence Auer, the Metropolitan Nikolaos of Mesogaia and Lavreotiki, the Ministers of Development and Digital Governance Mr. Takis Theodorikakos and Mr. Dimitris Papastergiou, the Attica Regional Governor Mr. Nikos Hardalias, and the Mayor of Paiania, Mr. Isidoros Madis.
The groundbreaking ceremony, organized with the support of the French-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce and Industry, took place at the construction site of the new data center campus in Paiania, two months after Data4 announced this significant investment of over €300 million at the Platform Global 2024 conference. This investment is part of the company’s €7 billion European investment plan through 2030, aimed at establishing Data4 as the leading data center provider in Europe.
The Data4 Group has a pan-European presence and operates in several markets, including France, Italy, Spain, Poland, and Germany, while now entering the Greek market, a promising connectivity hub in the Mediterranean.
“I am thrilled to launch this exciting new Greek adventure for Data4. The Greek market has incredible potential. In terms of service digitization, the country is far ahead of other European nations. Today, Data4 is investing €300 million in the local economy, creating Greece’s largest digital campus with two data centers, and we aim to develop additional infrastructure and invest even more,” said Olivier Micheli, President and CEO of Data4.
The capacity and job openings at the new data center campus
The new campus is located in an industrial zone, ensuring proximity to essential energy resources. ATH1 is being built on a 7.5-hectare site in Paiania and will be powered by up to 90 MW. The first data center of the campus is expected to become operational by late 2026 or early 2027.
Data4’s ATH1 will host a wide range of roles: managers, engineers, technicians, workers, etc. The Group estimates that by 2030, it will have created over 7,000 permanent jobs at its campuses across Europe and more than 500 permanent positions at its Greek campus.
Partners for the Greek project
The Greek law firm Zepos & Yannopoulos, along with the construction company Cap Ingelec, played a key role in guiding the legal and technical aspects of the construction of the new data center campus. Knight Frank facilitated the transaction, while Hill International assisted Data4 with advisory services and licensing procedures.
Greece as a strategic connectivity hub
Greece’s advantageous location as a bridge between Europe, Asia, and Africa makes it an ideal site for international connectivity projects. The country’s integration into the global network is further enhanced by the arrival of several significant submarine cables, such as the AAE-1 cable system, linking Greece to key markets in the Far East, the Middle East, and Africa. It is estimated that by the end of 2024, 20 submarine cables will connect Greece with the Middle East, North Africa (MENA), and Asia. Meanwhile, the Greek data center market is rapidly expanding, with the total market capacity expected to more than double by 2030.
By 2030, the number of data centers in Europe is anticipated to increase by 3.5 times, reaching approximately 23 GW of installed capacity. Nearly half of this capacity (11 GW) will be dedicated to artificial intelligence, according to Data4 studies. Greece will not be an exception to this fundamental trend.
Innovation, sustainability, and artificial intelligence development
In an era where data-driven decisions are critical, data center infrastructures supported by artificial intelligence form the pillars of sustainable digital development. All our digital administrative services, e-learning platforms, e-commerce, data streaming, and even social networks rely on these.
To ensure sustainable digital growth, the Data4 Group has introduced a series of innovations across all its campuses in Europe, aimed at reducing its environmental footprint. These include using AI models to improve energy efficiency and extending equipment lifespan through preventive maintenance.
Additionally, Data4 aims to achieve BREEAM certification with an “Excellent” rating for its data centers in Greece. This certification covers key criteria such as energy efficiency, water management, sustainable materials like low-carbon concrete, and biodiversity preservation. By meeting these stringent standards, Data4 will be among the first in Europe and the first in Greece to have BREEAM-certified data centers, setting a new benchmark for sustainability in the industry.
