Forecasts for the Data Center Market in Poland: Facility Certifications

News

Forecasts for the Data Center Market in Poland: Facility Certifications

The latest PMR survey shows that one in three companies would be willing to pay a higher price for services provided by a certified data center. However, nearly two-thirds of companies still believe that certification does not convince them to pay more for a comparable service. Over the course of the year, the results have shifted in favor of certified facilities.

Are certifications important when choosing a supplier?

According to PMR research conducted for the report “The Data Center Market in Poland 2020. Market Analysis and Growth Forecasts for 2020–2025,” it appears that an increasing number of companies interested in data center services are asking about certifications, even if this is only an important additional factor in selecting a provider rather than the most critical consideration. It is also increasingly the case that a provider’s mere assertion that a facility meets specific standards is not sufficient if an audit has not been conducted.

In Poland, we already have 6 certified commercial facilities

According to PMR data, there are currently six commercial facilities in Poland that hold officially recognized Tier/Rated certifications—two were issued by the Uptime Institute (Tier III) and four are guaranteed by ANSI/TIA (Rated 3 and 4). In addition, two entities have obtained other certifications: PN-EN50600 and EPI-DOCS.

Certification processes in Poland were pioneered by technology parks. The Euro Centrum Science and Technology Park (now 3S) was the first in Poland to obtain certification for Uptime Institute Tier III documentation, officially confirming the relevant standards for security, reliability, and availability guaranteed at 99.982% for its data center, located in a passive building in Katowice.

Another facility located in the Toruń Technology Park—Exea (TARR Innovation Center)—has embarked on a second certification path, also at the Tier III level. Currently, it is the only facility in the country that holds the relevant Tier II certification, which now covers not only the design documentation but also the data center itself.

Beyond.pl, on the other hand, opted for the highest possible level. In November 2016, the company became the first data center not only in Poland but in this part of Europe to receive official Rated 4 ANSI/TIA-942:2014 Certified status for its new facility (Data Center 2). Rating 4 is the highest level of data center certification that can be achieved. The certificate was issued for three years—from November 2016 to November 2019. It was successfully extended for another three years, through 2023.

Another certification, obtained in early 2019, pertains to the server room located in the Science and Technology Park building in Opole. The server room received a Rated 3 certification (in accordance with the ANSI/TIA 942 standard). The certification process was preceded by several weeks of testing to verify the proper functioning of the systems. According to PNT, one of the security measures is a 1.2 MW mini power plant located at the rear of the building. The server room uses two air conditioning systems based on adiabatic cooling and outside air. The total cost of the investment, including certification, amounted to nearly 20 million PLN.

The two most recent updates regarding certified facilities in our country date from the first quarter of 2020. Within a short period of time, both NASK SA (for the CPD Praga-Pn, which opened last year) and T-Mobile Polska (for its planned investment in a new data center in Warsaw) announced that they had received Rated 3 certifications for their design documentation.

Hume’s Institute stands for knowledge. PMR Market Experts stands for experience. When we join forces, you gain a competitive edge. See how we can support your business.