What do we use data for?
Data underpins all digital activity anywhere at any time. It is the main digital building block for activity online: from streaming a TV show or movie; to ordering food and online banking; the development of artificial intelligence and other technology; public service delivery and how we interact with one another.
Domestic data usage is expected to treble over the next five years as individual and commercial use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) becomes more ingrained in daily life.
The need for UK-based data centres
Data centres are considered critical national infrastructure by the UK Government. The UK’s economic potential is linked directly to its ability to use data to drive innovation in critical sectors such as healthcare, defence and energy.
The UK currently relies on a number of data centres abroad – known as hyperscalers – to meet its demands for data use, which poses a risk to long-term data security and national resilience.
Over the next five years, the UK will need to more than treble its AI-capable data centre capacity from 1.6GW to 6GW by 2030 – a threefold increase on the data centre capacity that is available in the UK today.
By investing in domestic infrastructure and supporting homegrown innovation, the UK can build a strategic advantage and support the growth of digital sectors, including AI.
About Redhill Data Centre
Redhill has been home to a data centre since 2008 and is the only data centre in the Borough of Reigate and Banstead.
Redhill Data Centre Ltd is planning to bring forward a planning application to upgrade the existing data provision on site, so that it can continue to operate for decades to come.