Vodafone’s Revamp of Its Data Center Infrastructure

Vodafone is revamping its global data centre strategy.

In 2024, the company announced plans to invest over the next 10 years to expedite digital transformation and enhance efficiencies in data centre migration.

As the data centre market continues to grow, driven by increasing AI and cloud computing demands, business leaders like Vodafone must keep up with innovation and the need for scalable data infrastructure.

Data centres are at a pivotal moment, facing the AI/sustainability paradox. Operators are now more than ever responding to a global shift in the data centre industry by balancing rapid innovation with environmental accountability.

Having spent 12 years at Vodafone, Paul Greenley, Vodafone’s Senior Principal Manager for DC Infrastructure & Facilities, has played a key role in implementing several changes within its data centres.

“We operate large data centres in Ireland, Italy, Germany, and the UK,” Paul explains. “Surrounding these main data centres, we have what we refer to as satellite data centres: smaller facilities that comply with group standards but are managed by local markets.”

He adds: “Our transformation has been driven by on-premises solutions for various Vodafone programmes. My role is to ensure we can meet these demands, cool them effectively, and avoid the need for external construction.

“We’re essentially converting a legacy data centre into a new data centre from within.”

A new type of data centre transformation

With over 40 years in the data centre industry, Paul is well-acquainted with the specific needs of a modern data centre environment.

“I possess extensive experience in both operations and facilities, which is quite rare in the industry – typically, you find yourself either in data centre operations handling cabling and server racking, or in facility management dealing with generators and UPSs,” he explains. “I spent 20 years in Canada, where I was also a board member of the Association for Computer Operations Management (AFCOM) – membership is by invitation, and I served on the board for seven years. We would consult with industry peers about upcoming trends, the characteristics of next-generation data centres, and future cooling solutions.”

One of the most significant changes Vodafone is implementing in its data centre transformation pertains to high-kilowatt demand and the related cooling challenges. Rising data demand from customers generates more power and consequently more heat, necessitating advanced technology to cool essential systems effectively while minimizing emissions.

To address this surge in heat, the company has collaborated with suppliers on innovative solutions.

“We’ve partnered with vendors to channel the hot air from the aisle containment back into the data centre when it’s cold, preventing the heat from affecting the rest of the room,” Paul explains.

“If you place a pod in a data centre with 20 racks at 15 kilowatts each, that generates substantial heat that disperses into the rest of the facility. Our transformation has stemmed from these demands, driven by on-prem solutions. My responsibility is to ensure we can manage those demands and cool them efficiently without needing to expand externally. We’re truly transforming a legacy data centre into a new one from within.”

Keeping solutions on-site

As the data centre continues to evolve to meet customer demands, increasing rack densities pose a challenge for operators: should they abandon existing facilities to construct more capable data centres from scratch, or invest in retrofitting new projects alongside legacy equipment?

For Vodafone, the answer is clear. The organization already offers a wide array of secure cloud and hosting options, connected to an award-winning global network. This positions it well to facilitate integration between legacy infrastructure and new hybrid environments within the data centre.

Moreover, the company has opted for on-prem cloud solutions to simplify its network migration.

“The challenge lies in transforming a legacy data centre into a new one,” he states. “We trialled a solution in Italy in 2016 because we anticipated these high-end power cooling requirements would arise.”

In 2016, Vodafone began implementing a proof-of-concept solution for hot aisle containment while also delivering the company’s cloud solution. Now, the technology giant is assisting Vodafone in deploying 10 of its hot aisle containment pods across Europe for an on-premises cloud solution.

A groundbreaking solution, these pod systems function by extracting hot air from the containment using in-row coolers.

“The pods were constructed in just five months, setting a record,” Paul shares. “No one had seen this type of hot aisle containment before – even today, I find myself explaining how it works, as many people struggle to understand how heat can be contained within a unit while cold air is released into the room. If you place your hand against the fan, the air is indeed cold.”

“Last year, we successfully built 10 of the pods in record time – five months to install, test, and have them operational. It was a high-priority project that we delivered.”

Paul notes that this was the only feasible way for Vodafone to cool these systems, emphasizing that traditional cooling methods could not accommodate these high kilowatt densities. They now achieve the lowest power usage effectiveness (PUE) in Vodafone at 1.2 or lower.

He adds: “For legacy systems with low kilowatt demands – only three to five kilowatts max per rack – we utilize cold aisle containments with under-floor cooling solutions. This can be effectively managed with a standard under-the-floor cooling solution as long as we have doors or roof containment, which works very efficiently. The room temperature can be 27 degrees, while the cold aisle remains at 23 degrees.”

“We are continually transitioning from conventional racks to improved solutions, whether hot aisle or cold aisle containment.”

Full steam ahead to reduce downtime

With demand at an all-time high, Vodafone is also keen to minimize downtime through redundancy. Thus, during data centre migration, the company maintains its legacy systems until everything is verified and databases are confirmed.

“Only then do we decommission the old systems,” Paul emphasizes. “Any solution we implement, whether hot or cold aisle, must have an N+1 configuration with A and B power sourced from different UPSs.”

“We also employ diverse cooling systems. For instance, in Ireland, we utilize both chillers and condensers outside. We mix the water supply: if one fails, the other remains operational.”

Vodafone’s data centre operations in the Republic of Ireland feature state-of-the-art facilities equipped with robust power infrastructure and multiple layers of redundancy to prevent downtime.

To support its data centre operations, Vodafone has partnered with Kirby Group Engineering for 20 years. Founded in Ireland, Kirby Group Engineering provides leading mechanical and electrical engineering consulting services, along with specialist high voltage and medium voltage design and construction services to clients in the data centre sector, among others.

Since becoming operational in 2006, the company has overseen the entire fit-out, including construction, electrical work, cooling, BMS, and commissioning, ensuring continuous availability.

As part of Vodafone’s recent data centre overhaul, Kirby Group Engineering has played a crucial role in constructing the rooms where the pods are housed.

“They manage all our project design and collaborate with us on solutions,” Paul states. “When we needed to build a couple of rooms in Ireland, we had raised floor space that was merely being used for storage, so Kirby came in, partitioned our space, and constructed the rooms.”

He adds: “It’s now state-of-the-art – if you look at pictures or videos, it resembles a brand new data centre. We continue to reorganize this space to accommodate the commercial aspects of our business.”

Vodafone’s collaboration with Kirby Group Engineering has been transformative. The company has fully aligned itself with Vodafone’s processes and procedures, operating in a live data centre environment where uptime is critical.

Looking ahead, Paul explains that Vodafone will continue to seek partnerships with various vendors and suppliers for a wide range of solutions.

“We consistently look to collaborate with different types of vendors and suppliers for various solutions, but it ultimately comes down to price, delivery, and reliability,” Paul notes. “Once a concept is proven to work and scale, we now have a menu. Whether we require a 10-pod, 20-pod, or 40-pod solution, we can accurately determine the kilowatt requirements, pricing, and installation timeline.”

Embracing the inevitability of emerging technologies

Vodafone’s data centre strategy for the near future focuses on maintaining uptime within its data centres while also expanding within existing facilities – ultimately aiming to free up power and cooling.

“Our primary option is to migrate systems to the cloud, and the secondary option is to completely lift and shift them out,” Paul shares. “We are continually assessing cost savings and value.

“When we decommission legacy systems, we aim to unplug the power, reclaim the kilowatts, and evaluate the financial benefits.”

In the data centre industry, AI and edge computing technologies are presenting challenges to operators worldwide. In terms of infrastructure management, these technologies can be crucial for meeting customer demand, accelerating essential processes, and minimizing downtime.

While AI has not yet significantly influenced how Vodafone operates its data centres, Paul acknowledges the inevitability of emerging technologies impacting the broader industry.

“We recognize its potential. As a telco company, our AI applications thus far have been more concentrated on the office IT side,” he says. “We haven’t yet seen AI significantly affect our data centre operations, but I am confident that will change. We have various projects in the pipeline that will expand our data centres.”

With partners like Kirby Group Engineering, Vodafone is optimistic that its transformation efforts will be effectively scaled to meet the unique business needs of its customers in the future.

“Our partners are essential for our expansion,” Paul states. “They have demonstrated their capabilities in developing our on-cloud-prem solutions within just five months, alongside the successful construction and installation of pods, achieving outstanding results.”

He adds: “I prefer working with individuals who understand our environment, making it challenging to engage outside suppliers. If they already grasp the fundamentals and aim to enhance them, those are the companies I prioritize.”

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