Paul Greenley | Tech Journal

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

Vodafone, in particular, has been working to revamp its global data centre strategy in recent months, announcing a substantial investment over the next decade to enhance digital transformation and improve efficiencies in data centre migration.

After 12 years at Vodafone, Paul Greenley, Vodafone’s Senior Principal Manager DC Infrastructure & Facilities, has played a key role in implementing several changes within the company’s 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 facility 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 have extensive experience in both operations and facilities, which is quite rare in the industry – typically, you either work 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 member of the Association for Computer Operations Management (AFCOM) board – membership is by invitation only, and I served on the board for seven years. We consulted with industry peers about emerging 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 involves addressing high-kilowatt demand and the related cooling challenges. Increased data consumption from customers generates more power and heat, necessitating advanced technology to effectively cool critical systems while minimizing emissions.

“If you install a pod in a data centre with 20 racks at 15 kilowatts per rack, that generates substantial heat that disperses throughout the facility,” Paul explains. “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 effectively without needing to expand externally.”

Embracing emerging technologies

Vodafone’s data centre strategy for the near future focuses on maintaining uptime while also expanding within its existing facilities, ultimately aiming to eliminate legacy systems entirely.

“Our primary option is to migrate legacy systems to the cloud, and our secondary option is to completely remove them,” Paul shares. “We continuously evaluate cost savings and value. When we decommission legacy systems, we aim to disconnect the power, reclaim the kilowatts, and assess the financial advantages.”

With partners like Kirby Group Engineering, Paul is confident that their transformation efforts will be effectively scaled to meet the unique business needs of customers moving forward.

“They are our partners for expansion,” he says. “They have demonstrated their capabilities by developing our on-cloud-prem solutions within just five months, along with successfully building out and installing pods in the room, achieving outstanding results.”

To read the full story, click HERE.

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