{
  "id": 14977928,
  "title": "NTT Global Data Centers weighs the price tag of not building fast enough",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/ntt-global-data-centers-weighs-the-price-tag-of-not-building-fast",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-10-16T15:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Register Science",
    "slug": "the-register-science",
    "url": "https://www.theregister.com/ai-and-ml/2026/10/16/sponsored-global-data-centers-weighs-the-price-tag-of-not-building-fast-enough/5303402"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The next generation of data centers, powered by artificial intelligence, are set to be significantly larger and consume more electricity than their predecessors. These facilities will require the equivalent of two to three football fields of space and will draw power from the grid that surpasses that of many nearby industrial parks. The NTT Global Data Centers have devised a new AI Stress Test Report to quantify the relationship between the surge in AI-driven demand and physical limitations. The report evaluates three growth trajectories through 2030 and stress-tests each against constraints like land availability, water consumption, and specialized labor.\n\nThe middle scenario predicts an annual demand growth of around 23%, leading to approximately $3.8 trillion in additional investment in digital infrastructure. If the growth rate accelerates, the figure could rise to $5.7 trillion. Bruno Berti, the CTO at NTT Global Data Centers, has observed the size of these data centers expand dramatically. He recalls building smaller, ten-megawatt buildings for some applications in the past, but now, they are constructing hundreds of megawatt facilities that are double the size, perhaps even larger than two or three football fields.\n\nOne of the primary challenges hindering the development of AI infrastructure is the permitting process. While many operators focus on GPUs, transformers, and switchgear, Berti argues that paperwork, planning, and process are more critical factors. Power availability and deployment timelines, rather than fiber capacity, are the key gating factors in the modeled scenarios. Berti emphasizes that the rapid growth of AI infrastructure is only possible if these delays are addressed.\n\nBerti also dispels common misconceptions about data centers, highlighting that modern designs utilize liquid cooling technology, which effectively removes heat and minimizes water waste. Moreover, operators collaborate with utilities to plan these massive sites years in advance, often incorporating on-site solar, wind, or other renewable energy sources. These measures not only stabilize the grid but also help reduce the strain on power resources. Ultimately, Berti concludes that transparency is essential for building trust among communities, policymakers, and businesses, enabling the industry to secure the necessary permits and transform capacity into reliable AI infrastructure that benefits everyone.",
  "summary": "SPONSORED POST: As AI hunger soars, NTT Global Data Centers finds it's permits, not parts, that could cap the datacenter boom",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Register",
        "title": "NTT Global Data Centers weighs the price tag of not building fast enough",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/ntt-global-data-centers-weighs-the-price-tag-of-not-building-fast-14980510",
        "published": "2026-10-16T15:00:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}