Portugal Telecom is taking a key step in a transformation project with the opening of what it says is one of the world’s largest, and most environmentally friendly, data centers.
The Portuguese incumbent opened the first of four blocks that will eventually comprise the 75,500 square meter facility on Monday, offering six rooms of 520 square meters and a power usage effectiveness (PUE) rating of 1.25 compared to an industry average of 1.88 claimed by Portugal Telecom.
Portugal Telecom is pumping €90 million into the data center project, which it says is a key element in a switch in focus from fixed line provider, to a firm offering innovative entertainment and IT services.
Chief executive, Zeinal Bava, says the heavy investment is necessary to leverage growing data consumption. “Data now contributes 50% of our revenues. Consumers were spending more time connected and as a result, data has now replaced voice.”
Bava says the operator is also reacting to demand from companies and governments to “virtualize and consolidate as much as possible to save costs and drive efficiencies.”
Portugal Telecom will use the data center to expand cloud storage limits for consumers, and offer businesses ‘as service’ solutions covering software, collaboration, platforms, and infrastructure.