2022 Global Data Center Market Comparison

Fiber Connectivity

HIGH-WEIGHT

Fiber density and quality are primary drivers for locating a data center, with fiber serving to connect the facility to others and to the end user. More networks are always better, with the diversity of fiber leading to lower latency and higher performance, even if certain networks connected to a particular data center may have bandwidth issues. Bandwidth is an increasing discussion point close to the user considering the move over the past two years to a work-from-home environment and the correspondingly constant usage of videoconferencing platforms for meetings that were once in person. Fiber networks are constructed in an array of formats, with short- haul fiber linking a metropolitan area or long- haul fiber connecting multiple regions and countries. Undersea cables add to the mix, directly connecting landing points in countries across seas or oceans to transmit information. While past editions of this report featured a count of fiber networks to each data center profiled, the few maps available in emerging markets across the globe led to a lack of clarity in the data, particularly as this report continues to expand in developing areas. As a methodology shift for this edition, Speedtest® data has been utilized from Ookla®, with the Speedtest Global Index™ ranking countries for overall speed and performance.

Results of the Speedtest Global Index ™ analysis show that Singapore is the fastest performer globally, with the business-friendly city-state long known as a connectivity point across Southeast Asia. Similar entrepot Hong Kong follows, with plenty of undersea cables linking the city to the region, and new entrant Santiago, suggesting that industry expectations regarding latency across South America are untrue in all cases. These are followed by a swath of United States locations, with core U.S. markets again finishing high for connectivity. Fiber density and quality are primary drivers for locating a data center, with fiber serving to connect the facility to others and to the end user.

Top Markets

Singapore Hong Kong Santiago† New York City/ Northern New Jersey Northern Virginia Atlanta Chicago Dallas Los Angeles

Silicon Valley Portland

Seattle Denver Nashville Columbus Salt Lake City Las Vegas Boston Phoenix

† New market in 2022 report

12 / CUSHMAN & WAKEFIELD