Science & Technology · 8 Advanced · October 26, 2026

The Global Data Centre Boom and Its Growing Opposition

Photo: Jan van der Wolf via Pexels

Vocabulary

infrastructure ˈɪnfrəstrʌktʃər noun

the basic systems and facilities needed for something to operate, such as roads, power, or internet networks

Data centres are the infrastructure behind modern digital life, powering everything from email to artificial intelligence services.

backbone ˈbækboʊn noun

the most important or central part of something that supports everything else

Data centres form the backbone of virtually all internet activity worldwide.

accelerated əkˈsɛləreɪtɪd verb

increased in speed or rate; made something happen faster

The rapid expansion of AI technology has accelerated data centre construction globally.

Article

Data centres are the infrastructure behind modern digital life, powering everything from email and web searches to artificial intelligence services like ChatGPT. These vast warehouse-like facilities house thousands of computer servers and advanced chips that process the immense computational demands of our connected world. Until recently, most people remained unaware of their existence, yet they form the backbone of virtually all internet activity. The rapid expansion of AI technology has accelerated data centre construction globally, with approximately 12,250 operational or pre-operational sites now tracked worldwide, up sharply from around 8,000 in 2021.

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