TECH & AI
I n April 2025, Data Centre Magazine visited HER1, the first carrier-neutral data centre in Crete. Built by Digital Realty, the company is eager to transform connectivity in the Mediterranean and revolutionise sustainable data centre design. Significantly, the build features Schneider Electric prefabricated solutions, which ensured the facility was built quickly and sustainably.
As data demand continues to surge, with data exchange growing at a rate of 30 % each year, Digital Realty’ s customers now want a better solution for distributing content to the Mediterranean region.
“ There is room for something more efficient in the East Mediterranean,” shares Fabrice Coquio, Managing Director for Digital Realty France.“ Digital Realty has deployed strategy all along the
Mediterranean – including Barcelona, Rome, Athens and Tel Aviv – so that we can support our customers in dealing with submarkets or subregions more effectively.”
Tackling European demand Digital Realty has been investing in European data centre expansion in recent years and now turns its attention to Heraklion in Crete – which it believes to be a new hub for connectivity.
“ We realised the subsea cable industry was changing drastically and very quickly,” Fabrice says.“ Creating the foundation of HER1 requires a correct, well-positioned foundation of subsea cables, terrestrial cables and satellite communications. The more data you’ ve got, the more connectivity players you will have.”
Although he took on his current role in March 2025, Pablo Ruiz Escribano,
The new data centre hopes to make Crete a connectivity hub
78 June 2025