Europe Is the New Route for Turnkey Data Center Projects
Platin / November 2024
In which fields does SERBAN operate?
As one of the flagship companies of Açık Holding, we operate in the construction, energy, tourism and real estate sectors.
This year we are celebrating our 10th anniversary, and we are proud of how far we have come since our story began. Our know-how and experience in engineering and contracting services allow us to take part in large-scale projects, particularly by offering turnkey solutions for data centers. When delivering these projects in full on a turnkey basis, we integrate modern technologies, guided by the principles of innovation, efficiency and sustainability.
How did your journey in the data center sector begin?
Our work in the data center sector began with the introduction of the Law on the Protection of Personal Data in Turkey and the data retention obligations introduced in the financial sector. As a technology-oriented company, we decided to draw on our know-how and offer professional solutions to bring these complex, engineering-intensive projects to completion.
We entered the data center sector by combining our experience in telecommunications and construction. Once in the sector, we saw that construction accounts for only around 17–20% of a project, while roughly 80% of the work calls for advanced engineering solutions.
Recognizing that data centers are complex, engineering-intensive structures, we developed in-depth expertise in the sector. With our strong technological infrastructure and engineering know-how, we have moved beyond the conventional construction approach and become an engineering and contracting company that delivers turnkey services.
You stand out for your ability to deliver data center projects on a turnkey basis. How, then, would you define the turnkey service approach?
The turnkey service principle makes it possible to manage every stage of a project from a single point, avoiding wasted time and resources. This makes the process considerably easier for investors. We take on the project from start to finish and provide support at every stage, from site selection through design, feasibility, construction and technology integration. Our first projects in this field were those we carried out with Turkcell, Turkey's largest technology company, which leads the country's digital transformation through its technology infrastructure investments.
How do you make a difference in the data center sector?
We stand out in the data center sector with our ability to build turnkey data centers that meet international standards. We are the only company that provides end-to-end services in this way. We offer holistic solutions and, within the scope of our turnkey service, take on the entire process: project management, advanced engineering solutions, design, implementation, HVAC and automation. We ensure time and cost efficiency at every stage of the process, which is a major advantage for data center investors. In other words, if you want to invest in a data center anywhere in the world today, all you need to do to bring these complex structures to life is to come to us.
We also design and implement our projects in line with the highest internationally recognized quality standards. Thanks to redundant infrastructure, energy-efficiency solutions, automation and systems equipped with the latest technologies, we ensure reliability, scalability and uninterrupted operation.
Can you share a figure for the projects you have completed? What are your goals for the future?
We have delivered major data center projects for Turkey's largest technology companies. To date, we have completed projects totaling more than 100 megawatts of IT load.
Our goal for the near future is to be the first name that comes to mind for data center investors, not only in Turkey but globally. To that end, we have begun taking important steps in Europe, first by establishing companies in the UK and Germany, which will allow us to play a more active role in the region. In 2025, we plan to strengthen our organization in Europe even further. We are continuously working to respond to the evolving requirements of data centers.
What is your view on the growth and future of the data center market?
The data center market is growing as digital transformation accelerates, supported by new technological developments. The widespread adoption of cloud computing is increasing demand for data centers. In addition, advances in technologies such as artificial intelligence are reinforcing this demand and making the role of data centers even more critical.
The effects of this transformation are clearly visible in Turkey as well. As a strategic bridge between Europe and Asia, our country has the potential to become a regional data center hub. Research also indicates that the global data center market will reach $622.4 billion over the 2024–2030 period. In line with our strategic growth plans, we are increasing our investments in R&D, product development and human resources. We focus on innovation, efficiency and security. By sustaining the momentum we have built in the sector, we aim to strengthen our competitive advantage.
What challenges do you face in finding qualified experts in the data center sector? What strategies and solutions do you plan to develop to overcome them?
Data center projects bring together many different engineering disciplines. Professionals working in the sector need not only technical knowledge but also competencies across a range of fields, which makes qualified professionals difficult to find.
As a company offering end-to-end data center services, we are aware of our responsibilities toward the sector. We work with universities both to recruit talent for our own organization and to develop the skilled workforce that will foster competition in the sector. The first example of this approach is a partnership between Açık Academy, part of Açık Holding, and Kocaeli University. As part of this project, we deliver a 14-week “Data Center Systems” course to electrical engineering students and bring them together with industry professionals.
In this way, we aim to close the skills gap in the sector and create opportunities that will shape the careers of young engineers. Beyond supporting students' career development, we also make a significant contribution to the development of the sector as a whole. We believe these strategic steps will contribute to sustainable growth and innovation in the data center sector. We will continue our projects to train qualified graduates for data centers.