Microsoft aims to significantly increase its datacenter capacity in Europe by more than doubling it by 2027, expanding operations to over 200 sites across 16 countries. The company acknowledges the challenge posed by stringent regulations, complexity, and environmental assessments that hinder growth compared to the US market. The urgency for expansion is fueled by soaring demand from AI technologies, with current resources nearly utilized to full capacity and a clear mandate to enhance infrastructure across Europe.
"The reason we haven't grown as much in Europe as we have in the US - and everybody is in the same boat - is because of complexity, regulation, environmental impact assessments," Walsh told the keynote audience at the recent Datacloud Global Congress in Cannes.
"You know, all these different things that just make Europe a little bit harder, a little bit more expensive," she added, "That's something we have to solve, because we have to grow in Europe. And it's really hard. It's really hard. So any ideas, save money, I'm all ears."
"The huge growth in demand because of AI is real, such that I don't think there's a spare megawatt sitting anywhere idle in all of Europe, or the US, as a matter of fact.
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