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AI Stress Test Report

AI is driving unprecedented demand for compute and connectivity — but the real story is how infrastructure must evolve to keep up.

Can data centers keep pace with AI?

AI is accelerating fast — but can data centers keep pace?

As organizations scale AI from model training to real-time inference, the demands on data centers are growing. Higher power density, more complex network traffic and tighter performance requirements are influencing how facilities are designed, built and connected.

Yet the challenge is not simply one of capacity. It is also a question of coordinating compute, networks, power systems and deployment timelines.

We commissioned a comprehensive study that models three potential growth trajectories: accelerated, steady and slower AI adoption, then stress test each scenario against real-world constraints. By examining how demand interacts with power availability, land use, supply chains and capital investment, the report provides a clearer view of where pressure points are most likely to emerge — and how the industry can prepare for them.

The result is a forward-looking perspective on how global data center infrastructure must evolve to support AI sustainably, efficiently and at scale.

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What you’ll learn

This report explores how AI is transforming the global data center landscape, what this means for the future of the industry and how operators and policymakers can respond.

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How AI is changing infrastructure requirements

From network traffic to high-density GPU clusters, AI is redefining performance expectations in compute, networking and facility design.

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Where the real constrains are emerging

Power availability and deployment timelines — not fiber capacity — are increasingly the gating factors in scaling infrastructure.

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What different growth scenarios could look like

The study models accelerated, steady and slower AI-adoption pathways and their implications for energy demand, land use, capital investment1 and supply chains.

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How operators and policymakers can stay ahead

New approaches to planning, design and coordination will be critical to avoiding bottlenecks and enabling sustainable growth.

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Data center case studies

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PhonePe drives efficiencies with sustainability in focus

We helped PhonePe upgrade their cooling technology while still consuming the latest high-end servers to ensure optimal cooling levels and reduce their environmental impact.

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Our services

Centres de données mondiaux

Découvrez comment évoluer là où votre organisation en tire le plus d’avantages. Notre empreinte en centres de données offre une portée mondiale et une expertise locale là où vous en avez besoin.

Colocation

Sécurisez, alimentez et connectez votre infrastructure mondiale avec des options flexibles pour répondre à vos besoins.

Connectivité du centre de données

Nos solutions sans opérateur assurent une haute disponibilité et une interconnexion sécurisée avec votre infrastructure et vos écosystèmes.

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NTT Global Data Centers 2026 Sustainability Report

Get your copy of the report

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