Marseille, the second largest city in France … and more astonishment, sixth world internet hub, one of the main crossroads of Internet traffic. The Marseille city has just exceeded Hong Kong. Consequence: digital data storage centers (data centers, or data centers) are increasing. The American company Digital Reality plans to extend still in the heart of the city by building its fifth data center there. But it faces the concern of residents who fear repercussions for their environment.
There are around thirty to meet in front of the future fifth data center from Marseille. Jean-Pierre Lapebie, president of the association of residents CAP in the North, confides: ” These data centers, in themselves, consume a lot of electrical energy. So it poses a problem. Especially since these districts lack green spaces. There is a population that is suffering with enormous precariousness. And this population is put outside any discussion or initiative on their collective life projects. »»
Installed for ten years in MarseilleDigital Realty, the company at the initiative of the Marseille data centers, agreed to receive us to discover these centers from the interior and understand their environmental impact. “” This is an example of a room. You see a number of equipment “Comments Fabrice Coquio, CEO of Digital Reality, strolling in a room in the middle of connected electronic towers where data pass.
“” We roomball the computer investments of our customers to be able to ensure that, tomorrow or tonight, you place an online order, you consult your bank account, you renew your online permit or simply, you send an email to your grandmother. These data centers therefore store business data. Another function: to put them in relation. And it happens in a much noisy room. “” And there, you see, on these high density drawers, we will connect 24 times Mr. A with Mr. B, Monsieur C with Monsieur D and so on “, Continues the CEO by showing IT tools.
“” It’s legitimate to have questions »»
Infrastructures that take up space and also require to be cooled. On the roof of the building, huge pipes and large tanks do the work: ” We are on the Data Center technical terrace. You have all these cold group systems. It’s a bit like the engine you have behind your refrigerator at home. Except that they are a little bigger. »»
To the concerns of the inhabitants, factory Coquio replies: ” It is legitimate to have questions, because from the moment you have computer machines, it consumes energy. But he insists, the new storage center project is in accordance with the environment code: ” You should know that in France, we cannot do anything, fortunately. Anyway, you cannot build a data center if you have no authorization. And then you have audits, to check the compliance of your service. Which is completely normal. »»
For the moment, there is nothing to hinder the project. This fifth site should be released by 2026.
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