The Future of High-Density, AI-Ready Data Centers

The Future of High-Density, AI-Ready Data Centers

In a recent datacenterHawk podcast, host Donny Gunadi sat down with Sumit Mukhija, CEO of DCI Data Centers, to explore the company’s rapid growth across the Asia-Pacific region. The conversation revealed insights into DCI’s strategic positioning, operational expertise, and the challenges facing operators in mature markets like Australia and New Zealand.

DCI’s Strategic Footprint: From Hundreds of Megawatts to Half a Gigawatt

DCI Data Centers, wholly owned by Brookfield Asset Management, has become a force in the Asia-Pacific data center landscape. Operating in Australia, New Zealand, and South Korea, the company manages hundreds of megawatts of operational and in-development capacity.

“We are on track to become maybe half a gig in the next three, four years,” Mukhija shared. The expansion reflects market demand from hyperscale growth and the AI workload revolution.

DCI’s approach is nuanced. Sydney, Canberra, and Seoul sites focus on hyperscale deployments, while Adelaide and Auckland serve edge providers, government, and enterprise clients.

Cross-Regional Learning and Strategic Partnerships

A key advantage for DCI is cross-market learning. South Korea’s land constraints required high-density, multi-story builds, providing lessons for other regions facing similar limits.

“In South Korea, we ended up doing very high-density projects in a small footprint and in a multi-story environment,” Mukhija explained. This expertise grows more valuable as land and power tighten across APAC.

Equally important is DCI’s reliance on local partnerships. South Korean ventures, built through strong joint ventures, shaped its market entry playbook. Partnerships help navigate regulation, access expertise, and maintain high standards.

Market Challenges: Power and Supply Chains

Even in mature Australia, challenges persist. Extended power grid connections can take years, and permitting grows more complex. Rapid industry growth has strained resources — from skilled labor to specialized equipment.

“Because of the amount of build happening and the traction this market has… supply chain lead times have increased as well,” Mukhija noted. Global cost pressures compound these issues, driven by soaring AI infrastructure demand.

Industry Collaboration: A Shared Responsibility

Mukhija stressed that overcoming these challenges requires collective effort.

“It’s a collective responsibility for all of us to mitigate the situation and still deliver these capacities to support the digital ecosystem,” he said.

This collaboration extends to long-term planning as AI workloads push unprecedented computing and cooling demands.

Conclusion

From cooling innovations to new power strategies, operators must adapt to higher rack densities and specialized AI hardware. For DCI, cross-regional learning, strong partnerships, and a collaborative mindset provide a blueprint for sustainable growth.

As DCI advances toward half a gigawatt of capacity, its strategy positions it to thrive during one of the most transformative periods for Asia-Pacific data centers.