Wired for Adaptability: How Cabling Shapes the Future of Modular Data Centres

The demand for data centre capacity has never been higher. The rapid growth of AI, cloud computing, and streaming has put enormous pressure on operators to scale their infrastructure. To meet these needs, data centres must evolve to become more adaptable, capable of supporting increasingly complex and intensive workloads.

Central to this evolution is modularity – designing facilities with flexibility and interchangeability built in from day one. And at the heart of that modularity lies something often overlooked: cabling. Poorly planned cabling can create bottlenecks, complicating hardware swaps and driving costly downtime.

Meeting this new level of flexibility is no small feat. Operators face multiple pressures, from rising power densities to evolving hardware requirements, that make rethinking data centre design essential.

The challenges of rapid change

Emerging technologies have pushed data centres to the limit. Over the past decade, average rack power densities have doubled from 4–5 kW to around 8–10 kW, with AI workloads now demanding racks that can support 50–100 kW. Keeping up with this growth requires faster hardware refresh cycles, particularly to accommodate GPU-powered racks. Operators face a trifecta of challenges: surging demand for AI compute capacity, slower construction timelines, and the need to extend the lifespan of existing equipment.

To overcome these pressures, data centre design must prioritise adaptability. Operators need solutions that allow for rapid upgrades and straightforward hardware interchange. This not only ensures operational efficiency but also supports sustainability goals by reducing waste and energy use. However, achieving true interchangeability depends on proper cabling design and installation. Neglecting this aspect can lead to delays, resource shortages, and even a premature need for costly refresh cycles.

Cabling as the backbone of modern modularity

Traditional modular data centres often focuses on prefabricated units containing everything from power to cooling – a strategy aimed at speeding up construction rather than enabling scalability. But modularity can go further. It’s not enough to treat infrastructure like “Lego bricks”. Operators can go further by building IT environments in traditional data centres where connectivity and interchangeability are core principles.

Cabling plays a critical role in making this possible. Faulty or poorly installed cabling can disrupt connectivity, cause data corruption, and trigger extensive troubleshooting, all of which contribute to downtime. Replacing cabling after installation is both expensive and time-consuming, and inadequate design can dramatically reduce a data centre’s lifespan from 10-15 years to just 3. To unlock the benefits of modularity, cabling must be treated as a strategic foundation, integrated thoughtfully into the planning and design process.

Implementing a strategic cabling approach

Building modular data centres will become increasingly important as AI workloads accelerate. Success relies on taking a holistic planning approach and ensuring cabling best practices are embedded from the start. Key steps include:

Adopt a modular mindset: Treat each data centre as a purpose-built engineering project rather than a traditional commercial build, accounting for power, cooling, and network routing from the outset.

Be strategic with cabling: Limit suppliers to a maximum of three to ensure consistent, standardised architecture. This simplifies support, improves inventory management, and leverages economies of scale.

Develop a skilled workforce: Build a pipeline of diverse technical, installation, and maintenance expertise. Anticipate future needs in AI, analytics, and predictive infrastructure, and collaborate with educational institutions to support workforce growth.

Create a detailed cabling blueprint: Plan cabling before installation, considering facility-specific requirements, cable lengths, preparation time, and delivery schedules to ensure accurate and efficient implementation.

Provide a comprehensive installation guide: Document cable types, connections, compatibility, measurements, and patching procedures to enable smooth hardware swaps and maximize the benefits of modular infrastructure.

Futureproofing with connectivity and interchangeability

As AI and other high-demand workloads continue to expand, the ability to upgrade and adapt rapidly will define successful data centres. By rethinking modularity around the principles of interchangeability and connectivity, and by making cabling a central element of design, operators can ensure their facilities remain agile, resilient, and capable of supporting evolving workloads without interruption.