Welcome to the hyperscale era. More than 5 billion internet users worldwide are driving demand for an ever-growing number of data centers, with a particular emphasis on massive data centers that can support thousands of servers.

Maintenance of these hyperscale data centers is critically important. Typical service level agreement (SLA) terms mandate nearly 100 percent uptime and “five nines” reliability, requiring peak performance and minimal downtime. In fact, data center outages can cost from $100,000 to $500,000 per hour or more, so speed is crucial when operations are down.

Although many aspects of hyperscale data center operations are fully automated, technicians often need to visit facilities to repair outages, as well as to conduct upgrades and perform regular maintenance. With the popularity of bring-your-own-device (BYOD) policies, many maintenance technicians rely on 5G service from mobile network operators (MNOs) when working in the data center. Additionally, hyperscalers increasingly use Internet of Things (IoT) 5G connectivity for environmental monitoring and measurement.

Unfortunately, when in-building mobile coverage is spotty or even nonexistent, calls are missed and connections get dropped. This means that technicians cannot communicate quickly with support personnel or access troubleshooting resources online, resulting in longer and more costly outages.

Massive Coverage Challenges

Connecting to 5G mobile service from within a hyperscale data center presents a number of challenges, especially considering that these facilities are growing to millions of square feet in size. Energy-efficient building materials, interior walls, and loaded equipment racks all block radio frequency (RF) signals coming from outside mobile networks, preventing critical access to communications.

As MNOs expand their network capacity to meet 5G demand, the RF signal characteristics of new mid-band frequencies further compound this situation. Mid-band spectrum, such as the C-Band and Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS), provides significantly greater capacity for outdoor wide-area networks due to larger channels. However, these wider RF channels have a shorter signal propagation range and consume more radio output power, reducing overall coverage area.

The end result is that popular 5G frequencies do not provide good quality in-building coverage for even the smallest data center. This problem is only more challenging for massive hyperscale data centers that are situated in remote locations where outdoor mobile service may be entirely lacking.

Mission-Critical Connectivity

To ensure reliable in-building connectivity to all the major MNO networks, savvy data center operators deploy a  neutral host Distributed Antenna System (DAS) solution, such as the SOLiD ALLIANCE 5G platform. With a modular design, SOLiD’s DAS solutions offer maximum flexibility and scalability, enabling easy upgrades to support the latest 5G spectrum, growing capacity demands, and the next technology evolution.

A fiber-to-the-edge system like the SOLiD ALLIANCE edgeROU securely carries voice, data, and IoT transmissions all the way to the edge of the network, improving service quality for pervasive coverage throughout any hyperscale data center, no matter the size or configuration. With the extremely high bandwidth and data speeds made possible with fiber-to-the-edge technology, data center operations teams can experience outstanding in-building connectivity, whether they are in the server room, operations center, or mechanical closet.

Sustainable Today and Tomorrow

Today’s global data center carbon footprint already exceeds the entire airline industry, and hyperscale power consumption is estimated to reach 35 Gigawatts by 2030 in the U.S. alone — almost double the 2022 level. With growing reliance on sophisticated artificial intelligence (AI) technology further driving up energy use, sustainability is more crucial than ever.

SOLiD’s reliable DAS solutions are built on a history of sustainability, resulting in the highest performance with the lowest carbon footprint. The SOLiD ALLIANCE edgeROU DAS is the smallest, lightest remote in its class, consuming one-third the energy of competitive products, yet offering more bandwidth, higher RF output, and a low total cost of ownership (TCO).

In the hyperscale data center market, speed and agility are vital to remaining competitive and profitable. Without seamless access to always-on, in-building connectivity for their operations teams, data centers risk costly extended service outages and missed SLA targets, as well as their reputation.

To learn how to ensure mission-critical data center in-building connectivity with affordable, reliable SOLiD DAS solutions, visit: solid.com/us/industries/data-centers.