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Industry News
AI is seen as complementary to the above through Proof-of-Concept for Orbital Data Centre
its ability to introduce intelligence and adaptability Technology
into operations. The ability to train on richer datasets
Axiom Space’s Data Centre Unit-1 (AxDCU-1) has been
derived from quantum simulations is expected to
confirmed as representing the company’s initial proof-
accelerate breakthroughs in areas such as natural
of-concept for orbital data centre technology. This
language processing, image recognition and
smaller prototype will process data in real-time on the
predictive modelling:
International Space Station prior to the larger Axiom DATA CENTRE CASE
‘ Integrating quantum computing and AI into Space T1 data centre deployment, due to arrive in orbit
data centre architectures represents a profound in 2027. STUDY: VIRGIN
technological shift with immense potential to
address long-standing challenges. While both It is expected that these data centres will offer
technologies are powerful individually, their on-orbit data processing, moving large-scale MEDIA O2
combination enables synergies that unlock computing closer to where it is produced, such as
entirely new capabilities.’ satellites or spacecraft, reducing reliance on ground-
based facilities. Other applications include potentially
Reference: ‘Could Quantum Computing and AI spark the next
AI/ML training, off-planet backup and disaster
Revolution in Data Centres?’, Data Centre Review, 13th. February
recovery, faster data relay via optical inter-satellite
links, multi-factor authentication, and cyber intrusion
Addressing the Hyperscale Data Centre detection and response.
Bandwidth and Energy Consumption Crunch
Virgin Media O2 was launched on 1st. June 2021, With the EkkopSense software collecting thousands
Hyperscale data centres are increasingly requiring combining the UK’s largest mobile network with a of data points every five minutes, the millions of data
higher bandwidth and lower latency in order to keep fully gigabit broadband network. As it rolls out its points already collected contribute directly to the
pace with modern data processing demands. next generation of 5G mobile and fibre networks, an effectiveness of machine learning algorithms. Ai and
increasing workload demand is being exerted on its machine learning therefore scale up optimisation
These requirements have prompted Lessengers Inc., network of data centres. opportunity enabling complex data centre datasets
a provider of innovative optical components based to be processed in seconds where weeks would have
on its patented ‘Direct Optical Wiring’ technology, The Technical Site Engineering and Delivery Team previously been required.
to launch its industry-first 1.6T OSFP 2xSR4 optical has the task of optimising the energy performance
transceiver with multimode optics to address the of these data centres. For this EkkoSense, AI-powered The installation of sensors, deployment of EkkoSense
growing bandwidth and energy crunch resulting from data centre optimisation specialist and winner of Critical software and optimisation of thermal
the increasingly complex AI/ML workloads that now the 2025 Data Centre Awards Special Contribution to performance took an average of two weeks per site,
characterise hyperscale data centres. At the heart of the AxDCU-1 will be Red Hat Device improving Energy Efficiency category, was engaged with the cooling performance of all of the sites being
Edge, which leverages the Red Hat-led community to obtain a real-time view of the thermal power and optimised in six months. Cooling energy savings
Direct Optical Wiring technology is a polymer- project MicroShift, a lightweight Kubernetes capacity performance across Virgin Media O2’s across the sites has amounted to £1 million a year
based air-cladded waveguide technology that is
distribution derived from Red Hat OpenShift, which twenty UK data centre sites. representing an average saving in data centre
particularly useful for optical interconnects in data is supported by Red Hat Enterprise Linux and the Red cooling across the sites of 15 per cent. This energy
centres and other high-performance computing
Hat Ansible Automation Platform. These tools are EkkoSense differs from the traditional IT-led DCIM saving is equivalent to 760 tonnes of carbon dioxide
environments. It is a direct coupling method that designed to enable cloud-native applications on- approach in that it offers a distinctive, light-touch using location-based scope 2 accounting.
replaces the use of lens optics in transceivers,
orbit. AI-enabled software-driven thermal, power and
which can introduce a variety of errors and optical capacity optimisation solution, enabling operations The project has also resulted in improved
impairments that have a negative impact on signal Tony James, Chief Architect, Science and Space, for teams to optimise data centre performance whilst at performance from Virgin Media O2’s significant
quality, transmission efficiency and overall system Red Hat, states: the same time delivering quantifiable sustainability investment in free air cooling devices by maximising
performance. results. Low cost IoT sensors provide the innovative free air capacity. Where possible, reducing maximum
“ Off-planet data processing is the next frontier and
Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platform with valuable rack temperatures has also helped to resolve
Dr. Vladimir Kozlov, CEO and Founder of LightCounting edge computing is a crucial component. With Red data, while machine learning provides AI analytics, potential thermal risks associated with hot spots.
Market Research, comments: Hat Device Edge and in collaboration with Axiom gaming-class 3D visualisation and Digital Twin
Space, Earth-based mission partners will have the
“ For AI/ML workloads in hyperscale data centres, capabilities necessary to make real-time decisions capabilities. Adrian Lazenby, Head of Technical Site Engineering
LPO and LRO are increasingly favoured for their and Delivery for Virgin Media O2, states:
in space with greater reliability and consistency.”
power efficiency and low latency, whereas retimed Granular data centre sensing provides the core “ The good news for Virgin Media O2 is that
machine learning data that enables true real-
optics are used when the link accountability and Jason Aspiotis, Global Director of In-space Data and EkkoSense continues to add value to its AI-
interoperability are prioritised. Therefore, not only Security for Axiom Space, adds: time visibility of cooling, power and capability powered 3D visualisation and analytics software
are we seeing the progression from 800G to 1.6T performance, with potential cooling issues being solution. That’s contributing with innovations
optics, but the transceiver suppliers must offer a “ Infusing terrestrial-grade cloud solutions able to be identified quickly using comprehensive 3D such as Cooling Anomaly Detection that will help
range of power budgets as well.” into orbital data centres will enable users to Digital Twin visualisations that allow information to be us identify machinal and electrical equipment
seamlessly transition and enhance their terrestrial monitored and interpreted quickly.
performance anomalies before potential failures -
workloads to orbit while leveraging the lower
Article supplied courtesy of LouVan Communications Inc. and we’re looking forward further functionality as
latency and increased security inherent with Attaching thermal sensors on all racks and cooling the software continues its development. “
orbital data centres.” systems allows for the capture of granular and
continuous thermal data, which is fed into the EkkoSense
Article supplied courtesy of EkkoSense
Reference: ‘Red Hat partners with Axiom Space to bring Orbital Data software while unique EkkoAir Wireless cooling duty
Centre to Life’, Data Centre Review, 6th. March
sensors additionally provide real-time tracking of cooling
duty loads in kWc for any CRAC/AHU unit.
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