Digital Realty Unveils Next-Generation Data Center Architecture

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 30, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — Digital Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:DLR, news, filings), a leading global provider of data center solutions, has unveiled the next generation of its POD Architecture® – the unique methodology the Company uses to design and build its Turn-Key Flex(SM) solution using a modular approach that speeds delivery, advances energy efficiency, maximizes reliability and lowers costs for its customers. POD 3.0 advances the modular approach to data center design by increasing the critical IT load delivered from the current 1,125 kW to 1,200 kW while reducing the number of components necessary for the additional capacity.   The enhanced and simplified design reflects Digital Realty’s focus on providing customers with flexible data center solutions that meet their exact needs and requirements.

“This new generation of POD Architecture will enable us to do more in terms of capacity and energy performance, using the same operating scale that we successfully deployed as POD 2.0,” said Jim Smith, chief technology officer at Digital Realty. “The size and scope of our global platform provides us with access to a high volume of operating data that we believe is unmatched in the data center industry. Using real-time information, we have been able to fine-tune our design and develop the next generation of our POD Architecture. We were able to demand more from the existing platform and deliver an enhanced solution to our customers in terms of performance, reliability and cost efficiency.”

The centerpiece of Digital Realty’s POD Architecture is the pre-fabrication and inventorying of major electrical and mechanical systems that traditionally stand in the time-sensitive path of data center construction projects. Pre-fabricated components are manufactured in a factory environment and then warehoused for on-time delivery to project sites, improving quality and accelerating time to market. The cooling and electrical systems are pre-commissioned in the factory and then re-commissioned along with the completed data center.

“Our approach to modular data centers is not about producing pre-fab data centers or containerized solutions.  Utilizing POD Architecture, we delivered over 49 megawatts of Turn-Key Flex data center capacity in 2012, and expect to deliver an additional 89 megawatts of Turn-Key Flex capacity in 2013,” added Mr. Smith. “By pre-assembling electrical and mechanical room components, while retaining the flexibility that customers require of a customized data center, POD 3.0 once again puts Digital Realty customers at the forefront of data center development innovation.”

POD Architecture 3.0 represents an improved, simplified arrangement of components that serves as the foundation of the Company’s Turn-Key Flex solution. Core to the enhancement is an increase in critical IT load capacity to 1,200 kW from 1,125 kW at the same cost point achieved with POD 2.0, using only two electrical skids versus the previous design’s three skids. The reduction of the infrastructure footprint will help improve the yield on building space for data centers. POD 3.0 will also produce data centers that feature higher energy efficiency (such as PUE ratings below 1.2).

About Digital Realty

Digital Realty Trust, Inc. focuses on delivering customer driven data center solutions by providing secure, reliable and cost effective facilities that meet each customer’s unique data center needs. Digital Realty’s customers include domestic and international companies across multiple industry verticals ranging from information technology and Internet enterprises, to manufacturing and financial services. Digital Realty’s 110 properties, excluding three properties held as investments in unconsolidated joint ventures, comprise approximately 21.2 million square feet as of October 26, 2012, including 2.2 million square feet of space held for redevelopment. Digital Realty’s portfolio is located in 32 markets throughout Europe, North America, Asia and Australia. Additional information about Digital Realty is included in the Company Overview, which is available on the Investors page of Digital Realty’s website at http://www.digitalrealty.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements which are based on current expectations, forecasts and assumptions that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially, including statements related to POD Architecture 3.0, or POD 3.0, expected improvements in capacity, time to delivery, energy efficiency (such as PUE ratings), reliability, costs and yield on building space from POD 3.0, and expected MWs to be delivered in 2013. These risks and uncertainties include, among others, the following: the impact of the recent deterioration in global economic, credit and market conditions, including the downgrade of the U.S. government’s credit rating; current local economic conditions in our geographic markets; decreases in information technology spending, including as a result of economic slowdowns or recession; adverse economic or real estate developments in our industry or the industry sectors that we sell to (including risks relating to decreasing real estate valuations and impairment charges); our dependence upon significant tenants; bankruptcy or insolvency of a major tenant or a significant number of smaller tenants; defaults on or non-renewal of leases by tenants; our failure to obtain necessary debt and equity financing; increased interest rates and operating costs; risks associated with using debt to fund our business activities, including re-financing and interest rate risks, our failure to repay debt when due, adverse changes in our credit ratings or our breach of covenants or other terms contained in our loan facilities and agreements; financial market fluctuations; changes in foreign currency exchange rates; our inability to manage our growth effectively; difficulty acquiring or operating properties in foreign jurisdictions; our failure to successfully integrate and operate acquired or redeveloped properties or businesses; risks related to joint venture investments, including as a result of our lack of control of such investments; delays or unexpected costs in development or redevelopment of properties; decreased rental rates or increased vacancy rates; increased competition or available supply of data center space; our inability to successfully develop and lease new properties and space held for redevelopment; difficulties in identifying properties to acquire and completing acquisitions; our inability to acquire off-market properties; our inability to comply with the rules and regulations applicable to reporting companies; our failure to maintain our status as a REIT; possible adverse changes to tax laws; restrictions on our ability to engage in certain business activities; environmental uncertainties and risks related to natural disasters; losses in excess of our insurance coverage; changes in foreign laws and regulations, including those related to taxation and real estate ownership and operation; and changes in local, state and federal regulatory requirements, including changes in real estate and zoning laws and increases in real property tax rates.  For a further list and description of such risks and uncertainties, see the reports and other filings by the Company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2012, June 30, 2012 and September 30, 2012.  The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

SOURCE Digital Realty Trust, Inc.