In the world of technology, details that are not immediately visible often make all the difference. Even the most modern data center, equipped with state-of-the-art servers and secured with a stable power supply, remains a mere isolated island of hardware without external connectivity. However, for the Prague Gateway DC project, this scenario is becoming a thing of the past. Petr Holý, who holds key roles as CTO at České Radiokomunikace (CRA) and CEO at Cloud4com, has confirmed a critical milestone in the preparation of this technological hub.
The company has contractually secured complete optical connectivity for the developing Prague Gateway DC complex. This step is crucial for transforming the shell construction and technological equipment into a fully functional point of digital infrastructure. According to company representatives, reliable connectivity is the most important element, without which investment in top-tier equipment and energy facilities would be meaningless.
The Prague Gateway DC data center has contractually secured complete optical connectivity to Prague's backbone network.
Connecting to Key Metropolitan Nodes
The main benefit of the new optical infrastructure will be a direct connection to CRA's Prague backbone network. This route will not only provide basic internet access but will also create a robust digital bridge between the new center and strategic locations within the capital city. The infrastructure is designed to meet the demands of modern data traffic in the tens and hundreds of gigabits.
Among the points to which Prague Gateway DC will be directly connected are, for example, the iconic DC Tower (Žižkovská věž) and also the international interconnection node CeCOLO. This step integrates the new center into the existing ecosystem of services that České Radiokomunikace and Cloud4com provide in the areas of cloud solutions, ICT, and telecommunications.
Infrastructure for the Age of Artificial Intelligence
The importance of quality connectivity grows with the type of tasks for which the center is primarily intended. The Prague Gateway DC project has been conceived from the outset as a facility for demanding AI tasks (artificial intelligence). These operations require not only extreme computational power but, above all, the ability to transfer massive volumes of data in real-time with minimal latency.
To guarantee continuous operation even in the event of technical problems, the project relies on high transmission capacity and full redundancy. In practice, this means that optical routes are planned so that if one branch fails, a backup branch immediately and seamlessly takes over the traffic. Redundancy is considered an absolutely crucial parameter for critical infrastructure supporting AI systems.
High transmission capacity and redundancy are key for the demanding AI tasks that the center specializes in.
Collaboration of Five Technology Leaders
The implementation of such an extensive network connection requires the cooperation of many players in the telecommunications routes market. České Radiokomunikace does not rely solely on its own resources for the construction of optical paths but coordinates work with five significant partners who possess the necessary infrastructure in the affected locations.
The following entities are cooperating on the implementation of optical routes for Prague Gateway DC:
- Sitel — specialist in telecommunication networks and technical infrastructure.
- Quantcom — provider of optical connectivity and voice services.
- TTC — technology group focused on modern communication solutions.
- EnergTel — partner ensuring specific routes within energy networks.
- ČD - Telematika — operator of an extensive optical network along railway corridors.
Current Status and Next Steps
Currently, teams of specialists from all involved parties are working on the individual routes. The goal is to create a perfect connection that will form the basic pillar for future customers utilizing ICT solutions and cloud services. Although the exact date for the full operational launch of the entire center was not specified in this phase, the contractual securing of connectivity moves the project into the final preparation stage.
The question remains how quickly the physical laying of the remaining sections of optical cables and their subsequent activation in active network elements will be completed. For the data center market in the Czech Republic, this project further strengthens the position of CRA and Cloud4com as providers of critical digital infrastructure capable of competing with global standards in AI computing.