What is an AI Data Center? Understanding the 4 Main Types
Artificial intelligence changes how businesses work. To make this possible, companies build AI data centers to run artificial intelligence programs. These buildings use powerful computers to handle heavy work. They store large amounts of data and drastically increase power consumption due to high-density computing needs. People build AI data centers to handle heavy computing, store large amounts of data, and use the high power AI systems needed. So what actually sets them apart? This article explains what makes these facilities unique and describes the four main types of data centers available. What is the AI data center? An AI data center is a special building that holds powerful computers for artificial intelligence. These computers are used to train models and run AI applications. Compared to normal software, these workloads need much more computing power. Because of this, the facility uses strong chips like GPUs and TPUs that can do many tasks at the same time. It uses very fast networks and large storage so data can move quickly between servers. As a result, AI systems can work faster and deliver better results. However, high performance brings challenges. An AI data center uses a lot of electricity and produces a lot of heat. The International Energy Agency (IEA) reported that data centers used about 415 TWh of electricity in 2024. This is 1.5% of all electricity in the world, and it has been growing about 12% every year. The report says that electricity use will double to about 945 TWh by 2030, taking up almost 3% of the world’s electricity, mainly because AI servers are growing fast. For this reason, strong power systems and advanced cooling keep operations safe and stable. What are the 4 types of data centers? Data centers come in four main types: onsite data centers, colocation facilities, hyperscale data centers, and edge data centers. These types support different needs and workloads, including those used in an AI data center. While they serve the same basic purpose, they differ in scale, location, and operation. The following sections explain each type in more detail. Infrastructure that powers AI growth AI data center do more than house powerful computers. They handle heavy workloads, store large amounts of data, and manage high electricity use safely and efficiently. What makes them unique is their use of advanced chips, fast networks, and strong cooling and power systems. As AI grows, businesses rely on these centers for speed, reliability, and flexibility in handling complex computing tasks. To support this growth, fast and stable networks are critical. Large amounts of data must move quickly between systems without delay. Dark fiber provides high speed, low latency, and reliable connections. This allows advanced computing workloads to run smoothly and scale when demand increases. In Southeast Asia, choosing the right network partner is key to success. ARNet builds dark fiber networks for hyperscalers and major players across Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand. Our long-haul, metro, and last-mile fiber solutions give businesses full control over network speed and reliability. With our networks, companies can easily expand capacity as AI workloads grow, ensuring smooth performance at every stage. We give businesses the tools to build their AI data center. We help them grow across the region. About the Author Nabila Choirunnisa, Digital Marketing Executive at ARNet
Data Center Infrastructure Management: 4 Key Things Every Business Should Understand
Modern businesses use technology to store and process data. When a business grows, it needs systems that are stable and easy to manage. Because of this, data center infrastructure management is important for many companies. In simple terms, data center infrastructure management puts different systems into one place. It connects building systems, IT equipment, and control tools. With this system, teams can see power use, cooling, and server space in real time. This helps them manage the data center better and prevent service downtime. What is data center infrastructure management? Data center infrastructure management is a system that manages buildings and IT equipment in a data center. It brings building operations, IT control, and automation software into one system. This helps companies manage their hardware and keep data safe. The system does more than store data. It checks power use, cooling systems, and equipment health. This helps teams find problems early and keep the data center running smoothly. Understanding server size and rack units Most data centers for companies have between 500 and 5,000 servers.According to the Pew Research Center, many data centers have about 2,000 to 5,000 servers. At the same time, smaller data centers usually have around 500 to 2,000 servers. To arrange these servers, data centers use a simple size system called a rack unit. One rack unit, or 1U, is 1.75 inches tall. So, when a server is called 1U, 2U, or 3U, the “U” shows how much vertical space the server uses in the rack. Space and cooling requirements Physical space is very important in a data center. The size of the building affects layout, airflow, and equipment placement. Because of this, data centers are grouped by size. Servers produce heat when they run. Without good cooling, performance goes down and equipment can be damaged. How many servers fit in one rack? A standard 42U rack can hold 42 servers if each server is 1U. So, this rack is used a lot in the industry. This also helps data center teams plan how much space they need. But, servers can be different sizes depending on how powerful they are. For example, high-performance servers need 2U or 4U because they have more parts. That’s why data center software tracks all these server sizes in the facility. Building reliable infrastructure for growth Reliable operations depend on careful planning of power supply, cooling capacity, and physical space through effective data center infrastructure management. Alongside this, strong connectivity between data centers and networks also supports business expansion. In response to these requirements, dark fiber provides secure, high-speed, and low-latency connections for modern data centers. ARNet provides dark fiber to give fast, safe, and low-latency connections for hyperscalers and major players in Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand. We own over 10,000 km of fiber and connect 60+ data centers across the region. Our network is fully built and operated in-house, with robust data center infrastructure management practices ensuring reliability and scalability for growing business needs. It includes long-distance, metro, and last-mile fiber to cover every connection requirement. This way, hyperscalers and major players enjoy stable, high-speed connections that help them perform better now and in the future. About the Author Nabila Choirunnisa, Digital Marketing Executive at ARNet
4 Key Drivers of Digital Infrastructure Expansion You Need to Know
Digital infrastructure is the base of cloud services, AI work, and modern data centers. As more people use digital services around the world, businesses need stable connections, networks that can grow, and secure systems. This includes data centers, cloud platforms, network equipment, and telecom technology that keep digital services working well every day. At the same time, the digital infrastructure market is growing very fast. Based on data from Mordor Intelligence, the market reached USD 360 billion in 2025. Looking ahead, experts expect it to grow to USD 1.06 trillion by 2030. This means the market grows by 24.10% each year. Therefore, strong and reliable connectivity is very important for the global economy. How does digital infrastructure support business? Digital infrastructure helps businesses run well by supporting data storage, data transfer, and digital applications. Data centers keep servers and storage safe. Networks, like fiber cables, 5G, and satellites, send data between places. Cloud systems give computing power that can grow or shrink when needed. AI processors do hard tasks that need fast computing. Management software keeps everything working correctly. Businesses set up digital infrastructure in different ways. Some keep systems in their own buildings to have more control. Others use shared data centers to save money and set up faster. Many use cloud services like AWS, Microsoft Azure, or Google Cloud for easy access. Some combine these ways to save cost and get better results. What drives digital infrastructure growth? There are several key factors that push digital infrastructure expansion forward. It includes: Challenges in digital infrastructure industry The industry is growing fast, but it still faces big challenges. One major issue is energy use. The previous research above also shows that data centers may use up to 9.1% of U.S. electricity by 2030. At the same time, AI systems need much more power. They use 10 to 20 times more energy than normal applications. Another challenge is water use. Data centers need cooling, so they use about 6.75 million gallons of water per MW each year. Because of this, some regions limit water use for industry. As a result, many operators now choose cooling systems that use little or no water. In addition, data privacy rules create more pressure. Laws like the EU’s GDPR say data must stay inside the country. This means companies must build separate systems in different regions. These rules increase costs, with compliance expenses growing by 8–12% every year. Connecting southeast asia’s digital future As digital infrastructure grows in Southeast Asia, reliable connectivity becomes very important. To meet this need, ARNet owns and operates over 10,000 km of AI-grade fiber network across the region. Through this network, our dark fiber connects more than 60 data centers in four key countries: Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Singapore. ARNet is one of the few regional providers that fully owns and manages all important fiber licenses in these markets. This allows faster network rollout and more consistent service quality. As a result, we deliver a strong SLA through continuous monitoring. We can detect and fix problems before they affect services. Whether businesses need campus connectivity, metro fiber, or cross-border links, ARNet offers solutions tailored to their needs. To learn more, visit our website to see how our dark fiber network supports the growth of digital infrastructure across Southeast Asia. About the Author Nabila Choirunnisa, Digital Marketing Executive at ARNet
Low Latency Network: Why It Matters and How to Achieve It?
Business applications now need fast response times. Therefore, companies want data to move quickly between offices, cloud systems, and customer services. In fact, a low latency network reduces waiting time during file transfers, video calls, and online transactions. As a result, businesses work more efficiently, and customers are happier. To achieve these benefits, organizations need to understand how networks work. This guide first explains the basics of fast network performance and its practical steps to fix slow connections. This article also describes which types of internet work best for business needs. What is a low latency network? Low latency network means building networks that move data quickly from one point to another. In other words, it is a network that reduces waiting time when data is sent or received. When latency is low, applications and services respond faster to users. Latency is measured in milliseconds, and under 50 milliseconds is good for most business needs. For example, video calls, money transfers, and cloud services need data to move quickly. So, cutting delays can make an app feel much faster. This means users have a better experience, more people can finish what they are doing, and the system feels more responsive. In short, small time savings can make a big difference. Based on DataIntelo, the need for low‑latency solutions is growing fast. The global low‑latency streaming market was USD 5.8 billion in 2024 and is expected to grow about 22.7% every year until 2033. With more people needing fast streaming, it’s important to know what can make a network slow or fast. Many things affect network speed. Distance matters because signals take time to travel through cables. Equipment matters too because old devices are slower. Cables also matter because some move data faster than others. All these things are important for a low latency network because even small delays can slow down important applications. How to fix network latency? Fixing network latency needs a clear plan. To improve a low latency network, you need to test your connection, upgrade hardware, manage network traffic, and change settings. Each step helps fix a different problem. Here are the steps you can follow: What is the best type of internet for low latency? Fiber internet has the lowest latency because it sends data as light through glass cables. Therefore, it is faster than copper DSL, cable, and satellite. Moreover, dark fiber provides the best performance because it allows organizations to control capacity and routing. As a result, businesses in Southeast Asia, including Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand, are using dark fiber more for cloud services, data centers, cross-border operations, and large digital projects. To support this, ARNet provides dedicated dark fiber across the region, with over 10,000 km connecting major data centers. In addition, our long-haul, metro, and last-mile solutions give hyperscalers and major players full control, low latency, high-speed connections, scalability, and real-time monitoring. This ensures smooth and reliable digital operations. About the Author Nabila Choirunnisa, Digital Marketing Executive at ARNet
IP Address Format Explained: 4 Essential Types for Network Setup
The internet connects billions of devices worldwide. Each connection requires a unique identifier to communicate properly. This identifier is known as an IP address. It follows a specific IP address format to ensure devices can send and receive data correctly. Understanding how IP addresses work becomes particularly important when businesses set up their network infrastructure. This is especially true when using advanced solutions like dark fiber networks that require proper addressing schemes. For this reason, companies that manage their own networks must understand IP address format and its types. This knowledge helps networks run smoothly and stay secure. At the same time, whether a business builds a small office network or a large system, IP addressing becomes the base of stable connectivity. What is the correct format of an IP address? An IP address follows a standard format so devices can recognize each other on a network. In most cases, networks use IPv4. This IP address format uses four numbers separated by dots. Each number can range from 0 to 255. For example, 192.168.1.1 is a common address used in homes and offices. In this format, each number is called an octet. This is because each one represents 8 bits of data. Together, the address contains 32 bits. As a result, IPv4 can create about 4.3 billion unique addresses. However, the number of connected devices keeps growing. According to IoT Analytics, IoT devices are expected to grow by 14% in 2025 and reach 39 billion by 2030. Because of this growth, IPv4 addresses are becoming limited. Therefore, IPv6 was developed to solve this issue. IPv6 uses a different IP address format. It has eight groups of numbers and letters, separated by colons. One example is 2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334. This format supports a much larger number of addresses. In fact, it allows 340 undecillion combinations. Even so, many networks still use IPv4 today. However, IPv6 use continues to grow as IPv4 becomes harder to obtain. What are the 4 types of IP addresses? There are four main types of IP addresses including, public, private, static, and dynamic. Each type has a different role in network setup. By understanding these types, businesses can choose the right IP address format for their needs. Building network infrastructure with proper IP address management Understanding IP address format and its types helps businesses manage networks more effectively. As networks grow, more devices connect every day. Because of this, good IP address management becomes essential. When businesses apply these addressing systems, they also need strong infrastructure to support them. This is where ARNet plays an important role as a trusted dark fiber provider in Southeast Asia. We support hyperscalers and large enterprises that need high-speed network infrastructure. Our dark fiber network spans over 10,000 km and connects more than 60 data centers across Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia. In addition, we are the only single-entity provider in the region that controls all critical licenses. Because of this, businesses benefit from seamless connectivity under one unified network. Our AI-grade, all-fiber infrastructure gives full flexibility to apply your own IP address format using your own equipment. At the same time, ARNet owns and operates the entire network, from planning to deployment. This ensures reliability at every stage. Along with this, our experienced team provides professional support during network setup. Visit ARNet to learn how our reliable dark fiber solutions can support your business across Southeast Asia. About the Author Nabila Choirunnisa, Digital Marketing Executive at ARNet