Global real estate consulting firm JLL has predicted global edge information technology information technology (IT) infrastructure and data centers will become a $317 billion market globally by 2026, representing a 107 percent growth from the 2020 market valued at $153 billion.

A projected surge in data-dependent technologies, including the internet of things (IoT) and generative artificial intelligence (AI), globally will require substantial IT infrastructure support provided by edge data centers, JLL said in its analysis revealed last Thursday.

JLL defines an edge data center as a facility that brings computing power closer to where the data is generated or consumed.

Globally, it noted the growth of edge computing will be influenced by the not only the emergence several technology-based megatrends but also the need for faster data transfer and high computation, as well as factors such as policies and regulations.

From an infrastructural standpoint, it said organizations rely on edge data centers to process and analyze data in real-time at the edge of the network, facilitating faster decision-making and more efficient operations.

According to the firm, the rise of edge IT infrastructure focused on data centers will mirror the growth of IoT devices, which JLL analysis projects will expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.8 percent over the next five years.

JLL’s analysis of a 2023 survey of data center professionals cited the requirement for low latency and high bandwidth (41 percent) was the most important driver for edge data center deployments, followed closely by data security and privacy (38.3 percent).

According to the firm, consumers and enterprises demanding improved products and services like low latency, high computing, generative AI and omnipresence will likely ensure that the cloud environment and future of edge data centers remain healthy with the opportunities observed.

In addition, it noted Asia Pacific (APAC) and the Middle East North Africa (MENA) regions, which hold significant growth potential due to rising internet and mobile penetration among the rural population, will further support opportunities in the addressable edge data center market.

In the United States, it said 21 percent of data center development is happening in edge geographies.

“Consumers and corporations will continue to adapt to transformational technologies within daily life and without the distribution of data processing and storage across various locations, cutting edge efficiencies and solutions like IoT and generative AI will not transition to mainstream acceptance,” said Jonathan Kinsey, Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) Lead and Global Chair, Data Centre Solutions, JLL.

“Edge data centers will be essential to ensure both seamless business operations in the future economy while also improving security measures and protecting against potential disruptions,

“By lowering latency by bringing the computing infrastructure closer to the data source and user, edge IT infrastructure will become an essential component in the international economy,” he added.

JLL analysis also concluded that enterprises typically use a combination of different data center types, including on-premises, colocation, cloud and edge, when deploying
their IT infrastructure, depending on user needs.

However, the continual growth in data and connected devices has driven the need for increased storage, computing and network capabilities closer to the end points of use and created a need for edge computing and associated data centers, it added.

The firm also said the size of the edge computing market can be measured in different ways.

Its estimate of a $317 billion total addressable market comprises the complete IT infrastructure, colocation revenue, colocation supply and cloud services revenue, all specifically at the edge.

From the IT infrastructure lens, it noted the edge computing market consists of all the IT hardware, including storage, computing and networking equipment that enable the delivery of digital services at the furthest points of a network.

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