A whole year has passed since we last spoke to Digital Edge DC. Chief Business Operations Officer, Andy Rigoli, reveals the company’s latest exciting developments, including its new leadership and ambitious expansions in Southeast Asia, marking a pivotal year of growth and innovation.
A HUB FOR NEW HORIZONS
The technology industry is experiencing remarkable growth, and Digital Edge DC (Digital Edge) is keeping up with this momentum whilst undergoing several changes.
When we last caught up with the visionary data centre company, it had recently celebrated its fifth anniversary, which coincided with a leadership transition.
“John Freeman, our new CEO, is recognised for his excellent communication skills, a balanced approach in measuring risks and commercial opportunities, and his ability to connect with customers and stakeholders. He is viewed as a strong leader for our future,” emphatically endorses Andy Rigoli, Chief Business Operations Officer.
Under the new leadership, the strategic partnerships and financial growth Digital Edge has achieved signify a promising trajectory.
“In 2020, we raised USD$1 billion upfront with Stonepeak, who has been an excellent partner. Over the past four years, we have been deploying that capital and monitoring when it would be a natural inflexion point to seek additional funding. In terms of financial growth, Digital Edge successfully raised an additional USD$600 million, bringing our total equity to USD$1.6 billion,” Rigoli continues.
This funding is crucial for the next phase of investments, as the company has also announced its expansion into Thailand, a significant achievement. The Thai market has emerged ripe for growth due to its strategic geographical position adjacent to several other big markets.
“Many of the key terrestrial fibre routes across Asia cross nicely through Thailand, and when you combine that with how receptive it is to business and investment, it’s a natural place for us to grow, and our customers want to be there too,” notes Rigoli.
“We see a strong demand for services such as artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing. We have formed a partnership with B.Grimm Power to develop a flagship data centre campus of up to 100 megawatts (MW) of IT load, with the first phase expected by late 2026.”
Moreover, the company is excited about its third data centre project in Seoul known as SEL3 which, when combined with the adjacent SEL2, will result in a total capacity of 96MW – making it one of the largest campuses in South Korea.
In conjunction with launching the new venture, Digital Edge secured a KRW800 billion green loan, marking another notable success.
HARMONISING GLOBAL EXPERTISE WITH LOCAL INSIGHT
Digital Edge has successfully managed to balance the application of global best practices with the specific needs of Indonesia’s digital infrastructure by fostering a multicultural team and collaboration across multiple regions.
For the past 18 months, alongside his role at Digital Edge, Rigoli has also been overseeing Indonet, a pioneer in digital infrastructure services, as CEO.
Indonet was acquired by Digital Edge in 2021 to support the growth of the digital economy in Indonesia.
Rigoli feels proud of his multiethnic and multijurisdictional team due to their strong collaboration in terms of technology.
“As one of the founders, one of the key goals was to create a diverse workforce that combines expertise from various backgrounds. This diversity proves invaluable, especially in navigating the complexities of doing business in the area.”
Leveraging the different skills and various talents of each individual is essential to Digital Edge, as it not only cultivates a vibrant and inclusive workplace but also enhances teamwork and innovation.
This approach creates a dynamic environment where manifold perspectives thrive and contribute to the company’s collective success.
“We have some extremely experienced regional teams that focus on the design and engineering of new data centres and maintain relationships with leading global vendors, which is crucial for ensuring high-quality standards. We pair with the local team that knows how to obtain permits, manage a local construction team, and handle negotiations,” he enlightens.
This is an excellent demonstration of the collaboration and international best practices Digital Edge has become known for, exemplifying how effective pairing local knowledge and capabilities can be.
“From the sales perspective, there is also strong collaboration between teams in China and Singapore that work with major customers looking to expand into different countries. Then, the local sales team takes over in Indonesia, ensuring a seamless experience for visiting clients by providing a comprehensive tour and necessary local insights,” Rigoli explains.
These strategies illustrate how Digital Edge harmonises its global expertise with local understanding to meet the unique demands of the Indonesian market.
EMBRACING DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION
The Indonesian market plays a crucial role in Digital Edge’s overall strategy for the Asia Pacific (APAC) region.
“I’ve been visiting the country for the past decade, and one of the most notable things is the large and youthful population of nearly 280 million people, which has readily embraced technology,” Rigoli reflects.
“Enthusiasm for digital devices is evident in everyday life as many young people engage in activities such as e-banking, e-commerce, and taking photos and posting them on social media. The vibrant atmosphere is particularly conspicuous during weekend visits to grocery stores, where young people are capturing and sharing moments online.”
All this activity is an excellent driver for Indonet’s three business key pillars – data centres, network services, and cloud services.
“With the necessary telecommunication company (telco) licenses, Indonet can provide essential telco services that support our growth. It was always my intention to make Indonesia one of the foundations of Digital Edge,” he shares.
This is an element of Rigoli’s vision for digital expansion that highlights the commitment and excitement about the future prospects in this dynamic market.
“It was part of my dream when I started the company, and I am very proud of what we’ve accomplished so far,” he adds.
A STRATEGIC FOCUS
Concentrating on three key business pillars, with a particular emphasis on the development of its data centre cornerstone, Digital Edge is enhancing its infrastructure and capabilities in an ever-evolving digital landscape.
There are currently two data centres in Indonesia – EDGE1, which is several years old and nearing full capacity, and the newer EDGE2, launched in June last year with a capacity of 23MW.
“EDGE2 has exceeded performance expectations, particularly with significant adoption from cloud, AI, and content delivery network (CDN) providers.
“This positive traction is prompting plans for further expansion, including acquiring more land in both downtown areas and larger campuses. The goal is to grow Digital Edge’s data centre footprint in Indonesia,” outlines Rigoli.
In terms of networking, the company recently undertook a substantial upgrade to Indonet’s infrastructure, which has been operating for 30 years.
“Our focus has primarily been on the network side in metropolitan Jakarta, and we plan to continue this strategy. We want to provide the best fibre connectivity here whilst also considering adjacent areas, concentrating on data centre-to-data centre connectivity,” he confirms.
“There are dozens of data centres around Jakarta, and our aim is to offer the best possible fibre connections between these sites, but if opportunities arise to connect with industrial estates, residential towers, or commercial buildings along the way, we will seize them. Last year, we initiated a significant upgrade that nearly tripled our capacity.”
Digital Edge has increased fibre route coverage almost threefold and boosted the density of fibre strands along these routes tenfold, which has significantly improved both its geographic reach and infrastructure.
In addition, advances in technology have led to the preference for buried fibre installations over aerial options. This choice enhances security, reduces the potential for interruptions, and instils greater confidence in customers.
Furthermore, Indonet has been partnered with Alibaba Cloud for nearly five years, during which time it has received recognition and awards as the largest cloud reseller in the region.
“Recently, we expanded our portfolio by adding another newly-launched cloud provider, BytePlus, to offer customers more options and flexibility in the market. I meet with both parties regularly, and we are proud to be offering both these services,” Rigoli notes.
“On the network side, we have established significant partnerships with industrial estates, but Alibaba Cloud has been a long-standing collaborator, with ongoing efforts to help them penetrate new markets and verticals.”
The partnership with BytePlus represents a recent initiative aimed at expanding the company’s presence in the market.
ENERGY EFFICIENCY INITIATIVES
Dedicated to integrating renewable energy with advanced data centre technology to foster a sustainable digital ecosystem, Digital Edge aims to achieve 100 percent renewable energy usage by 2030, particularly in Indonesia, where both of its data centres are already powered entirely by renewable sources.
Recognising the challenges of sourcing renewable energy in Asia, the company has formed a partnership with Peak Energy to optimise access to these resources across different countries. Together, they will collaboratively develop an initial pipeline of 500MW of renewable energy capacity over three years.
Peak Energy specialises in solar, wind, and storage technologies, focusing on markets where Digital Edge has existing installations, including Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, India, and the Philippines.
The partnership aims to enhance renewable energy usage and support decarbonisation efforts in the APAC region, generating 1,300 gigawatt hours (GWh) annually, equivalent to removing 216,000 cars from the road.
“A critical aspect of our operations is reducing power usage effectiveness (PUE) – a key metric that measures energy efficiency in data centres,” Rigoli details.
“PUE compares the total energy consumption of a data centre to its IT load. For instance, a 23MW data centre in the region typically has an average PUE of around 1.5 to 1.6, meaning that for every 1MW of IT load, an additional 0.5 to 0.6MW is required to support cooling, lighting, and other infrastructure,” he elaborates.
Digital Edge’s newest facilities are designed to achieve PUEs as low as 1.2. To achieve this target, Digital Edge invests in high-quality, energy-efficient equipment with the latest technology, even if it means higher initial capital expenditure.
This not only aligns with the company’s commitment to sustainability but also appeals to clients and large AI and cloud companies that are increasingly scrutinising energy costs.
“Our commitment to renewable energy, coupled with a focus on improving energy efficiency, propels our mission towards a more sustainable future in the digital landscape,” he highlights.
“I believe that maintaining strong relationships with our partners is vital, and I am dedicated to identifying tactical improvements to enhance our efficiency in collaborations”
Andy Rigoli, Chief Business Operations Officer, Digital Edge DC
EMPOWERING THE FUTURE
As CEO of Indonet, Rigoli’s primary objectives for the coming year revolve around enhancing key partnerships, expanding network infrastructure, and nurturing the development of the team.
“I believe that maintaining strong relationships with our partners is vital, and I am dedicated to identifying tactical improvements to enhance our efficiency in collaborations,” he states assuredly.
“A significant focus is also on advancing our major projects, including network upgrades and the establishment of new data centres. However, my greatest commitment lies in fostering our company culture and mentoring our nearly 300 employees in Indonesia. I recognise that our team is what truly differentiates us, and I take pride in cultivating a talented workforce.”
It is crucial to Rigoli that he invests time in connecting with employees and understanding their unique motivations – whether they prioritise career growth, family, education, or community.
Rigoli is eager to share his expertise with younger team members to prepare them for the future. Building a strong team is essential, and he prioritises retaining talent to ensure that the company has the best team in the country.
“As we grow towards a multicultural company of close to 600 employees overall, I remain committed to ensuring their families are cared for and that our workplace is a welcoming and enriching space.
“My focus for the year ahead is clear – to invest in our people and create the next generation of leaders within the organisation,” Rigoli fervently concludes.
Digital Edge is not only expanding its geographical footprint but also enhancing its operational excellence.
As the company navigates the evolving landscape of the data centre industry, its commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive workforce remains a cornerstone of its strategy. This multifaceted approach positions it to meet the demands of a rapidly changing market and remain at the forefront of innovation and service delivery.
With exciting projects on the horizon and a renewed leadership vision, Digital Edge is poised to embrace new challenges and opportunities, making it an exciting time for both the company and its customers.
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