Survey reveals positive sentiment towards data centres

New research commissioned by CyrusOne has revealed that public sentiment towards data centres in Europe is largely positive, with significant variations in understanding and attitudes across different markets.

According to the survey, which included responses from over 13,000 individuals across the UK, Ireland, the Netherlands, Spain, Italy, France, and Germany, 93% of people surveyed indicated that they either felt positively (51%) or were neutral (42%) about data centres. However, only 52% correctly understood the purpose of a data centre, indicating a gap in public knowledge about the industry. Furthermore, fewer than half (45%) connected data centres with the digital services they use daily, such as social media and video conferencing tools.

Matt Pullen, EVP and Managing Director Europe at CyrusOne, stated, "Data centres are the backbone of how we live and work today, but the degree to which they support our society is still largely misunderstood by the general public, as our research demonstrates. Misconceptions ultimately lead to mistrust, and this is why developing a sound understanding of public attitudes to data centres is critical to ensure that we can continue to provide state of the art infrastructure for the businesses that depend upon us and deliver meaningful benefits to our host communities. This was our impetus to conduct the survey and why we are sharing the findings so broadly."

The survey also uncovered that public opinion varies significantly from country to country. For instance, only 38% of UK respondents correctly identified what a data centre does, compared to 66% in Germany and 60% in both the Netherlands and Ireland.

Economic benefits appear to play a crucial role in shaping public perception. Two-thirds of respondents (66%) acknowledged that data centres create job opportunities, and 62% recognised their contribution to local economic growth, with numbers higher among those living near a data centre. Emma Fryer, Director of Public Policy, Europe at CyrusOne, highlighted the importance of these findings, saying, "It's clear from the research that public opinion of data centres is more positive than expected and that perhaps the sector is not always presented in a way that accurately portrays how people really perceive the sector. It is therefore really important that we, as developers and operators, listen carefully to people in our host communities, while continuing to educate, identify their needs and act accordingly to deliver meaningful local benefits."

The survey highlighted that 83% of participants who strongly believe in the job opportunities and economic benefits brought by data centres are open to having a data centre in their locality. Additionally, investment in community projects like parks and playgrounds is recognised by 49% of people as a benefit that data centres bring, a figure which rises to 58% for those near such infrastructure.

Despite the positive views, awareness of the potential negative environmental impacts remains significant, with concerns centred around high energy usage (40%), electronic waste (33%), and land usage (30%). Nevertheless, the majority of respondents (83%) indicated a willingness to change their perspective about data centres.

To shift public perception positively, suggestions included increasing local job opportunities (40%) and providing community amenities such as cycle paths and playgrounds (37%). There is also interest in broader economic initiatives, such as promoting local growth (31%) and offering local employment and training opportunities (23%).

The comprehensive survey results, along with market-specific findings and future recommendations, are available for further review in reports titled "Listening to Communities: Understanding Public Perception of Data Centers in Europe and How This Shapes Community Initiatives."