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Italy’s Data Centre Investments Set to Surge to €10 Billion by 2025-26

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Italy’s data centre investments are projected to reach €10 billion ($10.3 billion) in the 2025-2026 period, marking a substantial increase from the previous two years. This growth is driven by major technology firms eager to expand their cloud infrastructure to meet rising demand, particularly fueled by artificial intelligence (AI). According to a report from Milan Polytechnic University’s research hub, these investments will play a crucial role in boosting Italy’s technological capabilities.

However, the country faces challenges in accommodating this surge in investment. The report highlights potential bottlenecks in the power grid and the high cost of energy, which could impede the expansion of data centres. As large cloud developers, such as Microsoft and Amazon Web Services (AWS), ramp up their spending plans, access to affordable and reliable energy is becoming increasingly critical.

For context, Microsoft announced a €4.3 billion investment in Italy’s cloud network last year, while AWS committed to a €1.2 billion investment over five years. Despite these positive developments, concerns persist about the sustainability of the Italian electricity grid and its ability to support the growing demand for energy-intensive data centres. Marina Natalucci, director of the research hub, emphasized the need to address these energy supply challenges as Italy attracts more investments from global tech giants.

 

TSMC Reports 54% Profit Surge Amid AI Boom, Beating Expectations

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Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), the world’s largest contract chipmaker, announced on Thursday a significant 54% increase in net profit for the third quarter, largely driven by rising demand for AI-related applications. The company posted a net income of 352.3 billion Taiwanese dollars (approximately $10.1 billion) for the July-September period, surpassing an estimated 300.2 billion Taiwanese dollars, according to LSEG data.

TSMC, which counts major technology companies such as Apple and Nvidia among its clients, saw its net revenue climb to $23.5 billion in the third quarter, marking a 36% year-on-year increase. The company’s gross margin also improved, rising to 57.8%, compared to 54.3% in the same period the previous year.

“Our business was supported by strong smartphone and AI-related demand for our industry-leading 3nm and 5nm technologies,” TSMC stated, reflecting the growing global reliance on advanced semiconductors for AI and mobile applications.

In addition to its impressive profit, TSMC’s shares, listed on the Taipei Stock Exchange, have surged nearly 75% year-to-date, highlighting strong investor confidence in the company’s future growth prospects amid the AI-driven semiconductor boom.

Capital expenditure for TSMC edged slightly higher during the third quarter, reaching $6.4 billion, up from $6.36 billion in the previous three months. This increase reflects the company’s ongoing efforts to expand its production capabilities, especially to meet rising demand from the U.S. market.

In line with its global expansion strategy, TSMC is investing $40 billion to construct two chip plants in Arizona, part of its broader commitment to meet U.S. semiconductor needs. Additionally, the company opened its first manufacturing facility in Japan earlier this year.

TSMC’s positive results contrast with recent news from ASML, a key supplier of chip-making equipment to TSMC, which issued a lower-than-expected sales forecast, sending its shares down. Despite such concerns, the AI boom continues to fuel optimism, though some market watchers question the long-term sustainability of this growth. Notably, Foxconn’s CEO, Young Liu, commented last week that the AI frenzy “still has some time to go,” suggesting that advancements in AI models will continue to drive the demand for cutting-edge semiconductors.