At the annual Kursiv Forum, the Akashi Data Center team joined a discussion on the future of digital infrastructure in Central Asia. As the global data center market undergoes structural transformation, Kazakhstan is for the first time being treated as a genuine alternative to traditional hubs — Frankfurt, Amsterdam, and Dubai.
A geographic shift
Attacks on Middle Eastern infrastructure and years-long connection queues at European hubs have raised a pointed question: where should the next generation of data centers go? Kazakhstan answers several key criteria simultaneously — a stable jurisdiction, affordable energy, and an absence of geopolitical risk.
Numbers that speak for themselves
Pre-orders for Akashi’s first module exceeded 103% before the facility had even launched. Requests are arriving in dozens of megawatts from international cloud providers, financial institutions, and AI companies. This is more than a commercial win: it is a signal that the market recognizes Kazakhstan as a jurisdiction worthy of serious investment.
The outlook
Global data center energy consumption is forecast to grow by more than 160% by 2030. The window of opportunity for Kazakhstan is open right now — while competing regions are busy dealing with energy shortfalls and geopolitical risks.
Watch the full presentation: Kursiv Forum recording