Demand for artificial intelligence (AI)-ready data center capacity continues to accelerate across Europe, with emerging AI infrastructure providers, often referred to as neoclouds, securing record levels of capacity as they expand to meet growing AI compute requirements.
According to new research from CBRE, signings for AI-focused colocation capacity reached 420 megawatts in the first half of 2026, up from 89 megawatts compared to the same period in 2025. Two-thirds of the contracted capacity (66 percent) is set to be delivered by data center operators to neoclouds in the Nordic region, taking advantage of their low cost and plentiful supply of renewable power.
The rapid increase in AI-related capacity signings reflects growing confidence among data center operators and investors in the neocloud sector. Data center providers are finding ways to satisfy their funding criteria with the neoclouds, a trend that CBRE expects will mark a significant shift in the investment c
