A recent survey of senior data center decision-makers in the UK has revealed that challenges related to cabling and the need for immediate upgrades after deployment are slowing down the country's data center expansion. These issues are particularly problematic as the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) is increasing the demands on data center infrastructure, often requiring upgrades even before the facilities are fully operational. According to a survey by Onnec, a specialist in data center infrastructure, UK data centers are facing difficulties in managing cabling, latency, and the fast-evolving needs of AI systems. More than three-quarters (77%) of data center operators reported encountering major bottlenecks in sourcing the cabling needed to support AI workloads. Additionally, 72% said that the rush to adopt AI is creating cabling issues that could take years to resolve. Around 37% of operators also reported experiencing latency or bottleneck issues specifically during AI training processes. The situation is further complicated by the rapid advancement of AI technology. Sixty-five percent of operators noted that AI capacity in their data centers is increasing quickly, while 83% said that by the time their hardware is up and running, AI requirements have already evolved, necessitating almost immediate upgrades. This creates additional challenges with cabling bottlenecks, as 33% of operators are unable to scale their data centers without significant cabling work. In some instances, inadequate cabling planning has led to project delays and increased costs. Nearly half (44%) of the operators reported that insufficient planning for cabling had caused these issues. Matt Salter, Global Head of Data Centres at Onnec, explained that while attention is often focused on securing power and graphics processing units (GPUs) for AI, the network that connects this hardware is frequently finalized only after other decisions have been made. This can lead to tight rack layouts and limited flexibility, making it difficult to implement necessary upgrades. Salter emphasized the importance of incorporating cabling planning into the early stages of design to ensure data centers can handle future demands without costly mid-term modifications.