Industry growth limited by supply issues

The data center industry could double its construction pace if supply conditions allowed, but shortages of components and energy are slowing the process. This was stated by the CEO of Nokia on October 5, 2026.

Nokia’s AI sales surge

Nokia, a Finnish company, does not manufacture chips but produces network equipment that connects servers. Its sales related to artificial intelligence (AI) doubled in the second quarter of 2026, reaching 446 million euros.

Sustained demand for data centers

According to The Next Web, Justin Hotard estimates that the demand for data center infrastructure would continue even without a new AI model for three years. The cost is already measured in thousands of billions of dollars.

Memory and energy constraints

Memory and energy are the two main constraints for data centers. In Germany, the price of DDR5, a type of computer memory, has risen by 414% in twelve months. Servers intended for data centers are facing this pressure intensely.

Strain on manufacturers

Manufacturers struggle to meet the needs of the general public and the AI infrastructure. A large data center consumes as much electricity as an average city, and available capacity does not keep up. Projects continue to accumulate despite this constraint.

Delays in U.S. projects

In the United States, these tensions have blocked or delayed 68 billion dollars of projects in the first quarter of 2026. New York froze major construction projects in July, a first for a U.S. state.

Massive investment in data centers

Investment in data centers in the United States would reach 10,300 billion dollars between 2025 and 2032. This amount would represent 3.63% of the U.S. GDP each year. No project had mobilized such a portion of the economy since the construction of railroads or the electrification of the country.