Only 52% of Brits know what a data center is

New research from Telehouse found that only 52% of Brits are aware of the term data center, up from 40% in 2024. However, 59% remain unsure about what a data center is or what it does.

Data centers were designated as Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) in the UK, but public views of their impact have worsened. Only 37% of British citizens now see them as having a positive impact on the digital services they use at home and at work, down from 48% two years ago. Meanwhile, negative perceptions rose from 4% to 15% over the same period.

Energy use is a major concern: 56% of respondents said they were worried about the amount of electricity data center campuses consume.

Mark Pestridge, EVP and GM for Telehouse Europe, said the industry should work more closely with the public and communities, improve transparency and explain the value enabled by data centers. When the UK designated data centers as CNI, then-Technology Secretary Peter Kyle called them “the engines of modern life.” Pestridge said the next objective is helping people understand why data centers matter and how they support everyday life.