Connectivity technology specialists Clearfield Inc. (NASDAQ:CLFD) says that it has collaborated with business communications services provider Utility Telecom to bring a fiber connection to a barge-mounted data center in the Port of Stockton, CA. Nautilus Data Technologies owns and operates the data center, which uses the company’s patented zero-impact water cooling system to leverage the San Joaquin River for water cooling purposes.
Nautilus Data Technologies asserts their cooling approach enables high-density compute at 1.15 PUE or less with a 30% reduction in energy-related CO2 and air pollution. Despite floating on the water, the cooling system doesn’t consume water, produce wastewater, or use refrigerants and chemicals, the company asserts.
“We are changing the dynamics of the data center industry by factoring sustainability and impact as equal value to the compute environment, resiliency, and scale,” said Ashley Sturm, vice president of marketing at Nautilus Data Technologies. “The team at Clearfield and Utility Telecom helped design a network to meet specific needs so we can maximize the opportunity for our company and clients.”
The 10,000-square-foot, 7-MW, carrier-neutral data center is now connected to an 18-mile redundant high-count fiber ring from Utility Telecom that links the facility to a local carrier hotel. However, creating that connection posed a few challenges because of its unusual setup, Clearfield points out. For example, the data center’s barge configuration offered limited access and a paucity of traditional telecommunication demarcation connection points.
Nevertheless, Utility Telecom and Clearfield managed to get the barge online, using elements of Clearfield’s portfolio of Clearview cassettes, FieldShield Drop Assemblies, terminals, cabinets, frames, and enclosures.
“Utility Telecom and Clearfield have been working together for several years, and this project was the natural extension of an already strong partnership,” said Bill Wilde, director of sales engineering at Utility Telecom. “We want to bring our customers the best options to ensure they can succeed and connect as needed to support their business, and Clearfield helped us design and deploy just what Nautilus Data Technologies required.”
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