Across all major regions, there is a growing gap between announced data center capacity and projects that reach construction, alongside rising delivery risk in many mature markets, says DC Byte. “Power availability, regulatory frameworks and delivery timelines now exert greater influence over outcomes than headline pipeline size,” according to the firm’s 2026 Global Data Centre Index.

The gap between projects announced and those that actually get built is not driven by a lack of demand, nor by capital considerations. “Instead, projects are increasingly stalling in the middle of the development pipeline,” reports DC Byte.

Power connection delays, extended permitting timelines, grid upgrade requirements and long lead times for critical equipment are preventing many developments from progressing beyond early-stage commitment. “In mature hubs, vacancy rates have fallen below 1%, yet new capacity continues to struggle to move from plan to construction,” DC Byte says.

If these conditions persist, says DC Byte, “headline pipeline figures are likely to remain a poor proxy for near-term deliverable supply in 2026.”

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