#San Jose #Open Compute Project #AI Spending #IDC Forecast

Major Increase in IT Infrastructure Spending Forecasted by IDC

In an exciting development for the global technology landscape, the Open Compute Project (OCP) Foundation has announced a substantial increase in IDC's projections for IT infrastructure spending. According to the newly released market impact study for 2026, IDC now anticipates that spending on recognized infrastructure will skyrocket to approximately $800 billion by 2029. This new figure marks an astonishing rise from the previous year's estimate of $295 billion, representing a 2.7-times increase.

This increased spending forecast aligns with the growing investment and widespread adoption of artificial intelligence (AI). IDC expects that by 2030, total expenditures will further escalate to a staggering $892 billion, with recognized OCP infrastructure accounting for around 51% of all expenditures in the measured infrastructure categories. The data underscores a significant trend: the infrastructure sector is becoming increasingly intertwined with advancements in AI technology.

A Shift in Data Center Needs

Cliff Grossner, Ph.D., the Innovation Director at the OCP Foundation, commented on the transformative role of AI in reshaping infrastructure needs. He stated, "AI is changing sector demands for infrastructure, and these results illustrate the growing necessity for open designs to meet this demand." The collaboration among organizations within the OCP community aims to address challenges across the data center landscape, from semiconductors and servers to power supply and cooling systems.

Growth Driven by Artificial Intelligence

IDC reports that spending on OCP-recognized IT infrastructure is expected to more than double from approximately $154 billion in 2025 to $892 billion in 2030. This growth translates to a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 42%. Notably, servers will constitute the largest share of expenditures, driven by systems accelerated by graphics processors, which are increasingly important for heavy computational tasks.

Demand is also projected to rise for various components including switching equipment, storage infrastructure, power supply, and cooling systems, as organizations establish capabilities to manage ever more demanding workloads.

Key Findings from the Study

• - Projected Annual Spending: IDC estimates an annual expense of $800 billion by 2029, a significant jump from earlier estimates.
• - Long-term Growth Forecast: The spending expectation escalates to $892 billion by 2030, with roughly $814 billion attributed to servers.
• - Dominance of OCP Infrastructure: By 2030, recognized OCP infrastructure is predicted to account for 51% of spending in infrastructure categories studied.
• - AI Contribution: In 2030, around $628 billion of expenditures will be connected to AI on OCP infrastructure, making up approximately 70% of the total projected spending.

Evolving Towards Open Innovation

IDC emphasizes that the growing ecosystem of solution providers and the increasing availability of openly shared designs are significant factors contributing to this surge in adoption. The utilization of OCP-recognized IT equipment extends beyond formal membership in the Foundation, with organizations globally leveraging these designs to innovate and enhance their capabilities.

The findings bolster OCP’s vision for open data center ecosystems that address interconnected infrastructure demands from chip level to network. Over the past year, the OCP community has advanced high-power bay structures, liquid cooling technology, and Ethernet-based AI networking, in addition to establishing open specifications for chiplets. Importantly, the Foundation's strategic initiative,