Eastern Europe
Deployable Edge Data Center for International Mission in Eastern Europe
ISO-width modular cluster delivering 40 kW across four racks for a temporary security mission, built to Tier III principles and redeployable at mission end.
Book a 30-min call
Context
In 2017, an international security mission operating in Ukraine needed a reliable IT backbone to support time‑boxed operations. Leadership required high availability and concurrent maintainability but expected to remain in‑country only 3–5 years – making building renovations or permanent plant economically unsound.
At a glance
Use case
Secure, temporary edge compute adjacent to HQ offices
Transport & siting
ISO‑width (road‑legal – no oversize permits).
Outcome
Enterprise-grade resilience designed to meet Tier III principles without permanent civil works; fully redeployable at end of mission
Why modular
Avoids stranded CAPEX in leased buildings; predictable scope, faster stand‑up vs. brick‑and‑mortar; re‑usable asset
Customer
International security mission, Eastern Europe (anonymized)
Time‑to‑deploy
~5 months from requirements capture to handover
IT capacity
Up to 40 kW across four racks
Challenges
Temporary footprint
Infrastructure had to be non‑permanent and redeployable.
Urban deployment
Installation site was adjacent to rented office space in a dense city environment.
Regulatory constraints
Transport had to comply with road regulations.
Business continuity
Mission‑critical IT workloads demanded concurrent‑maintainable power/cooling, fire suppression, and access control.
Solution
ModulEdge delivered a Type S modular data center as a cluster of ISO‑standard modules. Each unit stayed within 2,438 mm (8‑ft) ISO width, enabling standard road transport.
The cluster was placed beside the rented office to minimize latency, integrate with the existing security perimeter, and simplify facilities access.
Key features
— IT capacity
Up to 40 kW across four racks (3× 42U 600 mm server + 1× 42U 800 mm telecom rack)
— Power
Modular UPS with ~10‑minute battery autonomy; 2N power distribution for concurrent maintainability.
— Site flexibility
Can be installed on unprepared sites; compatible with protective measures (e.g., Hesco barriers, below‑grade placements) where security policy requires.
— Deployability
Modules designed and documented for disassembly, road transport, and re‑installation in a new host country at mission end.
— Safety & security
Automatic clean‑agent fire suppression; CCTV and role‑based access control integrated with the mission’s security stack.
— Deployability
Modules designed and documented for disassembly, road transport, and re‑installation in a new host country at mission end.
— Operations & monitoring
Integrated alarms and environmental monitoring for remote oversight by the mission IT team.
Custom engineering
Dock‑on corridor module
The cold‑aisle walkway ships detached to keep each unit within the ISO road‑legal 2,438 mm width. On site, it docks to the IT module to provide full hot/cold containment and ergonomic clearances, while preserving standard‑cargo logistics during transport.
MEP quick‑connects
Pre‑engineered mechanical/electrical couplers enable safe, fast mating/demating of the corridor without field fabrication.
Urban logistics ready
The split design and custom sizes reduces permit/escort requirements and allows navigation through dense city streets and under standard overpasses – supporting low‑visibility redeployments.
UIP/know‑how
The docking‑corridor approach is patented, reflecting long‑running local engineering for constrained‑route transport.
Results
Capital efficiency
Avoided sunk CAPEX in leased building infrastructure; MDC remains a reusable asset.
Operational assurance
Resilience designed to meet Tier 3 principles for security, communications, and logistics workloads.
Lifecycle flexibility
At mission close, MDCs were dismantled and redeployed, preserving donor investment.
Specs snapshot
Racks
3× 42U 600 mm +
1× 42U 800 mm
IT load
up to 40 kW
total (this project)
Cooling
In‑row DX with containment;
humidity control
Power path
2N distribution;
UPS autonomy ~10 minutes
Fire & safety
Clean‑agent fire suppression;
monitoring & alarms
Security/monitoring
CCTV, access control,
audit logging
Business value and fit
Value
Reusable asset that avoids stranded CAPEX; option sets for energy efficiency (where climate permits) to improve PUE while meeting resilience targets.
Ideal for
Leased or short‑term sites; urban deployments with road‑permit sensitivity; missions needing concurrent‑maintainable capacity and a clear exit plan.
Partner lens
ISO width simplifies staging/warehousing/last‑mile; documentation and clean handover artifacts enable fast enablement and first‑line support; scope is bundle‑ready with upstream IT and security stacks.
Not ideal for
Long‑term campuses planning high‑density AI training clusters (120–150 kW/rack) or very large estates where traditional data halls are more economical.
FAQ
What is a modular data center?
A modular data center (MDC) is a prefabricated, container-based data center that integrates racks, power, cooling, and security systems inside portable enclosures. Unlike traditional on-site construction, a containerized modular data center is factory-built, tested, and shipped ready for installation. ModulEdge designs scalable modular data centers from 5–50 kW per rack with DX, chilled-water, adiabatic, and free-cooling options — engineered for edge and AI workloads where reliability and low latency matter most.
Why consider a modular data center?
A container modular data center enables faster deployment, lower risk, and predictable performance compared to conventional builds. Prefabricated and tested in the factory, these systems minimize site work and allow operators to scale step-by-step as demand grows. Organizations in telecom, industry, energy, and defense choose mobile and containerized data centers to place compute closer to operations, improve resilience, and maintain on-prem control of sensitive workloads. ModulEdge’s portable modular data center solutions combine EU engineering with ruggedized designs for harsh conditions.
How are modular data centers different from traditional data centers?
Traditional data centers are built on-site, requiring long construction cycles and multiple contractors. A prefabricated modular data center is built in controlled factory conditions, integrating power, cooling, fire suppression, and monitoring systems before shipment. This approach cuts deployment from years to months, ensures quality through FAT/SAT testing, and allows redeployment when operations move. ModulEdge’s containerized data center infrastructure offers the same Tier III/IV design principles as conventional facilities — with faster rollout, lower cost, and modular scalability.
Are you Tier III certified?
Our modules are designed to meet Tier I - IV principles. Certification applies to a specific site and build; we support auditor engagement for deployments that pursue certification.
Do you support AI training clusters?
No. We position for edge AI inference at ≥40 kW per rack. Training‑class densities (≈120–150 kW/rack) are not feasible in this form factor.
What’s the typical lead time?
Custom builds: 3–6 months. Commissioning depends on scope and site readiness (power, pad, network). We’ll confirm a schedule during design review.
How do you handle hot or variable climates?
We match DX, chilled‑water, adiabatic, or free‑cooling to your climate and energy costs, targeting predictable efficiency (modeled PUE) and thermal headroom.
Can the modules handle harsh environments?
Yes – dust/sand/humidity hardening, vibration tolerance, and optional EMP shielding are available to maintain uptime in demanding sites.
Will this integrate with our existing monitoring and access control?
Yes. We deliver integrated monitoring and access/CCTV and align interfaces during design review to fit your tooling and security policies.
Can we redeploy modules later?
Yes. Standard 20‑ft and 40‑ft footprints with a redeployable approach; we provide rigging/placement plans and support relocation.
Do you sell direct or via partners?
We’re partner‑first (OEM/whitelabel and system integrators). End‑user projects are delivered with or through partners.