Schneider Electric claims its software-defined medium-voltage switchgear cuts control wiring by 87 percent, terminals by 91 percent, and copper in that wiring by 85 percent — figures now under test at an undisclosed Equinix data center.

The two companies have deployed the technology at one of the colocation operator's sites as part of a pilot program. The system, developed by Schneider Electric, targets a persistent cost and complexity problem in data center electrical distribution: large volumes of specialized cabling and hardware in customized, engineered-to-order medium-voltage installations.

Commercial availability is not imminent. Pilots will continue next year, with broader availability to follow in 2028.

What does software-defined switchgear actually change?

The architecture moves system intelligence out of physical hardware and into software. Schneider Electric describes the approach as one that "decouples system intelligence from physical hardware, creating a new model for designing, deploying and operating electrical infrastructure that can evolve at the same pace as the AI factories and digital services they support."

In practice, the design replaces customized, engineered-to-order systems with modular hardware. That hardware can be standardized and deployed more quickly than conventional switchgear. Capabilities shift from hardware into software, which means customers can add new features and performance improvements without physical modifications to the installed equipment.

According to Schneider, the software-defined configuration enables:

• Faster ordering, manufacturing, and commissioning cycles
• Reduced overall system complexity
• 87 percent less control wiring
• 91 percent fewer terminals
• 85 percent less copper in the wiring

The system also provides digital connectivity and analytics, giving operators greater visibility into electrical infrastructure performance.

Why is Equinix testing it?

The pilot lands as data center operators confront power infrastructure demands driven by AI workloads. Scaling electrical distribution quickly enough has become a constraint on deployment schedules, and engineered-to-order switchgear with long lead times sits directly in that path.

Frédéric Godemel, executive vice president for energy management at Schneider Electric, framed the problem in terms of both pace and resilience. "The challenge facing data center operators today is not just keeping pace with AI growth, but building the resilient, efficient and scalable power infrastructure needed for an increasingly digital world," he said.

Godemel said the medium-voltage architecture addresses that gap directly. "Schneider Electric's software-defined medium voltage architecture brings a new level of flexibility, standardization, and energy intelligence to electrical distribution, helping customers scale their operations more efficiently while preparing for future requirements," he said.

He added: "By combining software, connectivity, and sustainable innovation, we are enabling the next generation of resilient and efficient data centers."

What happens next?

Equinix has not disclosed which site hosts the pilot, and neither company has published deployment scale or measured commissioning-time results from the trial. The wiring, terminal, and copper reductions cited by Schneider come from the software-defined configuration itself rather than from the Equinix deployment.

The pilot phase runs through next year. Broader availability of the system is scheduled for 2028, giving Schneider a runway of further trials before the product reaches the general market.

For colocation operators and hyperscalers building out capacity for AI workloads, the key variables to watch are commissioning timelines in production environments, compatibility with existing distribution architectures, and whether the standardization gains hold at fleet scale. Those questions will only be answered as the pilots continue into next year.