Satellite imagery shows possible delays at Microsoft AI data center partners IREN and Nebius projects

Nov. 5: According to Business Insider, satellite imagery analysis by research firm Aterio shows that IREN's Horizon 4 data center in Texas — built for Microsoft under an agreement worth about $9.7 billion — still lacks backup generators and cooling equipment, creating a risk that it cannot be delivered by year-end; the New Jersey project being developed for Nebius, with about 140 megawatts of planned capacity, may be delayed to 2027. Microsoft's AI-related capital expenditure last quarter came in about $5 billion below expectations, and the company lowered its full-year guidance; its CFO has cited delivery delays by third-party cloud service providers as one of the main reasons. A Microsoft spokesperson said its infrastructure strategy remains flexible, while IREN and DataOne declined to comment.