Facebook will build its first data centre in Asia, costing over USD 1 billion, as reported by the ‘StraitTimes’.
To be located in Tanjong Kling, Singapore, Facebook states that “hundreds of jobs” will be created to strengthen Facebook’s growing presence in Singapore and the region.
The centre is scheduled to begin operations in 2022, with the additional construction continuing in the years to follow.
When complete, the 170,000 square meters 11-storey building will feature a facade made of a perforated lightweight material that allows air flow through the building, providing a glimpse into the mechanical world inside.
At the launch event on Thursday, Thomas Furlong, Vice-President of Infrastructure Data Centres at Facebook, stated that Singapore was chosen as a location for its robust infrastructure, access to fibre, a talented local workforce, and enthusiastic support from government agencies including Economic Development Board of Singapore and the JTC Corporation.
According to Mr Furlong, Facebook has some 1,000 employees in Singapore and boasts programmes to help local start-ups grow their businesses and promote media literacy.
"We expect the new facility, like all our data centres, to be powered by 100% renewable energy, and we are currently working to increase the development of new solar resources in Singapore," Facebook said.
Facebook's new data centre in Singapore is said to be the first to incorporate the new StatePoint Liquid Cooling system, a technology that minimises water and power consumption and reduces by 20 per cent the amount of peak water used in climates like Singapore's.
Fortis Construction has been contracted for the project.
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