Google to build data center in Hong Kong

By eGov Innovation Editors | Sep 29, 2011

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Google has announced that it is going to build a new data center in Hong Kong that will provide its users in Asia with faster access to Google's services.

The data center will rise in the company's newly acquired 2.7-hectare property in Kowloon.

"More people are coming online every day in Asia than in any other part of the world, so locating data centers here is an important next stage of Google's investment in the region. Google already has 15 offices and thousands of employees across the Asia-Pacific region, including an office in Hong Kong," it said.

While the company did not provide a specific timeline for the completion of the project pending negotiations with local partners and the government, it said the  total investment for the facility will exceed US$100 million and would provide jobs for 5 to 20 people, along with some parttime and full time contractors as computer technicians, mechanical engineers and catering and security staff.

Google also said that the data center will be among the most efficient and environmentally friendly in Asia. It is also planning to build data centers in Taiwan and Singapore.

The government welcomed Google's announcement, saying the global company could Google could Hong Kong's competitive edge to further enhance its business in the region.

"Hong Kong is again chosen by a multinational enterprise for setting up data centre facilities. This reaffirms our status as the prime location for data centres in the region. We will continue to promote our competitive advantages to prospective data centre developers and operators, and encourage them to set up strategic data centres here," Government Chief Information Officer Stephen Mak, said.