Equinix Builds Sixth Data Centre in Singapore with US$260 Million Investment
Equinix, a NASDAQ-listed data centre operator, is building its sixth data centre in Singapore with an initial investment of US$260 million. The new data centre, named SG6, is expected to open in the first quarter of 2027 and will provide 20 megawatts (MW) of capacity when fully built.
Features and Benefits
The nine-storey data centre will be added to Equinix’s global network of interconnected data centres, providing low-latency, high-bandwidth connections that enable efficient workflows across different geographic locations. The facility will be designed with sustainable features, including liquid-cooling capabilities that can effectively cool high-power applications.
Singapore’s Data Centre Strategy
Singapore aims to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) to drive innovation and economic growth, and to be a global pioneer in launching an AI governance framework. The country has made significant investments in technologies that require substantial computing power and data-processing resources, such as quantum technology, blockchain, and edge computing.
The government has also made it clear that data centres will play a crucial role in supporting the country’s Smart Nation 2.0 efforts. Aileen Chia, deputy chief executive of connectivity development and regulation at the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), said, “As we sustain the momentum of Singapore’s digital economy, which today contributes almost 18 per cent to Singapore’s gross domestic product, data centres are a foundational digital infrastructure supporting our Smart Nation 2.0 efforts.”
Challenges and Opportunities
However, this growth must be balanced against Singapore’s climate goals as data centres are energy-intensive facilities requiring vast amounts of energy to cool. As a regional data centre hub, Singapore has one of the world’s densest data centre capacities, with plans to increase capacity by 300 MW over the next few years.
Sustainable Features and Green Initiatives
The new data centre will be designed with sustainable features, such as liquid-cooling capabilities, which can effectively cool high-power applications. These features can support compute-intensive work, including AI needs. Additionally, Equinix has committed to use green energy options, and the government has launched a Green Data Centre Roadmap to guide the sustainable growth of data centres and improve their energy efficiency.
Conclusion
The construction of Equinix’s sixth data centre in Singapore is a welcome investment that aligns with the country’s data centre strategy and green initiatives. As compute-intensive workloads continue to grow, the demand for capacity will also rise, and Singapore’s data centre industry is poised to meet this demand.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the initial investment for the new data centre?
A: The initial investment is US$260 million.
Q: What is the expected capacity of the new data centre?
A: The new data centre will provide 20 megawatts (MW) of capacity when fully built.
Q: When is the expected opening date for the new data centre?
A: The new data centre is expected to open in the first quarter of 2027.
Q: What sustainable features will the new data centre have?
A: The new data centre will be designed with liquid-cooling capabilities, which can effectively cool high-power applications.
Q: How does the new data centre align with Singapore’s data centre strategy and green initiatives?
A: The construction of the new data centre aligns with Singapore’s data centre strategy and green initiatives, including the use of green energy options and the launch of a Green Data Centre Roadmap.
