Construction Begins On $40m Regional Data Centre

Construction on a massive $40 million data centre in Toowoomba has begun.

FKG's Pulse Data Centre, which would be the first of its kind in regional Australia, will allow companies to store and distribute data at high speeds.

Schneider Electric worked with FKG Group and Telstra to provide expertise for the development of the company’s new Tier 3, 10megawatt regional data centre.

Pulse Data Centre, as it will be known, will be the anchor of a new 29 hectare technology park development which is being built by the FKG Group. The data centre will comprise three separate buildings, each with independent mechanical and electrical infrastructure. Energy efficiency will be a priority of the build, taking advantage of the local climatic conditions with cooling costs minimised through natural airflow and heat dissipation.

To ensure the data centre achieves the highest standard as the region’s most trusted, secure, efficient and innovative data centre and recovery solutions provider, Schneider Electric and the FKG Group have entered into a formal Strategic Alliance Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The MOU gives the FKG Group access to the full range of Schneider Electric products and services, as well as the company’s extensive expertise in designing and developing world-class facilities in Australia and New Zealand.

“Working with Schneider Electric, we have the confidence of the backing of a large, global partner,” Peter Blunt, General Manager, Data Centres, the FKG Group said. “We see this relationship as one which will continue to develop over many years, and that will extend benefits not only to the FKG Group, but also to our customers.”

Andrew Kirker, General Manager, Data Centres, Schneider Electric said the facility would set new benchmarks.

“Pulse will be a state-of-the-art building which will set a new benchmark for efficiency and design within the industry.”

Meanwhile, Telstra has announced acquiring datacentre, cloud, and security services provider Company85 for an undisclosed amount in an effort to expand its technology consulting services into government and enterprise throughout the UK and Europe.

The centre is expected to be complete early 2018.