Google Boosts Investment in Singapore with New Data Centre
Singapore – Google has announced its increased investment in infrastructure in Singapore, reaching a total of US$5 billion ($6.7 billion) with the completion of its fourth data centre in the country. This marks a significant increase from the US$850 million (S$1.1 billion) invested in 2022 for its third data centre.
The announcement was made on June 3 during an event at Google’s office in Mapletree Business City II in Pasir Panjang. More than 500 employees now work in Google data centres in Singapore, where they power popular digital services such as the search engine and Google Maps.
While specific details about the new facility were not disclosed, Singapore is one of 11 countries where Google operates data centres. The company’s first data centre in Singapore was launched in 2014, followed by a second centre in 2015. All of Google’s data centres in Singapore are located in Jurong West.
On May 30, Google revealed plans to invest US$2 billion in Malaysia to develop its first data centre in the country. Senior Minister of State for Communications and Information Janil Puthucheary emphasized the importance of sustainable growth in data centre capacity to support technological advancements like artificial intelligence (AI) and autonomous systems.
In line with this, Singapore recently launched the Green Data Centre Roadmap, aiming to add 300MW of data centre capacity in the coming years, with a focus on utilizing green energy options. The roadmap also includes strategies to improve energy efficiency and reduce the sector’s environmental impact.
Google highlighted the sustainability features of its data centres in Singapore, including the use of recycled water for cooling and innovative networking methods that reduce energy consumption. These initiatives are crucial in a tropical climate like Singapore’s, where efficient cooling measures are essential.
Mr. Ken Siah, the Asia-Pacific head of public affairs for Google data centres, emphasized the company’s commitment to sustainable growth, stating that collaboration with the ecosystem and technological innovation are key to meeting the increasing demand for data centre capacity, especially for AI applications.
