Microsoft Corp. has announced that it is planning to open a new cloud data center in Taiwan.
The announcement also said the company will make a large scale and “significant investment” in the country’s human resources by helping to expand the ‘digital skills’ of almost quarter of a million people in the next four years.
Reports now indicate that the new Microsoft cloud data center region will serve as host to the company’s Azure cloud services in addition to the newer Microsoft 365 when released.
Dynamics 365, and Power Platform services are reported to be options to be added after the initial launch of the facility.
The site, at a currently undisclosed location, although sources indicate it will likely be in Hsinchu City to the south west of the capital Taipei, will also be run using only renewable energy by 2025, as part of Microsoft’s wider aim at being entirely carbon-negative by the end of the decade.
Microsoft is already known to be working with major Taiwanese firms Acer Inc., Chunghwa Telecom Co. Ltd., (CHT) and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) in addition to Trend Micro Inc. to this end.
Local Microsoft Taiwan general manager, Ken Sun said of the announcement “Providing access to scalable, low-latency and secure cloud services will equip Taiwan’s public and private sectors with the latest AI and IoT technologies, while meeting the highest cybersecurity, data residency and compliance standards. Microsoft is committed to fueling innovation and economic growth in Taiwan as it transforms into the next Asian technology hub.”
Speaking of the company’s training programme to equip over 200,000 locals with increased “digital skillsets” by 2024, Microsoft’s executive vice president and president of global sales, marketing and operations, Jean-Philippe Courtois said “With Taiwan’s expertise in hardware manufacturing and the new data center region, we look forward to greater transformation, advancing what is possible with 5G, AI, and IoT capabilities spanning the intelligent cloud and intelligent edge.”
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