Microsoft's three Belgian data centres to come online this autumn
Microsoft's three data centres in Belgium will be operational from the autumn, the technology company has announced. The data centres are designed to give businesses and governments in the country access to local cloud infrastructure.
Microsoft announced in 2021 that it would build three data centres in Belgium. The three centres will be near Brussels, but their exact locations have not been disclosed for security reasons. On Wednesday, Microsoft announced that the three centres were ready and would be operational from autumn this year.
According to the company, the data centres should give Belgian businesses and governments access to fast, secure and scalable cloud services with local data storage and advanced AI solutions.
"Whether it is AI-driven innovation, secure data storage or advanced analytics, our local cloud services will be the foundation for the next wave of digital transformation in Belgium," said Ron Pooters, director of the Microsoft Innovation Hub in Brussels.
Digital AmBEtion
In 2021, market research firm IDC calculated that the data centres would generate up to 31.5 billion euros in new revenue and create around 60,000 additional jobs. These are jobs within Microsoft's "ecosystem": the companies and institutions that use the technology company's services.
The investment is part of Microsoft's multi-year investment plan called Digital AmBEtion. The plan aims to provide world-class digital infrastructure, help citizens develop digital skills and create sustainable social impact, the company says.
Microsoft is not the only tech giant with data centres in Belgium. Last year, Google announced that it would build a new data centre in Farciennes and expand its data centre in Saint-Ghislain, representing an investment of 1 billion euros.
© PHOTO OVHCLOUD / AFP
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