Credit: Dreamstime
Optus has partnered up with data centre and cloud services provider, iseek Communications, and Schneider Electric to build a new Category 5 Cyclone-rated data centre in far north Queensland.
Townsville City Council collaborated with James Cook University (JCU) in 2016 to source a provider to build the proposed site, dubbed, North Queensland Regional Data Centre (NQRDC), signing on as anchor tenants.
James Cook University and Townsville City Council subsequently settled on the iseek Communications-led consortium for the new Tier-3 managed data centre project.
“iseek, in collaboration with Optus and Schneider, is really pleased to have the opportunity to work together on this project,” iseek Communications CEO, Jason Gomersall, said.
“Townsville City Council has ambitious plans for growth and regional development in North Queensland, with James Cook University’s requirements for increased cloud storage facilities being a primary driver for their collaboration in getting this project underway.
“Additionally, the NQRDC is a boost to regional infrastructure, and it will help attract future business investment and promote more job opportunities,” he said.
Built to a Category 5 Cyclone rating, the new data centre is expected to provide a stable, secure environment for critical infrastructure for local and state government, government agencies, enterprises and local businesses operating in North Queensland.
The new data centre is expected to be completed in 2019 when the facility it is replacing reaches end of life.
The deal comes roughly five months after consortium member, Schneider Electric, and Telstra announced they would partner up with building and engineering firm, FKG Group, to establish a new $40 million data centre in Toowoomba.
The company claimed at the time that its Pulse Data Centre, which is being nestled in Queensland’s Darling Downs region, will be the first regional Tier 3 data centre in Australia. It is planned to open in early 2018.
Telstra is FKG Group’s IT partner in the project, with the telco’s investment in its regional network helping to bring capability for the Pulse Data Centre and its customers.
