Datacom brings hybrid cloud to North Queensland businesses

Datacom has launched its hybrid cloud services into North Queensland in a bid to target rural and regional businesses.

Datacom’s Hybrid Cloud service will be delivered from the newly built North Queensland Regional Data Centre (NQRDC), using Microsoft Azure Stack, which underpinned by Dell EMC’s VxRail Azure Stack.

NQRDC is the result of a collaboration between Townsville City Council with James Cook University (JCU) in 2016 to source a provider to build the proposed site. In November 2017, Optus 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.

According to Datacom head of Queensland Nick Day, most businesses in the area are more than 2000km from the closest public cloud node, which make it difficult for businesses to attain efficient data and internet services.

“We know that doing business in remote locations can be a big challenge due to latency issues,” Day said.

“The long distances result in longer page loading times for websites and applications, causing frustration and delays for business owners.”

Through providing Datacom’s Azure Stack services in the region, businesses can benefit from faster and responsive tech applications, a ‘mobile first’ customer experience, serverless computing and supporting business agility.

“The benefits provided by hybrid cloud will help businesses in North Queensland to grow more quickly, to be more responsive to the needs of their customers, and to get new products to market faster,” Day said.

“This will support business growth and regional economic development for North Queensland, as well as providing a better service and more reliable connection in the event of natural disaster.”

In August last year Datacom  joined a select group of 32 cloud specialists as recognised Azure Experts in the world.

With Azure revenue growing 93 per cent during the third quarter - and partners driving a “considerable portion” of such growth - Microsoft corporate vice president of One Commercial Partner, Gavriella Schuster, said the initiative allows the channel to demonstrate “proven expertise” to customers within the context of cloud.