Microsoft to launch data center region in Indonesia
Microsoft is creating a brand new data center region in Indonesia, which it hopes will help to boost the country's digital growth, and provide skills opportunities for three million Indonesians.
The Microsoft Berdayakan Ekonomi Digital Indonesia initiative aims to deliver local and trusted cloud services to Indonesia, meaning that citizens can leverage Microsoft's expertise in data security, storage, and privacy.
The data center region will include Azure Availability Zones, which are physical locations with power, network and cooling capabilities able to support operations in the vent of data center failures.
Businesses will be able to access Microsoft Azure at launch, which enables anyone to invent with purpose using cloud services and capabilities that span computing, networking, databases, analytics, artificial intelligence, and Internet of Things (IoT).
According to IDC, Microsoft's investment in Indonesia could generate US$6.3 billion in new revenues and create 60,000 jobs in the local economy.
Microsoft Indonesia president director Haris Izmee says that the company has more than 150 employees and 7000 partners across Indonesia's 17,000 islands.
The Berdayakan Ekonomi Digital Indonesia initiative also aims to 'empower' more than 24 million Indonesians by the end of 2021 by training in areas including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and data science through a digital literacy curriculum.
"Microsoft's investment to establish local data centers, digital skilling and collaboration with the Government of Indonesia will support local innovation, economic recovery, and digital transformation," comments Indonesia Minister of Communication and Information, Johnny G. Plate.
Plate adds that the local data center region will also benefit government, businesses, and people across all sectors - and Microsoft's commitment to nurturing digital talent is also welcomed.
Microsoft's executive vice president and president global sales, marketing and operations, Jean-Philippe Courtois, adds that Microsoft has been supporting Indonesia for 26 years.
"From eCommerce to agriculture, Indonesian businesses across all sectors are gaining a digital advantage with the agility, security and scale offered by Microsoft's cloud services.
"With a local data center region, businesses will have faster access to cloud services and the ability for data to be stored in country. To ensure everyone can take advantage of the digital opportunities ahead, we will continue to support digital skilling, with a new program that will reach over 24 million Indonesians by the end of 2021.
Microsoft states that the Indonesia data center region will support its sustainability goals, such as its shift to 100% supply of renewable energy in Microsoft data centers by 2025.
