Microsoft planning data center expansion in Asia Pacific

Microsoft has signaled its intention to significantly expand its data center presence in the Asia Pacific (APAC) region, as evidenced by a recent job posting seeking a Datacenter Land Acquisition Manager.

The job description specifies the role’s responsibility in “delivering and pre-positioning real estate to build Microsoft’s cloud infrastructure,” suggesting a strategic effort to improve and enlarge the existing infrastructure across various regional markets.

Notably, the listing emphasizes “strong knowledge of alternative real estate transaction approaches,” potentially hinting at Microsoft’s exploration of unconventional solutions like underwater data centers or high-rise integrations.

Currently, Microsoft operates 20 data center regions across 11 APAC markets, with plans for further expansion. The target countries will likely include Australia, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Taiwan, and India.

Furthermore, Microsoft recently hired Archana “Archie” Manoharan as the Director of Nuclear Technologies to explore small-scale atomic reactors as an alternative energy source for its data centers.

This expansion aligns with the projected growth of the APAC cloud computing market, estimated by Gartner to reach USD 143.7 billion in 2023, representing a 21% increase from the previous year.

Additionally, the expansion is expected to generate new employment opportunities in the region, with the central land acquisition manager position offering a base salary ranging from USD 150,000 to USD 200,000 annually.

More at The Register.