China Mobile breaks ground on Hong Kong data centre

China Mobile International (CMI) has begun construction of a new data centre in the Fo Tang area of Sha Tin, New Territories. The facility will be completed in 2025 and is expected to be a multi-story structure comprising 1.1 million sq ft of capacity, with over 9,000 server cabinets. It is also designed to utilize an AI system to improve efficiency across power, water, sustainability, materials and resources. A more efficient design will help with energy usage, reduction of emissions, and a reduction in overall environmental impact.

This data centre, known as the Fo Tan Data Centre, is intended to be a core component of the China Mobile data centre cluster for the Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). CMI will use the new facility as a way to make the GBA a more robust international connectivity hub, supporting enterprise communications across the APAC region and beyond.

The Fo Tan Data Centre will provide direct links to CMI’s existing data centres in the GBA, as well as submarine cables and high-speed cable systems while supporting CMI’s 5G and fibre optic communications networks.

At the groundbreaking ceremony Mrs Carrie Lam, the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) emphasized the importance of data centres in the future of the digital economy and smart city strategies. “The large area of the industrial site signifies the active investment and great confidence of the communications industry, especially from China Mobile, in the development of its Hong Kong’s data centre business. With the support of the country, Hong Kong’s excellent business environment and the participation of our communications industry, I believe that Hong Kong will make significant strides towards the future of both innovation and our communications industry.”

“Thanks to China Mobile for actively expressing opinions and providing strong support to the government’s various innovation, technology and telecommunications policies and measures.”