Digital Realty to construct 10-storey, 13-level data centre in Seoul

Data centre giant enters into South Korea with towering new facility

Digital Realty has entered into a definitive agreement to construct a multi-storey data centre in Seoul.

The facility will be the first that the company has constructed in South Korea and is expected to support 12 MW of capacity.

The data centre will be located in Sangam Media City in northwest Seoul, a newly developed urban planning zone focused on technology and media companies that can boost South Korea’s digital economy.

Construction is projected to commence within the coming months and to be completed in 2021. Upon completion the new facility will span more than 129,000 square feet.

Reaching new heights

The 10-storey facility will be one of the tallest in the region and extend three levels underground.

In September, Facebook announced the construction of an 11-storey facility in Singapore. When fully operational it will be the tallest data centre in the South East. Google operates a five-storey data centre in Singapore, the tallest that the company operates globally.

A spokesperson for Digital Realty told DCD that the bottom level of the company’s new facility will be used as a car park, accessible via a mechanical car stacker, while the other two underground levels will house backup generators.

The company said the new facility will connect to a variety of diverse fibre routes provided by strategic partners.

Digital Realty, already one of the world’s largest developers and operators of data centres, is seeking to expand its APAC presence.

“Our entry into South Korea is an important milestone as we continue to expand our platform across the Asia Pacific region,” said Digital Realty CEO A. William Stein.

“South Korea is incredibly well-positioned as a digital hub and centre for innovation within the region, given the growing global demand for big data, mobile services and connected devices.  Our investment in Korea demonstrates our commitment to powering our customers’ digital ambitions across a truly global platform.”

The planned facility will be tall, but far from the world’s tallest. That accolade goes to Manhattan data centre in New York, that towers proudly at 32 floors.