Microsoft unveils Azure data centre region in Denmark

Microsoft will partner with Danish national utility on renewable energy usage tracker

Microsoft has announced plans to launch its first Azure data centre region in Denmark, after taking the wraps off similar expansions in Norway and Sweden.

The tech giant’s new region will be 100 percent powered by renewables, and a partnership with Denmark’s national utility will work to track and match renewable energy and provide customers more transparency on IT-related carbon footprints.

Microsoft said alongside its green credentials the new region will provide Danish customers of all sizes faster access to the Azure, advanced security and the ability to store data at rest in the country to comply with increasingly strict data regulations.

“Today, datacenters and IT solutions represent a considerable part of carbon emissions from public procurement in Denmark, so we see a big potential to reduce our climate footprint,” said Nicolai Wammen, Danish Minister of Finance.

Denmark’s existing Azure customers that stand to benefit from improved latency include Carlsberg, Maersk and Saxo Bank.

“This is a proud day for Microsoft in Denmark,” said Brad Smith, President, Microsoft. “This investment reflects our deep appreciation of Denmark’s green and digital leadership globally and our commitment to its future.”

In addition to the new data centre region, Microsoft announced plans to upskill 200,000 Danes by 2024 via in-depth Azure training and other digital education certifications and provide access to job-seeking tools.

“With this investment, we’re taking the next step in our longstanding commitment to provide Danish society and businesses with the digital tools, skills and infrastructure needed to drive sustainable growth, innovation, and job creation. We’re investing in Denmark’s digital leap into the future – all in a way that supports the country’s ambitious climate goals and economic recovery,” said Nana Bule, General Manager, Microsoft Denmark.

A data centre region is a two or more data centres deployed within a latency-defined perimeter connected via a dedicated low-latency network. Microsoft Azure currently consists of over 60 regions worldwide which provide over 140 countries access to the cloud service.

Azure has a 19 percent share of the worldwide cloud market, according to Canalys research. Amazon’s AWS leads the market with 32 percent revenue share while Google trails both with 7 percent share.