Amazon Web Services (AWS) plans to launch its first data centre region in New Zealand by 2024.
Part of a NZ$7.5 billion (£3.9bn) investment strategy in the country over the next fifteen years, the data centre will form the bulk of Amazon’s new AWS Asia Pacific Region.
The infrastructure hub will be owned and operated by a local AWS entity in New Zealand, and enable developers, startups, government, and other organisations to use data centres located within the country.
The new Auckland-based centre will join the existing 81 availability zones Amazon Web Services offers in 25 geographic regions.
Globally, AWS has announced plans for 24 more availability zones and eight more AWS regions in Australia, India, Indonesia, Israel, Spain, Switzerland, and the United Arab Emirates.
Despite having operated in New Zealand for eight years, this new plan represents AWS’ most notable investment in the region by a clear margin.
New Zealand public sector country manager, Tim Dacombe-Bird, said the investment will deliver 1,000 new jobs and contribute NZ$10.8bn (£5.57bn) to the country’s GDP over the next 15 years.
“This is AWS’s largest investment in New Zealand to date. It will unleash further innovation, drive greater productivity, increase our skilled workforce, and truly position New Zealand at the forefront of digital commerce,” he said.
Existing local customers set to benefit from the new region include Xero, Air New Zealand, ANZ Bank, Bank of New Zealand, the New Zealand Ministry of Health, and the New Zealand Ministry of Justice.
Prasad Kalyanaraman, vice-president of infrastructure services at AWS, said: “We are excited to build new world-class infrastructure locally, train New Zealanders with in-demand digital skills, and continue to help local organizations deliver applications that accelerate digital transformation and fuel economic growth.”
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