Citing an anonymous source familiar with the project, Reuters reported that Google is eyeing an area near Ho Chi Minh City, the vibrant economic hub in southern Vietnam, for its next data center.
While the exact investment figure remains undisclosed, a mega data center with a capacity of 50 megawatts could cost anywhere between $300 million to $650 million, according to estimates based on data released by Jones Lang LaSalle, a commercial real estate consulting firm, in a report on data centers in Vietnam.
This would be a massive investment in Vietnam’s digital infrastructure, a sector that has struggled to attract foreign investment due to infrastructural limitations.
Vietnam is one of the fastest-growing markets for YouTube, Google’s online video-sharing platform, the source revealed. This, coupled with a large existing customer base for cloud services, has prompted Google to consider investing in a data center in the country.
Currently, the leading data center operators in Vietnam in terms of computing space are IDC Becamex and VNPT, both state-owned enterprises.
Back in May, Nikkei reported that Alibaba, the Chinese e-commerce giant, was also considering building a data center in Vietnam. However, Alibaba declined to comment on the matter.
If realized, this plan would mark a significant breakthrough for Vietnam in attracting high-tech investments. So far, neighboring countries like Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand have led the way in attracting large-scale data center projects from global tech companies.
However, Vietnam still faces challenges such as occasional power outages and uneven Internet infrastructure. But recent reforms, including allowing 100% foreign ownership in data centers, have created a more attractive investment environment.
Google appears to recognize the immense potential of the Vietnamese market. The company is not only establishing a representative office and hiring local talent but also investing in education and domestic AI startups.
“We now have a team on the ground to better serve our advertising customers in Vietnam and support the country’s digital transformation,” said a Google spokesperson.
The most extensive bribery case ever in Thanh Hoa: Numerous suspects prosecuted for “Giving and Receiving Bribes”
The Provincial Security Investigation Agency (PSIA) of Thanh Hoa province announced on January 31st that it has made the decision to initiate a prosecution against 23 individuals in connection with the offenses of “Accepting bribes” and “Giving bribes” as stipulated in Article 354(3) and Article 364(2) of the Criminal Code.
Accelerating disbursement of the 120 trillion VND credit package for social housing
Deputy Prime Minister Trần Hồng Hà has recently issued directives regarding the implementation of the 120,000 billion VND credit package for investors and buyers of social housing, workers’ housing, and projects for the renovation and construction of apartment buildings.
“Prosecution of government officials, land registration officers, and tax department employees in the largest bribery case ever”
The Thanh Hoa Police Investigative Agency has initiated legal proceedings against 23 individuals involved in the crimes of “Bribery” and “Receiving bribes”. This is the largest bribery case in terms of the number of suspects ever discovered and apprehended by the Thanh Hoa Police.
Mobile World achieves revenue of VND118,000 trillion: TVs, tablets, and phones all decrease by 10% – 50%, while one product grows in both quantity and revenue.
Mobile World Investment Corporation (MWG) has recently announced its 2023 business results. According to the report, the company’s consolidated revenue reached over 118 trillion Vietnamese dong, equivalent to 89% of the revenue in 2022.
Vietnam’s Irresistible ‘Specialty’ That China Desperately Wants to Revive: Highly Popular from the US to Asia, Bringing in Millions of Dollars
Vietnam is one of the largest exporting countries in the world, along with China and the Philippines.
