Leading Edge secures land in regional Vic to build Tier III data centres

Regional data centre network provider Leading Edge Data Centres (LEDC) is set to secure land assets across regional Victoria to build a network of Tier III data centres across the state.

LEDC has already opened its first facility in Newcastle, NSW, with seven sites set to open in NSW in 2021 before commencing the Victorian rollout in 2022 and 2023.

The company is securing land in Shepparton, Geelong, Bendigo, Ballarat, Traralgon, Horsham and Mildura, and has begun the process for planning applications across the state. The facilities will be interconnected through multiple telco carriers and are designed and built to withstand harsh Australian conditions. They are highly power efficient, leveraging a combination of grid and green power.

Regional Victorians have often suffered from slow internet speeds, lack of provider choice and a high cost of connectivity. COVID-19 compounded this issue as demand for the internet reached an all-time high, and many regional Victorians struggled to connect from home.

The CEO and founder of Leading Edge Data Centres, Chris Thorpe, said, “It is clear that there is huge demand from local businesses and residents to improve connectivity to all of the regional cities where we’ll be building, and we are looking forward to bridging the digital divide of regional Victoria.”

LEDC has been working closely with local councils across the state to assess local demand, which will drive the rollout.

The facilities can be used by any business that is currently managing their infrastructure onsite. The development will benefit many industries including police, justice, emergency services, health and education, said LEDC in a statement. The technology hubs could facilitate delivery of enhanced services to the currently underserved locals and businesses in regional areas, including IoT devices, AI, voice over IP, edge computing and cloud-based technologies.

The agriculture industry will also be able to take advantage of advanced IoT sensors, autonomous machinery and drone technology, which produces large amounts of critical data that can help reduce costs and enhance efficiencies of production, the statement said.

Image courtesy of Leading Edge Data Centres

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