DATAS FORT KNOX
$40M CENTRE LEADS REGION'S DIGITAL FUTURE
THE digital Fort Knox of the Darling Downs has opened, marking the first step of a new industry in the region.
The $40 million Pulse Data Centre is the cornerstone of the Toowoomba Technology Park, a much larger project which is drawing new industries to the city’s outskirts.
Built in 10 months by FKG, the Pulse DC has completed and opened its first of four storage halls.
The centre’s internationally certified security system makes it secure for high-level com- mercial businesses and a stateof-the-art Schneider Electric power fit-out guarantees uninterrupted supplies at all times.
“This is certainly a worldclass facility,” Pulse DC general manager Peter Blunt said.
Operationally, the centre is inaccessible to the general public without multi-level security approvals.
THE first wave of Toowoomba’s digital future is open.
Officially opening the first of four data storage halls - each accommodating 180 racks - at the Toowoomba Technology Park, Pulse Data Centre general manager Peter Blunt said the facility was the cornerstone of a much larger project.
FKG’s $40 million centre is equipped with world-class security systems and guarantees clients uninterrupted power supplies and cooling systems.
Built in 10 months, the Pulse DC has international-grade security and is the first tier three facility to be built in regional Australia.
“This is Fort Knox for data,” Mr Blunt said.
“When you’re dealing with a data centre of this standard, (clients) expect a higher standard of security to go with that.
“Anyone who has access to this facility is pre-authorised by the client themselves.
“They’re issued with access cards and every step of the way throughout the facility, their access is monitored and controlled, even down to there are certain points along the way where the client’s fingerprints are registered to verify that the person using the card is the holder of the card.”
Global data centre specialists Schneider Electric delivered the world-class power fitout and cooling systems, guaranteeing connectivity.
Diesel generators will come online and are fuelled to provide power for 48 hours.
“It is a bold step being the first regional data centre of this type to be constructed so we wanted to make sure there was absolutely no question about the quality, level of resiliency, reliability and security of this facility,” Mr Blunt said.
“The centre is the cornerstone of what is a much larger development, and that is the Toowoomba technology park.
“The 30 hectares you see surrounding this site are dedicated to be technology-related businesses and we’re seeing some really strong interest from companies that either want to be located here because of the data centre, or be part of the ecosystem that develops around this which is largely technology or digitally related businesses.”