The company said the new infrastructure would help bolster support for regional business communities, helping drive innovation, connectivity and growth more easily through enhanced access to digital services previously uncatered for.

Dubbed SC1, the data centre is known as an edge centre, and will allow for low-latency services to regional businesses and networks and uses NEXTDC’s core data centre platform.

“The edge is an emerging pillar of our digital infrastructure platform. The acquisition of SC1 and the SCIBN Cable Landing Station leverages several years of research into the growth of edge computing and the current and future requirements of digitally enabled regional communities”, NEXTDC chief executive Craig Scroggie said.

“SC1 marks an important first step in our edge data centre network expansion plans which is supported by our national digital infrastructure platform”.

Edge data centres benefit from the implementation of 5G regional networks. AXON will provide direct and secure access to the company’s broader national digital services ecosystem.

The centre hosts the Sunshine Coast international broadband network cable landing station which connects to a submarine cable extending 7000km to Japan and Guam.

Deputy Premier Steven Miles said NEXTDC was backing the Queensland Government’s regional digital infrastructure initiative.

“NEXTDC’s decision to create its first regional data centre on the Sunshine Coast shows strong confidence in our strategy to create QCN Fibre,” Miles said.

“Digital infrastructure is the key to regional economic development. This regional data centre showcases how state and local government initiatives attract private-sector investment and enable regional Queenslanders to access more opportunities, regardless of where they live and work.”

“In 2017 we announced $15 million to support the Sunshine Coast Council in delivering Queensland’s first direct International Broadband Network Cable Landing Station and now we can see the benefits of that investment.”